MicroBioGen Opens State-of-the-Art Laboratory Facilities in Sydney, further Establishing NSW as a World-leading Industrial Biotechnology Hub

October 18, 2022

Print This Article Share it With Friends

(MicroBioGen) This week MicroBioGen officially opened our state-of-the-art laboratories in Macquarie Park in Northern Sydney. Three years in the making, these labs will produce our world-leading micro-organisms that are essential to industries worth over US$2 trillion per year, including biofuels, alternative proteins, space exploration, sustainable human foods and animal feed.

The facility was opened by the Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Senator the Hon Jenny McAllister. The Member for Bennelong Mr Jerome Laxale MP was also in attendance, along with around 80 of MicroBioGen’s partners, employees and supporters.

MicroBioGen’s new labs represent a significant investment to establish a world-leading industrial biotechnology hub in Australia.

The new laboratories will allow us to expand our research capabilities, putting MicroBioGen and Australia at the forefront of global biotech and sustainable innovation.

By building a state-of-the-art facility we will attract and retain the brightest scientific minds to NSW, scientists who can help MicroBioGen advance its micro-organisms, especially in the areas of sustainability, biofuels, animal feed and alternative protein development.

Founded in Sydney in 2001, MicroBioGen’s first commercial ethanol products entered the North American market in 2017 through a partnership with Danish industrial biotech giant Novozymes. In just four years, MicroBioGen-developed yeast were the leading biocatalysts in the US biofuel market.

Exports currently make up 100 per cent of our revenues so it is essential that our facilities and our scientists are also the best in the world.

Twice the size of our previous research space, the 1,250 square metre facility will enable us to double our skilled scientific workforce to around 40 scientists including geneticists, and biofuel and baking specialists.

The dedicated R&D facility includes fermentation labs, a genetics lab and large preparation rooms, all equipped with the latest technology including robots, high performance liquid chromatography and minus 80C˚ freezers. READ MORE

MicroBioGen’s Macquarie Park lab facility was opened by the Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Senator the Hon Jenny McAllister, Member for Bennelong Mr Jerome Laxale with CEO Geoff Bell and Dr Paul Attfield, Co-founder and Principal Scientist, Sydney NSW. Photos by Damian Shaw.

A critical partner for a sustainable future

MicroBioGen is a critical partner and key contributor of sustainable solutions for a range of industries around the world, as they seek to reduce GHG emissions and improve the efficiency of energy and food production. The new labs ensure MicroBioGen can continue to develop and advance innovative yeast products to address these pressing global concerns.

The company has been awarded significant Federal funding from AusIndustry and the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA).

The Member for Bennelong Mr Jerome Laxale MP said: “It’s great to be here once again at MicroBioGen for the opening of their state-of-the-art laboratory facilities here in the heart of Macquarie Park. They truly are at the forefront of innovation, and their success is part of Australia’s success given that MicroBioGen earns all its revenue through exports. We know that companies such as MicroBioGen are so vital to employment growth locally in Bennelong and through export markets, they are keeping our nation prosperous not just now but also into the future. I’d like to congratulate Geoff Bell, CEO and Dr Philip Bell, Head of Research and all the team here at MicroBioGen on the opening of these wonderful new facilities and I wish them all the very best for the future”.

MicroBioGen Head of Research Dr Philip Bell added that while MicroBioGen will continue to provide and improve superior yeast strains for the biofuels industry, our technology is highly adaptable and extends far beyond ethanol production.

“We have developed yeast strains that are ideal for human applications such as baking and baking ingredients. Our advanced technology, genetics expertise and collaborative spirit can also be brought into other industry partnerships to produce cutting-edge enzymes, biochemicals, pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, animal feed, and even wine and beer,” he said.