Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability

What Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability does

The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability (DTU Biosustain) was a research center embedded in the Technical University of Denmark, primarily funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation. The center developed methods and technologies for the large-scale, microbial production of natural products, sustainable foods, and sustainable bio-chemicals, organized around three research programs — Natural Products, Microbial Foods, and Sustainable Chemicals — and supported by an integrated infrastructure platform. The technical core was the BRIGHT Biofoundry (formerly the DTU Biofoundry), which applied a Design-Build-Test-Learn cycle spanning TRL 0–6, combining automation, a high-throughput DNA Foundry, adaptive laboratory evolution, an Integrated Fermentation Platform (AMBR250, RoboLector, scale-down bioreactors), an Analytics Platform with 17 instruments, and an Informatics Platform providing FAIR-compliant multi-omics data management. A Pre-Pilot Plant bridged TRL 3–6 for translational scale-up across fermentation, separation, purification, and in-process control analytics. Proprietary open-source scientific tools — antiSMASH (160,000+ analyses since 2011), COBRApy, CRISPy-web, EasyClone, pFREE, the GECKO and RAVEN toolboxes, and iCHO1766 — were distributed globally to the research community.

The center generated more than 1,800 publications and produced 30+ spinout companies between 2011 and 2024 across enzymes, alternative proteins, sustainable agriculture, cannabinoids, microbiome therapeutics, and food fermentation (including exits via L'Oréal's acquisition of Lactobio in December 2023 and FMC's acquisition of BioPhero in June 2022). Its business model combined multi-year core funding from the Novo Nordisk Foundation, co-financed industry research collaborations, technology licensing, and equity creation through spinouts, accessed via an in-house IP & Commercialisation Office. AI/ML was embedded across workflows for enzyme engineering, metabolic modeling, multi-omics knowledge-graph construction, NLP over scientific literature, and bioprocess optimization.

DTU Biosustain officially closed on 31 December 2025; its successor center, BRIGHT, launched on 1 January 2026 at the same DTU Lyngby campus, continuing the legacy and expanding the mission to advance a competitive circular bioeconomy.

Name

Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability

Legal name

The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability

Website

https://biosustain.dtu.dk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1829

Operating status

Closed

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

DTU Biosustain was a Technical University of Denmark research center that engineered microbial cell factories for sustainable natural products, foods, and chemicals; closed 31 December 2025 and succeeded by BRIGHT on 1 January 2026.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Synthetic Biology Research

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171), Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

Synthetic Biology & Genetic Circuit Design Platforms (pathway engineering, chassis development) (HLAAAIAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Bioprocess Development & Scale-Up/Scale-Down Platforms (DoE, high-throughput, modeling) (HLAAAJAF), Upstream Bioprocessing Systems & Equipment (cell culture/fermentation, bioreactors, feeds/media) (HLAAAJAA), Automation, Controls & Manufacturing Execution for Bioprocessing (SCADA/DCS/PLC/MES) (HLAAAJAE), Process Development & Tech Transfer Services (upstream/downstream) (HLAAAKAF), Scientific Data Management & Data Platforms (SDMS/Data Lakehouse for R&D) (HLAGAJAC), Bio-based Platform & Commodity Chemicals (e.g., bio-ethylene, bio-propylene, bio-BTX, bio-methanol) (EUAAAIAA)

Keywords

• Synthetic biology research
• Microbial cell factories
• Metabolic engineering services
• Biofoundry infrastructure
• Sustainable biomanufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Kongens Lyngby

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Research Funding: Primary funding from the Novo Nordisk Foundation for core research operations and infrastructure
2. Co-financed Research Collaborations: Industry-funded collaborative research projects with companies seeking to develop bio-based products and processes
3. License Agreements: Technology licensing arrangements with commercial partners for developed strains, processes, and software tools
4. New Ventures/Spinouts: Formation of startup companies around technologies arising from the center, creating equity value and commercial pathways

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

DTU Biosustain was a university research center that developed methods, technologies, and microbial cell factories for large-scale sustainable production of natural products, sustainable foods, and sustainable bio-chemicals. Its core offering was the integrated Biofoundry platform that combined computational biology, metabolic engineering, and synthetic biology through a Design-Build-Test-Learn cycle, supported by Pre-Pilot Plant facilities bridging TRL 3–6 for industry-relevant scale-up. The center delivered research services, co-financed industry collaborations, technology licensing, and spinout creation, while distributing open-source scientific software tools (antiSMASH, COBRApy, CRISPy-web) to the global research community.

