bitBiome Selected for NEDO International Joint R&D Program to Advance AI-Driven Biomanufacturing
Collaboration with UK-Based HERlab to establish a “Dual Biodiversity Mining” Platform for Next-Generation Enzyme Discovery and Sustainable Manufacturing
Tokyo, Japan — July 15, 2026 — bitBiome Inc., a biotechnology company pioneering the discovery and engineering of novel enzymes and proteins, microbial strains and ingredient manufacture, today announced that it has been selected for the Deep Tech Startup Support Fund – International Joint Research and Development Program funded and supported by Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). Conducted through the Eureka Globalstars scheme, the program supports international joint R&D projects between Japanese startups and overseas partners.
As part of the program, bitBiome will collaborate with UK synthetic biology company HERlab Ltd. on a joint research initiative titled “Development of High-Value Oxidized Compounds Through AI-Driven Enzyme Engineering and Proprietary Yeast Platforms.” The partnership combines the complementary strengths of both organizations to accelerate the development of sustainable, next-generation biomanufacturing technologies.
As industries worldwide seek to reduce carbon emissions and transition to more sustainable production methods, biomanufacturing is becoming an increasingly important alternative to traditional petrochemical processes. A critical step in producing many high-value molecules—including ingredients for pharmaceuticals, flavors, fragrances, and specialty chemicals—is regioselective oxidation, a reaction commonly catalyzed by cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzymes. However, the industrial expression and commercialization of these enzymes has historically been limited by significant technical challenges.
To overcome these barriers, bitBiome and HERlab will establish a novel “Dual Biodiversity Mining” platform that combines advanced enzyme engineering with next-generation microbial host optimization.
Under the collaboration:
• bitBiome will contribute its proprietary microbial genomics capabilities, including one of the world’s largest microbial genome databases and advanced technologies for enzyme discovery, protein engineering, and genome editing.
• HERlab will contribute its expertise in identifying and optimizing non-conventional yeast hosts, leveraging machine learning to predict host suitability and develop efficient manufacturing processes.
“Cytochrome P450 enzymes represent one of the most powerful yet challenging classes of biocatalysts for industrial applications,” said Soichiro Tsuda, Chief Technology Officer of bitBiome. “By combining bitBiome’s unparalleled microbial genomic resources, AI-driven enzyme discovery capabilities, and advanced protein engineering technologies with HERlab’s innovative approach to host optimization, we have an opportunity to address longstanding barriers in enzyme commercialization. This collaboration represents an exciting step toward establishing a new paradigm for sustainable biomanufacturing, where both enzyme function and production host selection can be optimized simultaneously.”
Together, these complementary technologies are expected to accelerate both the discovery of high-performance P450 enzymes and the identification of optimal production hosts, enabling more efficient and scalable bioprocesses for high-value compounds. The collaboration ultimately aims to support the transition from conventional chemical synthesis to environmentally sustainable bio-based manufacturing.
About HERlab Ltd.
HERlab is a UK-based synthetic biology company focused on eliminating bottlenecks in complex protein expression and validation. By combining machine learning with a diverse portfolio of non-conventional microbial hosts, HERlab enables the efficient production of proteins that are difficult to express using traditional systems.
Its proprietary Biofactory AI platform matches protein characteristics—including folding requirements, post-translational modifications, and stability—with optimized host organisms, significantly accelerating protein development and commercialization.
About bitBiome Inc.
bitBiome is unlocking the vast potential of microbial diversity to power the future of the bioeconomy. Built on its proprietary single-cell genome sequencing platform, bit-MAP®, the company has assembled bit-GEM, one of the world’s largest microbial genome databases, containing more than 3 billion highly diverse genetic sequences.
By integrating bioinformatics, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and advanced strain engineering, bitBiome enables comprehensive enzyme discovery, metabolic pathway design, and microbial optimization for commercial applications. These capabilities allow partners to rapidly develop and economically manufacture innovative bio-based products that were previously inaccessible through conventional approaches.
To learn more about bitBiome’s platform and services, visit www.bitbiome.bio.
Contact: info@bitbiome.bio