Green Earth Institute (GEI), an investee of PIEF, started partial operation of its bio-foundry facilities on May 16, 2022 as part of the “Development of Production Technology for Bio-based Products to Accelerate Carbon Recycling/Development of Bio-foundry Core Technology for Production Process” (bio-foundry business) entrusted by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO).

The role of the biofoundry business is a project designed to prepare the infrastructure for the development of bio-production processes, promote verification of bio-production in industry and in academia, and establish a base to nurture human talent for bio-manufacturing while aligning with the government’s bioeconomy strategy. As the core of the global biocommunity, beginning in 2021, GEI has been allocated 5.4 billion yen for the next 6 years to build a biorefinery platform.

The Japanese government is promoting a bioeconomy strategy with the goal of “Achieving the worldʼs most advanced bioeconomy society by 2030,” and focusing on expansion of the market size to 53.3 trillion yen through high-performing bio-materials and bio-plastics by 2030.

GEI applied for NEDO’s biofundry project in June 2021, and was selected in August. Among the biofoundry facilities, the bio-engineer bench at the Mobara branch factory of Mitsui Chemicals Co., Ltd. in Mobara City, Chiba, and the satellite base of GEI’s research laboratory  in Kisarazu City, Chiba, Kazusa Incubation Center, started their operations as the bases for the project. In addition, a new bio-foundry laboratory is going to start its operations next spring. At these sites, pilot projects will be conducted exploring for the practical application of more than 16 biochemicals by 2026.

GEI is engaged in the biotechnology of a variety of different chemicals under its mission, “Fostering green technology and walking with the earth” and will contribute to the realization of a decarbonized society by promoting the practical application of bio-derived products through these biofoundry initiatives.

For more information, please visit the websites:
Green Earth Institute Press Release