Can shrimp shells help us heal?

Each year, the global seafood industry discards millions of tons of shrimp shells, often in the very waters in which they were caught and processed. In the Arctic town of Siglufjörður, Iceland, a biotech company is transforming these marine byproducts into biomaterials, materials intended to work with the body to support healing safely.

One of those materials is ChitoBiomer™, a chitin-based technology developed by Genis to support patient recovery after orthopedic procedures such as joint replacements, fractures, and regenerative surgery.

The story of Genis begins not in a lab but in a harbor, with piles of discarded shrimp shells and a simple question: could they be worth something?

In the Arctic town of Siglufjörður, entrepreneur Róbert Guðfinnsson operated a shrimp processing factory and faced a harbor filled of discarded shrimp shells and complaints from locals. What followed is a remarkable story that probably could not have taken place anywhere but in Iceland.

Through a chance connection, Róbert learned that an Icelandic scientist in the United States, Ágúst Björnsson, was researching the properties of shrimp shell material. They barely knew each other, but in Iceland, meaningful progress often starts with a phone call to a stranger. That call led to collaboration, and the partnership led to exploration. Róbert then assembled a team of scientists to continue the work, based in his hometown of Siglufjörður. What began as a local waste issue soon evolved into the innovation of biomaterials.

Today, Genis is known for developing chitin-derived biomaterials to support bone regeneration and recovery. Operating in Siglufjörður and Reykjavík, the company is set to expand its global impact. Its journey reflects an informal, practical Icelandic mindset: you notice a problem and question whether the current approach is the best one. The result? ChitoBiomer, a proprietary technology now being developed into a regenerative solution to improve recovery and support natural healing following orthopedic procedures.

Chitin is one of the most abundant natural polymers on Earth. Found in the shells of crustaceans and invertebrate animals such as insects and spiders, it plays a structural role in nature and a surprising one in human biology. Scientists at Genis have developed ChitoBiomerTM, a proprietary biomaterial derived from chitin in these shrimp shells. Research has shown that the ChitoBiomerTM supports tissue regeneration and promotes natural healing.

Based on two decades of research and development, the innovation lies in a carefully refined manufacturing process. Using this proprietary approach, the company produces ChitoBiomer™, a biomaterial designed for a range of medical applications, from filling gaps in damaged bone to supporting the integration of implants with the body, including custom-made 3D-printed implants.

According to CEO and Professor Sesselja Omarsdottir, this is just the beginning. “We are developing solutions to demonstrate that sustainable, natural materials can be the foundation for next-generation biomaterials that meet real clinical needs and improve quality of life.”