Corporate
Profile

[Company strength]
We are a Kobe University-initiated venture. We develop application fields for basic technologies (patents) which we created through strong collaboration with various universities and corporations. Our five pillars of current development are: 1. Arming-yeast-based production of ethanol from unutilized biomass; 2. Production of grease-derived ester (BDF) and glycerin by enzyme-catalyzed processes; 3. Production of highly pure D-lactic acid from unutilized biomass (C5 / C6 sugars); 4. Process for producing polyactic acid from lactic fermented liquid; and 5. Production of polyol from lactic acid and castor oil. We are collaborating with plant manufacturers for practical development and started the sale of our enzymatic BDF production plants.

[Business description]
We provide fungi, enzymes and systems which convert unutilized biomass resources into useful substances such as biofuel and bio-based chemical products. We have been working on the practical realization of in-house developed processes in collaboration with plant manufacturers. Our core technology lies in the creation of arming microorganisms based on “cell surface engineering”. It realizes better energy conservation and higher efficiency in conversion processes of unutilized biomass. We have accumulated various unique technologies and patents in collaboration with industry, academia and government. We provide our customers with technologies and services which would realize process revolution based on our track records. We contribute to the realization of an environment-friendly recycling-based sustainable society.

[Industry]
System development

[Strength of products/technologies]
We have confirmed the contribution of arming yeast in enhancement of saccharification efficiency and ethanol yield by ethanol fermentation tests using a wide range of grass ingredients including rice straw, straw, grass, erianthus and bagasse and wood-based ingredients such as Japanese cedar. We are currently developing a scale-up technology which is about to be turned into actual utilization. Our enzymatic BDF production plant is the first system we turned into practical use which realizes an innovative process to yield by-produced glycerin of extremely high purity without generating contaminated waste water. We are also capable to supply lactic acid polymer samples of various molecular masses by using bench plants.

[Representative's message]
We currently engage in the development of fungi and processes for the production of ethanol compatible with numerous ingredients from South East Asia, the U.S.A. and Brazil. We wish to diffuse our enzymatic BDF production plants as equipment to realize environment-conscious processes for their capacity to solve issues of conventional methods that generate contaminated waste water and alkaline-contaminated glycerin. We are aiming at developing distribution channels for our highly pure D-lactic acid and polymers as ingredients of stereo-complex polyactic acid. The fungi, enzymes and systems that we develop will suppress the generation of waste and thus contribute to the establishment of an environment-friendly recycling-based sustainable society with the expansion of new industries utilizing biomass resources.

[Company structure for market development/overseas expansion]
Our arming yeast attracts high interest especially overseas; we are orienting our commercial activities in the perspective of concluding license contracts through performance assessment of ingredients held by the other parties. Besides, we will propose systems which allow to annex our new plants to existing facilities in South East Asia, where 1st generation biofuel is already popular. We are consulting with patent offices and lawyers familiar with international affairs to manage matters related to patent licenses; regarding our plants, we are working on overseas expansion by tying up with engineering corporations.

[Awards and media coverage]
[Awards] 
The Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry's Award at the Bio-Venture Grand Prix (2002); the 2nd Prize at the Amagasaki Eco-Products Grand Prix (2012); the Environment Technology Award from the Kinki Chemical Society Japan (2013); the Technical Award from the Society of Separation Process Engineers Japan (2013)
[Media] 
The Sankei Shimbun (October 31, 2013) and many others

[Authorization/Certification]
Approved and selected for the Strategic Core Technology Advancement Program (SAPOIN; Kinki region 1012050)

[Joint research and development]
We are currently making joint research with 13 major corporations for the Agriculture & Technology Collaboration Project of Kobe University. We also engage in joint research and development with universities including Osaka University, Kansai University, Kyoto University, the University of Tokyo, the Tokyo Institute of Technology and Mie University for projects sponsored by the National Economic Development Office (NEDO), the Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries and the Ministry of the Environment.

[Other sites]
R&D Laboratory (Amagasaki city, Hyogo Prefecture)

[Transaction form]
Development and order acceptance of biotech systems, licensing contracts for fungi and related systems, trial manufacturing and sale of enzymes, fungi and polymers

[Main Clients / Business History (domestic)]
Sale of enzymes, consignment of fermentation testing, trial manufacturing and sale of enzymes, fungi and polymers

[Exhibition History/Information]
Biwako Business Messe 2013; INCHEM TOKYO 2013; and others