Synthetic biology
Did you know that we can use living cells to produce the chemicals, materials, and food we need? Among other things, we can turn microbial cells into silkworm silk, egg white, or biodegradable bioplastic.
Synthetic biology enables intelligent and efficient biotechnological production, which is a major enabler of sustainable development.
The diversity and functionality of the natural world is truly amazing. And the secret to it all? DNA. In theory, synthetic biology makes it possible for us to transfer any DNA code to the production organism we want to use and to construct efficient microbial cell factories for the purpose of industrial production.
Synthetic biology is set to revolutionise traditional biotechnology and replace many current production methods in the future. We can leverage the ability of living cells to produce the most complex chemical compounds, smart materials, or biological sensors controlled by genes.
Biotechnology is ideally suited to meeting the needs of the biocycle or biocircular economy, as microbes can feed on waste streams, for example, and synthesise the desired products from them. With the help of microbial cell factories, we can produce the desired products directly in bioreactors, rather than taking them from nature. This approach also means we can conserve arable land and forests.
Our approach
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We are creating solutions for sustainable production, where raw materials are renewable and can be derived from various waste streams or carbon dioxide.
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We use the best production organisms, such as moulds that efficiently produce proteins, yeasts that are highly resistant to processing conditions, and bacteria that get their energy from hydrogen.
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We utilise AI in the design of microbial cell factories and robotics in their construction and testing. This approach significantly accelerates the development of biotechnological solutions.
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We use cell factories to produce substitutes for existing oil-based plastics and chemicals, as well as medically important molecules such as antibodies. We are developing new food production methods that conserve both livestock and arable land.