Product overview

DTU Biosustain (now transitioning to BRIGHT) is a research center that operates as an integrated technology platform rather than a traditional product company. The core offering is the BRIGHT Biofoundry, a multidisciplinary ecosystem combining computational and molecular biology to engineer microbial cell factories for sustainable biomanufacturing. This is supported by specialized components: the Pre-Pilot Plant (TRL 3-6 scale-up), Informatics Platform (FAIR data management), Analytics Platform (17 analytical instruments for omics), DNA Foundry (high-throughput genome engineering), and Integrated Fermentation Platform (automated bioreactors). Research programs focus on Natural Products (yeast cell factories, enzyme engineering, protein engineering), Microbial Foods (sustainable food innovation), and Sustainable Chemicals (bacterial cell factories, C1 systems biology). Open-source scientific tools including antiSMASH (genome mining), CRISPy-web (CRISPR design), COBRApy (metabolic modeling), and Cameo (strain design) are distributed to the research community. The IP & Commercialisation Office supports spinout formation from the research outputs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• BRIGHT Biofoundry Technology-driven research hub integrating computational and molecular biology to accelerate development of microbial cell factories and novel food systems, operating from TRL 0 to TRL 6 and supporting bioprocess development from nanoliter to 100-liter scale. Combines 11 specialized teams covering automation, DNA foundry, adaptive laboratory evolution, fermentation, analytics, and computational design through a Design-Build-Test-Learn cycle.
• antiSMASH Fully automated open-source pipeline to mine bacterial and fungal genome data for secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters. Used by thousands of scientists worldwide with over 160,000 analyses performed on the public service. Available as a web server and downloadable software.
• Pre-Pilot Plant (PPP) Translational research and development facility that brings processes from TRL 3 to TRL 6, crossing the innovation Valley of Death, with expertise in upstream and downstream development and in-process control analytics for commercial-level performance. Provides fermentation, separation, purification, and in-process control analytics capabilities to industry partners.
• Informatics Platform FAIR-compliant data management infrastructure providing cross-centre support for data storage, management, analysis, and dissemination. Includes Research Data Management, Research Software, and Data Science Platform components. Enables multi-omics integration, knowledge graph construction, and interoperable data modeling.
• Analytics Platform High-quality analytical chemistry service equipped with 17 analytical instruments including 5 LC-MS, 1 DESI-MS with ion mobility, 2 GC-MS, 8 HPLC systems, and 1 GC-FID. Provides metabolomics and proteomics analyses for the center and selected collaboration partners.
• DNA Foundry High-throughput plate-based workflow for constructing and testing genetic components with precise genome engineering. Includes CRISPR-based editing, Lambda Red recombineering, and FACS-based screening for strain improvement and nucleic acid extraction, transformation, DNA assembly, and colony verification.
• Integrated Fermentation Platform (iFP) Platform for rapid development of robust bioprocess from TRL 1 to TRL 4 using automated mini-bioreactors (AMBR250, RoboLector), multi-compartmented scale-down bioreactors, and quantitative strain physiology assessment methods. Enables bioprocess prototyping and development of new generation starting strains.
• IP & Commercialisation Office On-site office providing industry access point for licensing technologies, projects, and products. Educates, trains, and merges science and technology advances with intellectual property strategies, startup mentality, and financing skills for technology commercialization. Facilitates co-financed research collaborations, license agreements, and new ventures with industry partners.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 1800 publications and 30+ spinouts created over the center's operation
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability10 records

Feature15 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered major, core, strategic and community.

• NovozymesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDTU and Novozymes partnership to develop and apply methodology for assessing sustainability performance of selected enzymes, alternative proteins, and microbial-based products (biosolutions). Partners exchange information and jointly advance scientific methods to assess environmental and socioeconomic sustainability of marketed and pipeline products.
• The Cultivated B (TCB)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to validate and enhance TCB's AUXO V bioreactor technology through rigorous user testing and feedback from operational staff, researchers, and startups. Collaboration focuses on improving scalability, efficiency, and sustainability in bioproduction.
• DTU's Legal and Tech Transfer TeamcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaborates with DTU's Legal and Tech Transfer team for IP strategy, commercialization support, and technology transfer activities.
• Skylab at DTUcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with Skylab at DTU for startup support, entrepreneurship education, and innovation acceleration.
• BioInnovation InstitutestrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerExternal strategic partner supporting entrepreneurial spirit cultivation and providing platform for biotech startup development.
• RigshospitaletcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClose collaboration between DTU and Rigshospitalet for Infection Microbiology research, including direct pipeline for patient-specific infection information and access to clinical bacterial isolates biobank.
• BioRoboost CommunitycommunityTechnology or IntegrationEngagement with BioRoboost community for synthetic biology standardization and collaboration.
• Global Biofoundries AlliancecommunityTechnology or IntegrationParticipation in Global Biofoundries Alliance for international biofoundry collaboration and knowledge sharing.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• BioInnovation Institute (BII): BII is a Novo Nordisk Foundation-funded biotech startup accelerator in Copenhagen that incubates companies spun out of Danish life science research. It is explicitly a strategic partner of DTU Biosustain and serves as the natural commercial exit ramp for the center's spinouts.
• Benchling: Benchling is a widely adopted cloud-based R&D informatics platform (ELN, LIMS, molecular biology) used across biotech. It overlaps with DTU Biosustain's Informatics Platform offering (FAIR-compliant data management) as a commercial alternative for research data capture.

Emerging players

• CysBio ApS: CysBio is a DTU Biosustain spinout engineering cysteine-based microbial production of natural and novel compounds. It is a direct emerging downstream player commercializing the center's yeast cell factory platform into nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals.

Direct peers

• Synthace: Synthace provides a cloud-based laboratory automation platform (Antha) for Design-Build-Test-Learn workflows in synthetic biology. It directly parallels DTU Biosustain's Automation Team and DNA Foundry software stack, although Synthace focuses on commercial software rather than open tools.
• Amyris: Amyris used synthetic biology and yeast cell factory engineering to produce sustainable chemicals and ingredients (e.g., squalene, hemisqualene). Like DTU Biosustain's Natural Products and Sustainable Chemicals programs, Amyris combined metabolic engineering with fermentation scale-up, though it ultimately wound down operations — a cautionary comparison for cell-factory commercialization.
• Ginkgo Bioworks: Ginkgo Bioworks operates a large commercial biofoundry offering automated Design-Build-Test-Learn workflows, strain engineering, and bioprocess scale-up for industrial partners. It is the most direct commercial analogue to DTU Biosustain/BRIGHT's Biofoundry and Pre-Pilot Plant offering, though Ginkgo is for-profit and serves customers rather than publishing openly.
• LanzaTech: LanzaTech develops gas-fermenting microbial cell factories to convert industrial off-gases into sustainable fuels and chemicals. It overlaps directly with DTU Biosustain's C1 Systems Biology and Bacterial Cell Factories programs and shares the TRL 3-6 scale-up challenges that the Pre-Pilot Plant addresses.
• Codexis: Codexis engineers enzymes and proteins using directed evolution and computational protein engineering — closely mirroring DTU Biosustain's Computational Protein Engineering and Enzyme Engineering groups. Both sell to pharmaceutical, food, and industrial biotech customers with synthetic biology-driven biocatalyst development.

Broad incumbents

• Twist Bioscience: Twist Bioscience provides synthetic DNA, antibody libraries, and NGS target enrichment used by synthetic biology labs including biofoundries. It overlaps with DTU Biosustain's DNA Foundry workflows (CRISPy-web, EasyClone) as a critical upstream tool provider rather than a direct end-product competitor.
• Novonesun (formerly Novozymes): Novonesun is the world's largest industrial enzyme producer and a strategic partner of DTU Biosustain. It overlaps with the center's Sustainable Chemicals and Enzyme Engineering programs but as a global commercial incumbent with a much broader enzyme portfolio and customer base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/dtubiosustain
• GitHubgithub.com/biosustain
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCHEJ3WR4lu-SgyqmuMe_tfA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/3146738
• Facebookfacebook.com/biosustain

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability