Ginkgo Bioworks Awarded DARPA Funding to Produce Novel Proteins to Control Ice in Extreme Cold Weather Environments

Rhea-AI Summary

Ginkgo Bioworks (NYSE: DNA) secures a $6 million contract from DARPA for the ICE program to develop novel biologically-sourced materials for ice control in extreme cold weather environments, potentially impacting commercial markets like optics, aviation, automobiles, and outdoor products.

Biotechnology Expert

The collaboration between Ginkgo Bioworks and DARPA to develop novel materials for controlling ice in extreme environments is a significant stride in biotechnology applications for defense and commercial use. The fusion of synthetic biology and material science to create de-icing proteins is a testament to the innovative potential of biotechnology in addressing complex challenges.

From an industry perspective, the use of metagenomic discovery and computational design to source ice-modulating proteins is a cutting-edge approach. It underscores the importance of high-throughput screening and predictive modeling in accelerating the bioengineering process. This technology could disrupt the current de-icing market by offering sustainable and possibly less corrosive alternatives to traditional chemical agents.

Commercially, the implications are vast. If Ginkgo's endeavor proves successful, industries ranging from aviation to consumer goods could see a significant reduction in operational risks and costs associated with ice management. Moreover, the environmental benefits of biodegradable de-icing agents could align with increasing regulatory pressures for sustainable solutions.

Defense Industry Analyst

The awarding of a DARPA contract to Ginkgo Bioworks is a clear indicator of the defense sector's interest in advanced biosecurity and material science. DARPA's investments often signal key areas of future military technology development. In this case, the focus on operations in extreme cold weather environments highlights the strategic importance of ensuring military effectiveness in all conditions.

For the defense industry, the potential to improve safety and operational efficiency in cold environments could lead to significant cost savings and enhanced mission capabilities. The success of the ICE program could set a precedent for further investment in biologically-inspired materials, potentially opening up a new market segment within the defense sector.

It's also noteworthy that the collaboration with Netrias and Cambium, along with the expertise of Dr. Ran Drori, suggests a multidisciplinary approach that could yield innovative results. This project could serve as a model for future public-private partnerships in defense technology research and development.

Environmental Sustainability Analyst

The environmental impact of traditional de-icing methods cannot be overstated, with concerns ranging from groundwater contamination to corrosion of infrastructure. Ginkgo Bioworks' focus on developing biologically-sourced and inspired materials for de-icing proposes an eco-friendly alternative that could revolutionize the industry.

Biologically-derived de-icing agents, if proven effective and scalable, would represent a major advancement in sustainable practices. They could mitigate the negative environmental effects associated with salt and chemical-based deicers, which are currently widespread. The broader implications for wildlife and ecosystems, particularly in sensitive cold weather biomes, could be profoundly positive.

Furthermore, the potential commercial applications, such as frostbite prevention products for outdoor enthusiasts, indicate an alignment with consumer trends favoring sustainable and environmentally responsible products. This could enhance brand reputation and consumer trust for companies adopting these new materials.

BOSTON, March 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Ginkgo Bioworks (NYSE: DNA), which is building the leading platform for cell programming and biosecurity, today announced that it has been awarded a contract for up to $6 million from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to achieve DARPA's objectives under its new Ice Control for cold Environments (ICE) program.

DARPA's ICE program aims to develop new materials that control the physical properties of ice crystals to facilitate operations in extreme cold weather environments, which can pose a variety of risks to both personnel health and critical equipment. To meet this goal, Ginkgo, in collaboration with Netrias, Cambium, and consultant Dr. Ran Drori, aims to develop novel biologically-sourced and inspired materials that leverage biological adaptations to cold environments.

The Ginkgo team will work to enable the sustainable production of novel de-icing proteins with ice-modulating behaviors to improve operational efficacy in extreme cold weather environments. These materials will be designed with the goal of meeting U.S. Department of Defense specifications and could potentially be used in solutions with broad commercial applications. One such application could be a lens coating to prevent frost formation for a range of optics applications from satellites and high altitude imaging instruments to security and wildlife cameras. The aviation and automobile industries could also benefit from de-icing products that facilitate safe operations in icy conditions. Furthermore, a topical frostbite prevention product could be developed for outdoor enthusiasts. If successful, these solutions could impact high value and consumer markets and facilitate replacement of current environmentally harmful de-icing agents.

