MojiaBio and A*STAR develop a sustainable biomanufacturing platform in Singapore

MojiaBio has announced a partnership with the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) to establish the Sustainable Biomanufacturing Technology Platform (SBTP) in Singapore. This ambitious project, valued at SGD 44.8 million (approximately USD 33 million), will focus on developing innovative, eco-friendly alternatives to traditional chemical manufacturing processes.

In an article published by The Malaysian Reserve, Dr Ramon Gonzalez, a member of PROMICON’s Innovation Board and a Chief Scientific Officer at MojiaBio said: “The SBTP will not only produce bio-based molecules but also support downstream application research to synthesise high-value sustainable products for different industries”. He explained that through MojiaBio’s partnership with A*STAR, they will be able to accelerate the commercialisation of green PDO to meet the growing demands and needs of the market.

Gonzalez explains that the collaboration exemplifies MojiaBios’s vision to create impactful, sustainable solutions for the future: “MojiaBio is also making strides to establish our operational headquarters and a dedicated research laboratory in Singapore to accelerate commercialisation of other green chemicals to contribute to Singapore’s bioeconomy and the global transition toward sustainability.”

At the core of the SBTP are MojiaBio’s proprietary Cn+Bio™ pathway and OrthBio® bioconversion process, which convert low-cost renewable resources into biobased molecules. This effort will take place alongside A*STAR’s Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation (A*STAR SIFBI), which offers expertise in enzyme engineering.

Furthermore, the SBTP will leverage the computational modelling expertise of the National University of Singapore (NUS) to enhance enzyme and microbial strain engineering. This optimisation will improve the efficiency and scalability of biocatalysts within the platform.

Operating independently of host cell metabolism, the SBTP enhances energy efficiency, and sustainability, and reduces production costs. This approach aims to make sustainable solutions more accessible and meet the growing demand for biobased chemicals in various industries.