SKOKIE, IL. — In a groundbreaking collaboration poised to reshape the future of sustainable biotechnology, BRIGHT, the Novo Nordisk Foundation Biotechnology Research Institute for the Green Transition at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), has forged a multi-year partnership with LanzaTech Global, Inc. (NASDAQ: LNZA), a pioneering leader in gas fermentation technology. This alliance, set to span until April 2028, aims to expedite the advancement and deployment of cutting-edge technologies that convert carbon emissions into high-value products, thereby driving forward the global agenda for a circular and climate-positive bioeconomy.
At the core of this partnership lies the design, construction, and installation of a state-of-the-art next-generation C1 biofoundry housed at DTU. This facility will marry LanzaTech’s world-renowned synthetic biology expertise with BRIGHT’s advanced infrastructure and talent pool, catalyzing Denmark and Europe’s positioning at the forefront of carbon-to-value biotechnology. The biofoundry is designed to expertly engineer and optimize microorganisms capable of transforming one-carbon (C1) gases—specifically carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and methane—into a spectrum of sustainable fuels, chemicals, and materials.
Gas fermentation forms the scientific foundation of this endeavor. Unlike traditional biomass-based bioengineering, gas fermentation utilizes specialized microbes that metabolize gaseous carbon substrates as their primary feedstock. This process stands out for its potential to substantially reduce industrial greenhouse gas emissions while creating economically valuable bioproducts. However, manipulating these anaerobic, non-model organisms presents intricate challenges. Their growth and genetic modification necessitate an integration of advanced robotics, artificial intelligence (AI)-driven bioinformatics, automated gas-handling systems, and high-throughput strain development platforms—technologies that the forthcoming biofoundry at BRIGHT is specifically tailored to embody.
Christine Nellemann, the provost of DTU, emphasized the strategic importance of this venture: “DTU has a rich history of bridging scientific innovation and commercial application. Our collaboration with LanzaTech reinforces our commitment to accelerating biotechnological solutions that benefit not just Denmark, but Europe and the global community.” Through this synergy, BRIGHT intends to foster an innovation ecosystem where rapid strain engineering cycles and AI-augmented predictive modeling reduce development timelines and risk factors, facilitating faster iteration from design to functional, scalable microbial strains.
LanzaTech’s expertise derives from more than 15 years of dedicated development in synthetic biology for gas-fermenting microbes. Their pioneering biofoundry, specifically developed to accommodate anaerobic and gas-utilizing organisms, combines a suite of bespoke anaerobic chambers, precision gas mixture control, and advanced bioautomation workflows. These innovations allow for the parallel construction and screening of thousands of microbial variants simultaneously, vastly accelerating the Design–Build–Test–Learn (DBTL) cycle that lies at the heart of synthetic biology.
Luuk van der Wielen, director of BRIGHT, highlighted the unique value proposition of the upcoming biofoundry: “By integrating LanzaTech’s unmatched biofoundry capabilities with our regional research strengths, we are opening a new chapter in sustainable biotechnology. This partnership enables us to develop transformative bio-based products and practices that can have tangible impacts on reducing carbon footprints.” The facility will not only serve researchers but is designed as an innovation platform accessible to multiple partners to collectively address carbon mitigation challenges.
The operational design of the C1 biofoundry addresses some of the most demanding aspects of working with gas-fermenting microbes. These organisms require strict anaerobic conditions and often metabolize flammable or toxic gases, which imposes rigorous safety and engineering constraints. Yet, automated systems within the biofoundry will enable high-precision control of gas composition and culture conditions, ensuring safe, reproducible experimental workflows that can be scaled efficiently.
Additionally, the alliance incorporates technology transfer via a non-exclusive license agreement allowing BRIGHT to utilize LanzaTech’s intellectual property pertinent to biofoundry workflows and strain engineering methods. Tailored biofoundry methodologies developed by LanzaTech will be adapted to BRIGHT’s unique research missions, thereby creating a seamless continuum between fundamental synthetic biology research and applied industrial biotechnology.
Jennifer Holmgren, CEO of LanzaTech, expressed optimism about the collaborative potential: “Partnering with BRIGHT aligns perfectly with our mission to accelerate the delivery of sustainable fuels and biorefined chemicals. This agreement consolidates our biotechnology expertise into a dedicated team focused on advancing commercial scale projects, including sustainable aviation fuel production. Together, we aim to transform carbon emissions, traditionally regarded as waste, into commodities that drive a zero-carbon future.”
The implications of this development extend beyond the immediate partnership. Current technological constraints limit global access to advanced biofoundry platforms specialized for C1 gases, thereby constraining research pace and innovation worldwide. The establishment of this biofoundry in Denmark will effectively fill this void by providing European researchers and industry partners a facility where cutting-edge automation, AI-driven design, and gas fermentation technologies converge.
Crucially, the biofoundry’s ability to accelerate microbial strain development unlocks a new paradigm in sustainable biomanufacturing. Automation and parallelization facilitate the simultaneous creation and testing of thousands of microbial designs, dramatically shortening innovation cycles. This approach reduces uncertainty inherent in biological engineering by enabling rapid failure analysis and optimization, which is critical given the complex metabolic networks involved in C1 gas conversion.
Moreover, the integration of machine learning and AI amplifies the impact of experimental data generated by high-throughput screening. Predictive models iteratively inform the next design steps, refining metabolic pathway engineering with an unprecedented level of precision and efficiency. This feedback loop, a hallmark of next-generation synthetic biology, is indispensable for realizing industrially viable strains capable of converting waste gases into marketable products at scale.
The establishment of a shared platform accessible to academia and industry fosters collaborative innovation, technology dissemination, and knowledge transfer within and beyond Denmark. By bolstering regional expertise in carbon capture and utilization (CCU), the project significantly advances Europe’s ambition to lead the transition to a competitive and resilient bioeconomy.
In conclusion, the multi-year collaboration between BRIGHT and LanzaTech symbolizes a crucial leap toward aligning synthetic biology with climate action. By harnessing advanced biofoundry technologies specialized for C1 gas fermentation, this initiative not only propels academic research but also accelerates the commercialization of sustainable biofuels and bioproducts. It represents a bold, technology-driven pathway to mitigate industrial emissions while creating economic value—a cornerstone in the global quest for a sustainable carbon-neutral future.
Subject of Research: Conversion of carbon emissions into sustainable fuels, chemicals, and materials through advanced synthetic biology and gas fermentation.
Article Title: Transforming Carbon Emissions: The Next-Generation C1 Biofoundry Partnership between BRIGHT and LanzaTech
News Publication Date: May 5, 2026
Image Credits: BRIGHT
Keywords
Synthetic biology, gas fermentation, carbon emissions, biofoundry, C1 gases, carbon dioxide, methane, carbon monoxide, sustainable fuels, bioproducts, automation, artificial intelligence, bioeconomy