The team plans to leverage Ginkgo Protein Services to design, screen, and optimize a library of novel proteins that demonstrate ice-modulating behaviors. Ginkgo will design a library of proteins using metagenomic discovery and de novo computational design to source known, naturally occurring ice-modulating behavior proteins. During the discovery phase, predictive models will be used to iterate Design–Build–Test–Optimize loops, maximizing discovery of proteins with ice inhibition, induction, and low-adhesion properties. Throughout the process, Ginkgo will selectively screen promising proteins with further high-performance, application-specific characterization to inform the final down selection.

Jason Kelly, CEO and co-founder of Ginkgo Bioworks: "We are honored to be selected by DARPA to work on this program to facilitate sustained cold weather operations. Building high-throughput libraries of candidate proteins is possible thanks to Ginkgo's unique and differentiated data assets. Biology offers us a myriad of ways to adapt to our environment, and synthetic biology allows us to tap into nature's capabilities and apply them to our own needs. We look forward to the products that the ICE program generates, which may enable enhanced safety and proficiency across various use cases."

To learn more about Ginkgo Protein Services, please visit https://www.ginkgobioworks.com/offerings/protein-services/.

If you are interested in working with Ginkgo for the public sector, check out our Offerings for Governments page.

About Ginkgo Bioworks

Ginkgo Bioworks is the leading horizontal platform for cell programming, providing flexible, end-to-end services that solve challenges for organizations across diverse markets, from food and agriculture to pharmaceuticals to industrial and specialty chemicals. Ginkgo's biosecurity and public health unit, Concentric by Ginkgo, is building global infrastructure for biosecurity to empower governments, communities, and public health leaders to prevent, detect and respond to a wide variety of biological threats. For more information, visit ginkgobioworks.com and concentricbyginkgo.com, read our blog, or follow us on social media channels such as X (@Ginkgo and @ConcentricByGBW), Instagram (@GinkgoBioworks), Threads (@GinkgoBioworks) or LinkedIn.

Forward-Looking Statements of Ginkgo Bioworks

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including statements regarding the capabilities and potential success of the partnership and Ginkgo's cell programming platform. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words "believe," "can," "project," "potential," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "strategy," "future," "opportunity," "plan," "may," "should," "will," "would," "will be," "will continue," "will likely result," and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release, including but not limited to: (i) volatility in the price of Ginkgo's securities due to a variety of factors, including changes in the competitive and highly regulated industries in which Ginkgo operates and plans to operate, variations in performance across competitors, and changes in laws and regulations affecting Ginkgo's business, (ii) the ability to implement business plans, forecasts, and other expectations, and to identify and realize additional business opportunities, (iii) the risk of downturns in demand for products using synthetic biology, (iv) the uncertainty regarding the demand for passive monitoring programs and biosecurity services, (v) changes to the biosecurity industry, including due to advancements in technology, emerging competition and evolution in industry demands, standards and regulations, (vi) the outcome of any pending or potential legal proceedings against Ginkgo, (vii) our ability to realize the expected benefits from and the success of our Foundry platform programs, (viii) our ability to successfully develop engineered cells, bioprocesses, data packages or other deliverables, and (ix) the product development or commercialization success of our customers. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties described in the "Risk Factors" section of Ginkgo's annual report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on February 29, 2024 and other documents filed by Ginkgo from time to time with the SEC. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and Ginkgo assumes no obligation and does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Ginkgo does not give any assurance that it will achieve its expectations.

Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.

GINKGO BIOWORKS INVESTOR CONTACT:
investors@ginkgobioworks.com 

GINKGO BIOWORKS MEDIA CONTACT:
press@ginkgobioworks.com 

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SOURCE Ginkgo Bioworks

What is the purpose of the contract awarded to Ginkgo Bioworks by DARPA?

The purpose of the contract is to develop new materials that control the physical properties of ice crystals to facilitate operations in extreme cold weather environments.

Who are the collaborators of Ginkgo Bioworks in this project?

The collaborators are Netrias, Cambium, and consultant Dr. Ran Drori.

What are the potential commercial applications of the novel materials being developed?

The materials could potentially be used in solutions with broad commercial applications such as lens coatings for optics, de-icing products for aviation and automobile industries, and topical frostbite prevention products for outdoor enthusiasts.

How does Ginkgo Bioworks plan to design the novel proteins for ice modulation?

Ginkgo plans to design a library of proteins using metagenomic discovery and de novo computational design to source known, naturally occurring ice-modulating behavior proteins.

What are the goals of the ICE program led by DARPA?

The ICE program aims to develop materials that control ice crystals' physical properties to enhance safety and operational efficiency in extreme cold weather environments.