US funding advances biomanufacturing

The US has long trailed Europe in the amount of government support available for biobased chemical firms , but industry analysts say a collection of programs rolled out over the past 18 months is helping the country catch up. The latest boost is the US Department of Defense’s (DoD) Distributed Bioindustrial Manufacturing Program, which aims to shore up food, fuel, and chemical supply chains by advancing fermentation. Over the past 2 months, the program has doled out $23 million in grants to help 13 start-ups plan pilot plants for biobased products. The companies received initial grants of up to $2.5 million, and the most promising projects can apply for up to $100 million in follow-on funding. The DoD expects to fund more than 30 projects. The selected companies are pursuing a variety of fermentation technologies. Arctos, for example, is planning a facility that produces protein-based fibers, films, and adhesives. Visolis