Primient, Synonym partner to create pilot facility to inspire biotech innovation

02-Aug-2024 - Last updated on 02-Aug-2024 at 14:56 GMT

Source: Getty Images/ Extreme Media

Plant-based ingredient company Primient is partnering with biomanufacturing infrastructure developer Synonym on a pilot facility in Decatur, Ill., to spur bioproduct innovation and commercialization from startups as the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign develops the region into a biotech hub.

Primient and Synonym will create what Primient calls a “Pilot Research Operations Optimization Facility” (iPROOF) on Primient's corn-processing campus, which already has limited fermentation capacity.

The two companies will upgrade the existing facility and expand the fermentation capacity to more than 35,000 liters. The facility “will provide a full suite of wrap-around services” for biotech startups to launch product biotech concepts, the companies shared in a press release. The facility is expected to open in early 2026.

“Decatur was the right choice for the partnership for a number of reasons. We have existing fermentation assets and the space to expand, the expertise on site to support engineering and development, Decatur sits in the heart of corn country with access to high-quality feedstock, and we have the partnership and momentum of the iFAB Tech Hub consortium and potential for Central Illinois’ position as the heart of biomanufacturing in the US,” Eric Lee, director of business development, fermentation at Primient, told FoodNavigator-USA.

Synonym offers digital tools to support biotech-derived product commercialization through its online tools Capacitor and Scaler, which will provide companies insight to scale biotech products at the facility. Scaler provides life-cycle assessment and techno-economic analysis for biotech companies, which can estimate profit margins and capital needed to create a product, and Capacitor is a directory of available manufacturing capacity.

“We understand the potential of bio-based products and solutions and have the proven experience to back it up at scale. Our partnership with Synonym will make a material difference for companies trying to break the bio-based barrier by providing a scalable, data-led proving ground to grow with support. We are excited to be a part of this project and look forward to the positive difference we can make together,” said Jim Stutelberg, CEO of Primient.

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign to develop regions as biotech hub

The iPROOF project is just one of the projects that will receive funds from a Tech Hubs grant awarded to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s iFAB Tech Hub from the US Department of Commerce and Economic Development Administration.

This fall, the US Department of Commerce and Economic Development Administration will determine how much funding the facility will receive as well as other individual iFAB Tech Hub projects following site visits, Lee explained. Then, the "remaining funding needed to fully commission the iPROOF project will be shared between the partners" at the time, he added.

iFAB Tech Hub received $51 million to scale fermentation capability in the region, converting corn feedstock to alternative proteins, food and beverage ingredients and other bio-derived materials.

Last month, the US Department of Commerce and Economic Development Administration awarded $504 million to twelve Tech Hubs across the US to support the development of biotechnology, AI and other technological capabilities advancement, the White House shared in a statement.