The Department of Defense (DoD) announced seven new awards to bioindustrial firms as part of the Distributed Bioindustrial Manufacturing Program (DBIMP). This brings the total to 13 awards since the program’s inception, allocating $23 million to date. The DBIMP initiative, aligned with Executive Order 14081, "Advancing Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Innovation for a Sustainable, Safe, and Secure American Bioeconomy," aims to enhance America’s bioeconomic infrastructure and strengthen defense capabilities.
The awardees include:
- Battelle (Columbus, Ohio): $1.85 million for planning a facility to produce cost-effective chemicals for smokeless propellants and other defense materials.
- Modular Genetics (Cambridge, Massachusetts): $2.53 million for developing domestic production of key chemicals for energetic materials, reducing reliance on overseas sources.
- Genomatica (San Diego, California): $1.51 million to design a biorefinery for polymer precursors used in aviation and automotive sectors.
- Industrial Microbes (Alameda, California): $1.55 million to convert ethanol feedstock into acrylic acid for various defense applications.
- ZymoChem (San Leandro, California): $1.57 million to create biobased monomers for military fabrics and high-performance materials.
- The Better Meat Co. (West Sacramento, California): $1.48 million to develop a facility producing mycoprotein ingredients for defense food supply chains.
- Biosphere (Oakland, California): $1.5 million to plan production of high-performance oils for food, fuel, and fabrication.
The DBIMP, administered through the Defense Industrial Base Consortium (DIBC), aims to build resilient, U.S.-based bioindustrial facilities. Selected firms will receive initial funding to develop business and technical plans, with potential follow-on awards of up to $100 million to construct domestic production facilities.
Heidi Shyu, Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, emphasized the importance of biotechnology for maintaining U.S. military and supply chain superiority. The awarded companies will play key roles in addressing emerging threats and strengthening national security by ensuring access to critical bioindustrial materials.
Further DBIMP awards are expected in the coming months, as the program continues its mission to expand domestic biomanufacturing capabilities and reduce reliance on foreign supply chains.
