Overview

Industrial Biotechnology focuses on technical challenges relevant to industrial use of synthetic biology and the establishment of the United States as a global leader in the bio-based economy. Applications of microbiome engineering in this sector focus on improving manufacturing of bio-based products by using the diversity of microbiomes to introduce greater flexibility to manufacturing processes. This flexibility comes in the form of both reduced infrastructure needs, to enable more distributed production, as well as more rapid process engineering by using custom-made microbiomes. The goal is to stimulate investment in infrastructure, streamline production, and advance our use of engineered microbiomes to improve lives.

Societal Challenges

• Streamline industrial process development.

• Enable low-cost, distributed biomanufacturing