bitBiome and Kao jointly implement NEDO’s project “Research and Development of Technologies to Promote Biomanufacturing”  — Supporting the creation of next-generation saccharification enzymes for biomass resources

February 17, 2026-Tokyo, Japan – bitBiome Inc. (“bitBiome”) has entered into a joint implementation agreement with Kao Corporation (“Kao”) for the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO)-commissioned project “Research and Development of Technologies to Promote Biomanufacturing” (*1) awarded to Kao by  NEDO. The agreement covers the initiative titled “Establishment of a saccharification enzyme supply platform that creates industries utilizing unused biomass resources” (*2).

As part of Kao’s efforts to build this saccharification enzyme supply platform, bitBiome will be responsible for a portion of the research and development work related to enzyme discovery. Kao is developing a wide variety of saccharification enzymes because the enzymes most suitable for breakdown differ depending on the type of biomass. In addition, Kao aims to continuously develop saccharification enzymes that can efficiently decompose multiple sources of biomass by building a database that systematically accumulates data on enzyme functions. (*2)

By combining Kao’s long-cultivated enzyme technologies and production capabilities with bitBiome’s world-class microbial genome database along with bitBiome’s  expertise in “discovering and designing unknown enzymes through enzyme exploration and enzyme design”—the partners aim to establish a stable domestic supply system for saccharification enzymes, which has been a longstanding challenge in Japan.

(*1)NEDO Website | Research and Development of Technologies to Promote Biomanufacturing

(*2)Kao Website | “Kao’s Proposal Selected for NEDO’s Research and Development Project on Technologies that Promote Biomanufacturing”