Green Earth Institute (GEI), an investee of PIEF, was selected for the 2022 Future Society Creation Project by Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) for its research and development project, High-Speed Bio-Production of Useful Organic Matter Using Chemically Synthesized Sugar. This project was proposed by The National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), GEI, and Professor Shuji Nakanishi, Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University serving as R&D representative for this project.

In this research and development, Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University will develop a process to produce chemically catalyzed synthetic sugars using formaldehyde as a raw material (hereinafter referred to as “chemically synthesized sugars”). AIST will search for biological resources to utilize chemically synthesized sugars, and GEI will demonstrate a bio-production process to produce useful chemical materials using chemically synthesized sugars.
Although sugar as a raw material for conventional biorefinery is made from biomass such as corn, this R&D aims to make sugar directly from CO2 in the future.
This is expected to shorten the process of raw material production, reduce costs, and save energy. At the same time, it is also expected to solve the potential problems of conventional biorefineries, such as creating a stable supply of biomass raw materials and regional disparities.

Under the management philosophy of “Fostering green technology and walking with the earth,” GEI is working to solve various global issues, and through this R&D project with JST, GEI will promote the development of new fundamental technologies in the biorefinery field and contribute to the realization of a recycling-oriented society.

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