OSLO, Norway—Aker BioMarine received three new Australian Innovation Patents for krill oil production, strengthening the company’s market position in Australia.

Patent no. 2014100735 includes claims to a method of producing krill oil from fresh Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba), providing krill oil with particular characteristics. The second, patent no. 2014100737 includes claims to a method of producing krill oil using supercritical fluid extraction (SFE). And finally, patent no. 2014100741 includes claims to a process for extracting oil with particular characteristics from krill. 

"We have invested significant resources in the development of technology, which is now maturing into a broad-scoped and enforceable patent portfolio in Australia," said Lalen Dogan, managing director, Aker BioMarine Australasia. “This puts us and our Australian customers in a very strong position."

Innovation Patents represent a particular patent variety available only in Australia. They can provide eight-year protection for inventions that are novel over the prior art, are useful and involve an innovative step, where the novelty-conferring feature substantially contributes to the function of the invention. There is no inventive step requirement as for standard patents. Granted Innovation Patents are not enforceable until examined and certified by the Australian patent office, a process that was successfully concluded for all above-mentioned patents.