Ginkgo Bioworks Selected by PNNL to Deliver a Modular, High‑Throughput Phenotyping Platform for DOE's M2PC

Rhea-AI Summary

Ginkgo Bioworks (NYSE: DNA) was awarded a four-year, up to $47M contract by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory's EMSL to co-design, build, and integrate a High‑Throughput Automated Phenotyping Platform (HTP‑APP) for the DOE Microbial Molecular Phenotyping Capability (M2PC).

The modular HTP‑APP will use Ginkgo Automation's Catalyst scheduling software and Reconfigurable Automation Carts (RACs) to automate end‑to‑end workflows, support BSL‑2 operations, enable remote cloud‑lab planning, and generate multimodal data intended for AI/ML analysis.

Positive

• Contract value up to $47M over four years
• Multimodal data designed for AI/ML-ready phenotyping
• Modular RAC architecture enables reconfiguration and scalability
• Cloud lab features support remote operation and higher uptime

Negative

• Contract cap limited to up to $47M across four years

Argus Dec 5 session

+0.43% close to close Open Argus

Details

News Market Reaction – DNA

In the Dec 5 session, DNA gained 0.43%, reflecting a mild positive market reaction.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Market Context

This announcement adds another sizable government-related engagement, with a four-year contract wort...

Analysis

This announcement adds another sizable government-related engagement, with a four-year contract worth up to $47M to build a high-throughput phenotyping platform for DOE’s M2PC. It follows earlier BARDA and ARPA-H awards and a multi-year Bayer extension, reinforcing Ginkgo’s role as an enabling platform for complex biology. Investors may track execution milestones on this project, overall contract backlog, and any further use of the existing shelf and 424B5 equity program when assessing capital needs and growth durability.

Key Figures

DOE-related contract value: up to $47M Contract duration: 4 years Equity offering size: up to $100 million +5 more

DOE-related contract value

up to $47M

Four-year High‑Throughput Automated Phenotyping Platform contract for M2PC

Contract duration

4 years

Term of HTP‑APP contract with EMSL at PNNL

Equity offering size

up to $100 million

Class A common stock offering via 424B5 prospectus supplement on 2025-09-04

Net tangible book value

$642,728,535

As-adjusted net tangible book value at June 30, 2025 in 424B5

Book value per share

$10.00 per share

As-adjusted net tangible book value per share at June 30, 2025

Immediate dilution

$1.33 per share

Dilution to new investors from 424B5 equity offering

Current share price

$9.21

Price prior to this news, vs 200-day MA of $9.98

52-week range

$5.00 – $17.58

52-week low and high before this announcement

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Dec 03

5 events

1. Dec 03

   Government contract

   24h Move

   +4.9%

   ARPA-H EMBODY award up to $8.4M for MV gene therapy platform.

2. Nov 06

   Earnings results

   24h Move

   -2.5%

   Q3 2025 results with revenue decline and significant net loss reported.

3. Nov 03

   Government contract

   24h Move

   -1.5%

   BARDA BioMaP agreement up to $22.2M for mAb biomanufacturing.

4. Oct 31

   Partnership extension

   24h Move

   +8.2%

   Multi-year strategic partnership with Bayer extended for ag biologicals.

5. Oct 30

   Earnings logistics

   24h Move

   -1.5%

   Announcement of Q3 2025 results presentation and investor webcast details.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Key Terms

phenotyping, microbiome, bsl-2, flow cytometry, +2 more

6 terms

phenotyping medical

"increase throughput and reproducibility of phenotyping campaigns across diverse microbes"

Phenotyping is the process of measuring and categorizing observable characteristics of patients, diseases, or biological samples—such as symptoms, lab results, imaging features, or molecular markers—to create meaningful subgroups. For investors, phenotyping matters because it can improve drug trial design, target the right patients, reduce development risk, and reveal which tests or treatments will reach the market, much like profiling customers helps a company tailor and sell the right product.

microbiome medical

"generate rich, reproducible microbial and microbiome data that ensure the U.S."

Microbiome is the community of tiny living organisms—bacteria, viruses, fungi and their genes—that live in a particular place, like the gut, skin or soil; think of it as a neighborhood of microscopic life that affects how that environment works. Investors care because changes or products that target the microbiome can alter health outcomes, crop yields or consumer product performance, creating new markets, regulatory risks and potential shifts in revenue for companies.

bsl-2 medical

"supporting BSL‑2 operations, remote planning and execution, and laboratory integration."

Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2) is a lab designation for handling agents that pose moderate risk to people and the environment, requiring trained staff, basic protective gear, and controlled access. For investors, BSL-2 status signals that a company can work with many common human or animal pathogens under regulated safety practices—similar to a restaurant having certified health inspections—which affects project scope, regulatory oversight, operational costs and timelines.

flow cytometry medical

"multimodal analytics (e.g., plate readers, imaging, flow cytometry, and LC/GC‑MS modalities)"

A laboratory method that uses lasers and sensors to count and analyze individual cells or tiny particles as they flow past a detector, like a high‑speed supermarket scanner that reads barcodes on each item. Investors care because flow cytometry is widely used in drug development, diagnostics and manufacturing quality control; demand for the instruments, reagents and services can signal progress in clinical programs, recurring revenue streams and adoption of new therapies or tests.

lc/gc-ms technical

"flow cytometry, and LC/GC‑MS modalities) designed to support high‑quality"

LC/GC‑MS refers to laboratory methods that separate a mixture into its individual chemical components (liquid chromatography or gas chromatography) and then identify and measure those components by their molecular weight and signature (mass spectrometry). Think of it as sorting puzzle pieces by type and then weighing each piece to confirm what it is; investors care because these tests prove product composition, detect impurities, support regulatory approval, and reduce technical and compliance risk that can affect value.

ai/ml technical

"capture multimodal analytical measurements suitable for AI/ML, and (iii) provide"

AI/ML stands for artificial intelligence and machine learning, software systems that identify patterns in data and make predictions or automate decisions, improving performance as they process more information. Investors care because these technologies can boost revenue, cut costs and create competitive advantages — like a factory that learns to produce goods faster and with fewer mistakes — while also introducing execution, ethical and regulatory risks that can affect a company’s value.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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BOSTON, Dec. 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Ginkgo Bioworks (NYSE: DNA) today announced it has been awarded by the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL) at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) a four-year, up to $47M contract to co-design, build, and integrate a High‑Throughput Automated Phenotyping Platform (HTP‑APP) in support of the Microbial Molecular Phenotyping Capability (M2PC). The platform, selected through a competitive procurement process, is intended to enable the Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Science, Biological and Environmental Research program to generate rich, reproducible microbial and microbiome data that ensure the U.S. remains at the forefront of the bioeconomy, safeguarding economic, societal, and national security benefits while maintaining global leadership in biotechnology innovation.

Drawing on Ginkgo Automation's dynamic Catalyst scheduling software and modular Reconfigurable Automation Carts (RACs), the HTP‑APP is designed to automate end‑to‑end workflows—from media and cultivation to sample preparation and multimodal analytics—while supporting BSL‑2 operations, remote planning and execution, and laboratory integration. This modular approach is expected to help PNNL adapt the platform as scientific needs evolve, add new methods or instrumentation, and maintain high uptime in a user‑facility environment. Conceptual design elements include a RAC‑based architecture with function‑oriented "pods," integrated transport, and software‑enabled interleaving of diverse protocols.

"Our team is excited to contract and collaborate with PNNL again to build a new capability we believe will expand access to high‑quality biological phenotyping at scale. By combining modular automation with flexible software and managed support, we aim to help researchers generate the datasets that modern AI methods need," said Will Serber, General Manager of Ginkgo Automation.

"The recent AI Action Plan from President Trump called for investment in AI-enabled cloud laboratories to accelerate U.S. scientific innovation. This new project is a powerful example of how Ginkgo's AI-enabled cloud lab technology can help keep the American bioeconomy competitive globally," added Jason Kelly, CEO of Ginkgo Bioworks.

M2PC is focused on delivering a predictive understanding of complex biological systems relevant to DOE's mission. The planned platform is intended to (i) increase throughput and reproducibility of phenotyping campaigns across diverse microbes and consortia, (ii) capture multimodal analytical measurements suitable for AI/ML, and (iii) provide a sustainable, expandable foundation for future instrumentation and workflows at PNNL's EMSL.

More information about RACs and Catalyst automation software can be found here or at automation.ginkgo.bio.

