Biomanufacturing in Japan

How engineered microorganisms move from the lab to industrial production. In 2016, Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (Nedo) launched its smart cell project. The aim: engineering microorganisms to produce chemicals and pharmaceuticals. Ten years later, the initiative has grown into a broad national effort to advance biomanufacturing. Scientists at Kobe University combine artificial intelligence (AI), bioinformatics, and robotics in an automated biofoundry to accelerate strain development. Other facilities focus on translating optimized microbial strains into industrial production processes: in June 2026, a n...