Invizyne Technologies awarded $2m to advance SAF production

US-based cell-free biomanufacturing company Invizyne Technologies has been awarded a $2m grant from the US Department of Defense’s BioMADE initiative to support the development of their technology for producing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

The project, undertaken in partnership with the University of Georgia, aims to improve Invizyne’s enzyme production pipeline and deploy their cell-free biomanufacturing system in 100L pilot-scale facilities.

“This initiative could indeed mark the beginning of a new era in sustainable biofuel production, bringing us closer to a greener, more efficient future,” said Paul Opgenorth, PhD, co-founder & vice president of development at Invizyne. “This project seeks to mature the Technology Readiness Level of our cell-free enzyme approach, enabling us to convert renewable sugars into isobutanol at scale.”

Invizyne’s cell-free approach focuses on isobutanol, a key precursor to SAF and a potential replacement for conventional fuels.

While the BioMADE grant targets SAF production, Invizyne sees broader applications for their technology.

“We see this project as establishing a framework for expanding Invizyne’s cell-free approach into various industrial processes, too,” said Michael Heltzen, CEO of Invizyne. “I fully believe we can become the leader in next generation biomanufacturing and dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and foster a shift toward renewable solutions in the process.”

This funding provides a significant boost for Invizyne’s efforts to develop a more sustainable future through innovative biomanufacturing solutions.