By Andi Anderson
Central Illinois Steps into the Biomanufacturing Spotlight. In a groundbreaking announcement, President Joe Biden has declared Central Illinois a focal point for biomanufacturing innovation. The Illinois Fermentation and Agriculture Biomanufacturing Hub (iFAB) leads this transformative journey, with the Integrated Bioprocessing Research Laboratory (IBRL) at the helm.
iFAB's consortium, comprising 30 diverse organizations from academia, industry, government, and nonprofits, has a united goal – to energize industry growth in Champaign, Piatt, and Macon counties.
Beth Conerty, iFAB's principal investigator, emphasizes the significance of this designation. It builds on IBRL's five years of successful operation, offering companies a platform to prove their technologies and establish early manufacturing facilities.
The Economic Development Administration's (EDA) Tech Hubs program, authorized by the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, aims to boost economic growth, job creation, and national security. Central Illinois' iFAB stands to benefit from this program as the precision fermentation industry, set to reach $11.8 billion by 2028, holds the potential to create one million jobs by 2030.
Precision fermentation is a cutting-edge biomanufacturing field that transforms local feedstocks, such as corn and soybeans, into an array of valuable products, including textiles, biofuels, food ingredients, polymers, and pigments. This sustainable process relies on microbes to convert sugars into high-value goods.
As a designated Tech Hub, iFAB is eligible for phase two funding, ranging from $45 million to $70 million. EDA anticipates that between five and ten of the 31 Tech Hubs will receive this funding, which will support initiatives like infrastructure development, workforce training, and the fostering of biomanufacturing startups.
iFAB's industry partners, including ADM, Boston Bioprocess, Primient, and Clarkson Grain Company, play a pivotal role in driving this biomanufacturing hub's growth.
Central Illinois now boasts two Tech Hubs, with the second, the Bloch Tech Hub in Chicago, focusing on quantum technologies. Both hubs are part of the Innovate Illinois initiative led by Governor JB Pritzker.
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, a renowned research institution, collaborates with academia, industry, government, and the community to shape a brighter future for the region. This recognition solidifies Central Illinois' position as an innovation center in biomanufacturing, promising economic growth and innovation.
Photo Credit: iFAB
Categories: Illinois, Business