Today, BioMADE announced an agreement with Lygos, a pioneering sustainable specialty chemicals company, to transition its pilot-scale biomanufacturing infrastructure into a nationally available, multi-user facility. BioMADE will independently operate the pilot-scale facility as the second announced site in its national network of bioindustrial manufacturing infrastructure. The move enables both organizations to expand their impact: BioMADE by accelerating and broadening access to scale-up infrastructure, and Lygos by focusing resources on commercialization of its high-performance sustainable solutions.
The nearly 25,000 square foot facility will include piloting, processing, and analytical space. BioMADE will independently operate the Hayward facility, while Lygos will remain a key customer of the facility’s expanded capabilities. BioMADE will acquire the processing equipment and further invest in the facility to expand capabilities in fermentation capacity and downstream processing. Taken together, the project represents an investment of at least $80M, with funding provided by the U.S. Department of Defense.
For Lygos, the transition supports a capital-efficient growth model, allowing the company to prioritize commercialization of its biodegradable performance polymers and accelerate time-to-market through partnerships that provide access to commercial scale assets. By enabling broader access to its advanced infrastructure, Lygos is doubling down on its mission to deliver high-performing sustainable solutions at commercial scale.
“This facility will play a critical role as America works to regain dominance in the biotechnology and biomanufacturing industry,” said Douglas Friedman, Chief Executive Officer. “Other countries around the world have been investing in biotechnology for decades, and the U.S. is at risk of falling behind. Expanding nationwide capabilities to produce chemicals and materials needed for defense and consumer applications will strengthen national security and secure domestic supply chains.”