May 17, 2023
Diverse Resources conservation and Resources
Investment in Bacchus Bio innovation, a start-up from Kobe University, to develop “smart cells” that contribute to the realization of a sustainable society
Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director, President and Chief Executive Officer:Shunichi Kito; hereinafter “Idemitsu”) has invested in Bacchus Bio innovation Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Kobe-shi, Hyogo; Representative Director: Mikio Tanji; hereinafter “Bacchus”), a start-up with advanced biotechnology from Kobe University. Idemitsu will work with Bacchus to develop “smart cells”* that can be used to produce biofuels, bio- chemicals, and other products.
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Smart cells: Organisms and cells that optimize the production of target materials by combining genetic modification technology and information analysis.
In recent years, there has been an accelerating trend to realize a sustainable economy and society by utilizing biotechnology and renewable biological resources. The Japanese government is also promoting biotechnology strategies heading for the world’s most advanced bioeconomy society by 2030.
Under these circumstances, technologies that combine bio- and digital technologies are being applied to industrial fields. One of the examples is “manufacturing using microorganisms”, which is a technology that can contribute to a sustainable society by utilizing biomass and CO₂ as raw materials. “Smart cells”, which enable the mass and highly efficient production of useful substances, are the key to the technology, and their further development is expected. Bacchus, the company in which we have invested, is a start-up that owns state-of-the-art “smart cells” development technology and provides a full range of services from designing genes to breeding microorganisms or scaling up the production processes.
Our internal virtual company, “the Advanced Materials Company” established in 2022, has set “Bio-Life Solutions” as one of the prioritized areas of the Functional Materials Businesses. One of the specific measures in this prioritized area is “manufacturing using microorganisms.” With this investment as an opportunity, Idemitsu will sign a joint development agreement with Bacchus in the second half of FY2023 to collaborate in developing “smart cells” that can be used to produce biofuels and bio-chemicals.
Production of useful materials using “smart cells”
Production of useful materials using “smart cells”
Production of useful materials using “smart cells”
当社は2022年11月に発表した「中期経営計画（2023～2025年度） 」において、下記3つの事業領域の社会実装を通じ、事業ポートフォリオ転換を推進することを表明しました。
We have positioned this initiative with Bacchus as one of our efforts to socially implement “Diverse resource conservation / circulation solutions” in the three business domains that Idemitsu has identified to realize a carbon-neutral society in 2050. Through our commitment to “manufacturing using microorganisms,” we will contribute to the realization of a sustainable society.
■Overview of Bacchus Bio innovation Co., Ltd.
Address: 6-3-7 Minatojima Minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe-shi, Hyogo
Representative: Mikio Tanji, Representative Director
Established: March 18, 2020
Main business: Integrated biofoundry
- DBTL biofoundry business (ultra-fast microbial breeding)
- DBTL basic elemental technology utilization business
- In-house product development business
- Scale-up and process development business
Regarding news release
contact information
Idemitsu Kosan Co.,Ltd. Public Relations Department, Public Relations Division