Planned platform highlights

• Modularity and expandability: RAC‑based hardware that can be reconfigured or scaled as needs change; software "digital twin" tools to model throughput and identify bottlenecks.
• End‑to‑end workflow coverage: Media prep, cultivation (including photosynthetic workflows), sample prep, and multimodal analytics (e.g., plate readers, imaging, flow cytometry, and LC/GC‑MS modalities) designed to support high‑quality, multimodal data generation.
• Operations and reliability: Designed for cloud lab-ready remote monitoring and safe recovery, with training and managed support to help maximize uptime in a national user‑facility setting.

About Ginkgo Bioworks

Ginkgo Bioworks builds the tools that make biology easier to engineer for everyone. Ginkgo R&D Solutions delivers customizable R&D packages—such as protein engineering, nucleic acid design, and cell-free systems—giving partners a comprehensive way to accelerate innovation across therapeutics, diagnostics, & manufacturing. Ginkgo Agriculture provides R&D services for innovative companies that are developing agricultural biologicals and novel plant traits, including lead discovery, characterization and validation, product & process co-development, and small-scale toll manufacturing. Ginkgo Automation sells modular, integrated laboratory automation so scientists can spend their days planning and analyzing experiments rather than pipetting in the lab. Ginkgo Datapoints uses Ginkgo's in-house automation to generate the large lab data sets to power your AI models. Ginkgo Biosecurity is building and deploying the next-generation infrastructure and technologies that global leaders need to predict, detect, and respond to a wide variety of biological threats. For more information, visit ginkgobioworks.com and ginkgobiosecurity.com, read our blog, or follow us on social media channels such as X (@Ginkgo and @Ginkgo_Biosec), 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) our ability to realize near-term and long-term cost savings associated with our site consolidation plans, including the ability to terminate leases or find sub-lease tenants for unused facilities, (ii) 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, (iii) the ability to implement business plans, forecasts, and other expectations, and to identify and realize additional business opportunities, including with respect to our solutions and tools offerings, (iv) the risk of downturns in demand for products using synthetic biology, (v) the uncertainty regarding the demand for passive monitoring programs and biosecurity services, (vi) changes to the biosecurity industry, including due to advancements in technology, emerging competition and evolution in industry demands, standards and regulations, (vii) the outcome of any pending or potential legal proceedings against Ginkgo, (viii) our ability to realize the expected benefits from and the success of our Foundry platform programs and Codebase assets, (ix) our ability to successfully develop engineered cells, bioprocesses, data packages or other deliverables, (x) the product development, production or manufacturing success of our customers, (xi) our exposure to the volatility and liquidity risks inherent in holding equity interests in other operating companies and other non-cash consideration we may receive for our services, (xii) the potential negative impact on our business of our restructuring or the failure to realize the anticipated savings associated therewith and (xiii) the uncertainty regarding government budgetary priorities and funding allocated to government agencies. 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 25, 2025 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.

GINKGO BIOWORKS INVESTOR CONTACT:
investors@ginkgobioworks.com

GINKGO BIOWORKS MEDIA CONTACT:
press@ginkgobioworks.com

 

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SOURCE Ginkgo Bioworks

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

What did Ginkgo (DNA) announce on December 5, 2025 about PNNL?

Ginkgo announced a four-year, up to $47M contract to co-design, build, and integrate a High‑Throughput Automated Phenotyping Platform for PNNL's EMSL supporting DOE M2PC.

How large is the Ginkgo (DNA) contract with PNNL and over what timeframe?

The award is for up to $47 million over a four-year period.

What technologies will Ginkgo (DNA) supply for the HTP‑APP at PNNL?

Ginkgo will provide modular Reconfigurable Automation Carts (RACs) and Catalyst scheduling software to automate end‑to‑end workflows and integrate multimodal analytics.

Will the HTP‑APP support biosafety and remote operations for PNNL?

Yes; the platform is designed to support BSL‑2 operations, cloud lab‑style remote planning and execution, and managed support for uptime.

Does the PNNL contract state expected revenue recognition or financial impact for Ginkgo (DNA)?

The release specifies the contract is up to $47M over four years but does not detail revenue recognition or timing.

How does the HTP‑APP intend to support AI/ML for researchers using PNNL facilities?

The platform aims to capture multimodal analytical measurements and reproducible phenotyping data suitable for AI/ML model training and analysis.