Ginkgo to Deploy Modular Automation Technology to the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL) at Pacific Northwest National Labs (PNNL) to Accelerate Microbial Research for the Bioeconomy

Rhea-AI Summary

Ginkgo Bioworks (NYSE: DNA) has secured a $4.66M contract to deploy its Reconfigurable Automation Carts (RACs) technology at the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL) at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. The project involves constructing a fully integrated workcell with 18 different devices within a modular anaerobic chamber.

The automation platform will enable remote operation of complex anaerobic phenotyping workflows, streamlining research processes for EMSL scientists. The system features a web-based software stack with API gateway access, supporting AI-driven autonomous science capabilities. The platform is expected to be fully operational later this year, advancing research in microbial engineering and biodesign.

Positive

• Secured significant $4.66M contract with a prestigious national laboratory
• Technology deployment demonstrates commercial validation of Ginkgo's automation platform
• System enables remote operation and AI-driven autonomous workflows, increasing efficiency
• Previous deployments have shown improved throughput, repeatability, and reduced costs

Negative

• Implementation timeline and potential deployment risks not specified
• Financial impact and revenue recognition details not disclosed

Insights

Biotechnology Investment Analyst

Ginkgo's $4.66M deal with PNNL demonstrates growing demand for its automation technology while expanding into government research markets.

The $4.66 million contract with the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL) at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory represents a strategic expansion of Ginkgo's automation technology into government research facilities. While modest in size relative to Ginkgo's overall revenue base, this deal has several important implications for the company's growth trajectory.

The deployment of Ginkgo's Reconfigurable Automation Carts (RACs) technology at EMSL validates the company's capabilities in building flexible, high-throughput automation systems for complex biological research. This particular implementation—featuring 18 different devices in an anaerobic chamber—showcases Ginkgo's technical expertise in creating customized solutions for specialized research environments.

Most significantly, this contract demonstrates Ginkgo's ability to commercialize its internal automation technology as a product offering for external customers. By expanding beyond its core synthetic biology services into selling the actual automation infrastructure that powers its platform, Ginkgo is diversifying its revenue streams and potentially creating a higher-margin business segment.

The emphasis on API access and AI-driven workflows in the announcement signals Ginkgo's understanding of where lab automation is heading—toward increasingly autonomous operations. By positioning its technology as AI-ready, Ginkgo is aligning with broader industry trends toward self-optimizing laboratory systems.

While a single government contract won't dramatically alter Ginkgo's financial position, the real value lies in establishing credibility with federal research institutions, potentially opening doors to larger contracts and partnerships across the expansive U.S. government research ecosystem.

Ginkgo will build a platform driven by its Reconfigurable Automation Carts (RACs) technology to enable EMSL's open-ended exploration of bioconomy-relevant microbes

BOSTON, July 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Ginkgo Bioworks (NYSE: DNA), which is building the leading platform for cell programming and biosecurity, today announced that the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL) at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), a leading U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science user facility, has selected Ginkgo Automation to deliver a state-of-the-art automated anaerobic phenotyping platform at its Richland, Washington campus. This purchase marks a significant step in EMSL's mission to advance fundamental biological research supporting U.S. energy production, ensuring leadership in the bioeconomy, and establishing critical materials supply-chain resilience.

Under this $4.66M contract, Ginkgo will construct and install a fully integrated workcell comprising 18 different devices housed within a modular anaerobic chamber at EMSL. The system was designed in partnership with EMSL and will use Ginkgo Automation's Reconfigurable Automation Cart (RAC) technology, a modular and extensible automation system designed to enhance laboratory throughput, efficiency, and data quality, while remaining extremely low-touch. The system aims to enable EMSL scientists working with users of the facility to remotely operate complex end-to-end anaerobic phenotyping workflows using a diverse array of instruments, streamlining research processes and accelerating discovery.

Ginkgo Automation's systems are engineered for flexible R&D at medium to high throughput, offering seamless integration of state-of-the-art lab equipment and providing robust data capture for research programs. Ginkgo's technology uses a modern web-based software stack designed for programmatic control via API gateway access, which enables AI-driven autonomous science to further accelerate discovery. This particular deployment is a comprehensive solution for remotely operating automated anaerobic phenotyping workflows on variable mixes of instruments physically located at EMSL. Ginkgo Automation believes these capabilities will empower researchers to move towards fully autonomous science workflows, accelerating discovery and characterization of new biological phenomena.

"We are excited to support EMSL's ambitious research goals with our automation technology," said Will Serber, General Manager of Ginkgo Automation. "Our automated systems are designed to empower partners like EMSL to realize the benefits of automation for research and development while maintaining control over their scientific workflows. This partnership underscores the adaptability and value of our solutions for leading research institutions."

Automation systems using the same core technologies have been deployed across Ginkgo labs and at external customer sites and have delivered increased throughput, repeatability, uptime, and data capture along with decreased cycle times and costs relative to already highly automated labs.

The new automation platform is expected to be fully operational at EMSL later this year, enabling researchers to advance critical work in microbial engineering, biodesign, and advancing bioeconomy fundamental science. We hope this transformative public-private partnership will catalyze innovation and advance our global leadership in biotechnology.

Ginkgo Automation capabilities can now be deployed at your site. Find out more about our RACs and Catalyst automation software here or at automation.ginkgo.bio

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 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

What is the value of Ginkgo Bioworks' (DNA) contract with PNNL's EMSL laboratory?

Ginkgo Bioworks secured a $4.66M contract to deliver an automated anaerobic phenotyping platform at EMSL's Richland, Washington campus.

What technology will Ginkgo Bioworks (DNA) deploy at PNNL?

Ginkgo will deploy its Reconfigurable Automation Carts (RACs) technology, consisting of 18 different devices housed within a modular anaerobic chamber.

When will Ginkgo's automation platform be operational at EMSL?

The automation platform is expected to be fully operational later in 2025.

How does Ginkgo's automation system benefit research operations?

The system enables remote operation of complex workflows, increases throughput, improves repeatability, reduces cycle times and costs, and supports AI-driven autonomous science capabilities.

What is the purpose of Ginkgo's automation deployment at EMSL?

The platform will advance fundamental biological research supporting U.S. energy production, bioeconomy leadership, and materials supply-chain resilience through automated anaerobic phenotyping research.