Infrastructure
Addressing Infrastructure Gaps to Build the Biomanufacturing Industry
The United States faces a foundational gap in domestic pilot- and intermediate-scale bioindustrial manufacturing infrastructure. As a result, American companies must seek relevant facilities overseas to scale-up their biomanufacturing processes for innovative products from the laboratory to commercial production.
To address this gap and realize the promise of bioindustrial manufacturing, Congress provided a down payment in 2023 for a strategic, multi-year effort to catalyze the creation of pilot-scale infrastructure through BioMADE. These investments will transform American manufacturing, bring back manufacturing jobs, retain American R&D efforts, create well-paying jobs, and preserve U.S. leadership in the 21st century bioeconomy.
In 2024, BioMADE announced that it is exploring opportunities with six states – California, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, and North Carolina – to establish bioindustrial manufacturing facilities there. In 2023, BioMADE announced it would be establishing a bioindustrial manufacturing campus in Minnesota.
The Vision
BioMADE launched its plan for a network of 12-15 pilot-scale bioindustrial manufacturing facilities around the United States in 2023. With federal and state co-investments, the BioMADE Pilot Plant Network (PPN) will grow to include pilot facilities throughout the U.S. that provide an essential service to growing bioindustrial manufacturing businesses.
Sites in the network will take many forms and have unique capabilities based on demand, feedstock availability, defense needs, and proximity of existing facilities and workforce training centers. BioMADE will establish the network in phases to best meet the needs of the industry as it evolves, and to take advantage of lessons learned through the development of the network.
These pilot-scale facilities will be made available to companies needing piloting and process development capabilities as they look to build a commercial scale manufacturing facility.
Minnesota
BioMADE received support from the Minnesota Legislature in 2023 to build a bioindustrial manufacturing facility in Minnesota. This state-of-the-art bioindustrial manufacturing pilot plant will inspire innovation and attract industry.
About the Sites
These bioindustrial manufacturing sites will:
Foster innovation by de-risking new technologies and products with innovative start-ups, small companies, and large industries alike
Build far-reaching career pathways and create additional jobs through the construction and operation of facilities
Support American farmers and create new markets for their feedstocks
Build and strengthen domestic supply chains for materials that go into everyday products used by Americans
Improve environmental sustainability and reduce reliance on foreign inputs
Photos: North Carolina State University (2), University of Georgia, Solugen