Sustainable chemicals production platform using microalgae
A cutting-edge platform leveraging synthetic biology and machine learning to produce sustainable chemicals from microalgae, replacing petroleum-derived chemicals with biobased alternatives. Validated at lab scale with plans for larger-scale testing.
Overview
This innovative platform aims to revolutionize the chemical industry by replacing petroleum-derived chemicals with biobased alternatives produced from microalgae. By utilizing machine learning (ML) and synthetic biology, the platform accelerates the discovery and production of these sustainable chemicals. It offers a promising pathway to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and decrease environmental impact by leveraging the efficiency of photosynthetic organisms.
Technical specifications
The platform integrates advanced synthetic biology and high-throughput metabolic engineering techniques to screen diverse algal genomes. It identifies optimal pathways for chemical production and provides genomic information to engineer microalgae strains. Key features include:
- Use of ML to analyze genome sequences and accelerate pathway discovery.
- Synthetic biology tools for engineering model species to produce desired chemicals.
- Validation of production capacity using algal strains in controlled environments, scaling from 10L to 100L under natural light conditions in photobioreactors and ponds.
Technology readiness level
This technology is currently at TRL 4, indicating it has been validated in a laboratory setting. Future plans involve scaling up production in the Algal Innovation Centre to test its viability in real-world conditions.
About University of Cambridge
Cambridge is a collegiate, comprehensive research university that combines broad academic depth with world-class facilities and strong translational activity. Industry engages through co-located labs, a major biomedical campus integrated with an NHS hospital system, and research and technology parks across the Cambridge cluster. Its location in a mature startup and scale-up ecosystem provides ready access to venture funding, prototyping resources, and collaboration with global R&D sites. Research is backed by competitive UKRI council funding and other national sources, with additional support from major charities and European programs. A dedicated technology transfer office supports IP, licensing, and seed investment to accelerate commercialization.
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