German biotech company AMSilk GmbH has entered into a long-term partnership with Ajinomoto Foods Europe, an affiliate of the Ajinomoto Group, to manufacture biobased silk proteins at large scale for biodegradable textiles.
The collaboration will leverage Ajinomoto’s extensive industrial expertise in precision fermentation and its strategically located site in Nesle, France. The facility is close to AMSilk’s key customers in the premium textiles and consumer goods industries. Additionally, it uses local raw materials and renewable energy, aligning with AMSilk’s commitment to sustainable business practices.
“Together, we aspire to create a substantial economic and social impact while driving global innovation forward”
Hiroshi Kaneko, President of Ajinomoto Foods Europe, shared: “We are thrilled to partner with AMSilk and are committed to accelerating the market development of their innovative products by supporting their large-scale biomanufacturing efforts. Together, we aspire to create a substantial economic and social impact while driving global innovation forward.”
High-performance alternatives to polluting materials
AMSilk, a frontrunner in producing sustainable silk proteins, aims to become a global supplier to advance the use of high-performance biomaterials across multiple industries.
Mercedes Benz, Omega, Airbus, Adidas, and other automotive brands have used AMSilk’s materials to innovate in their sectors with sustainable alternatives.
“As a global player with longstanding expertise, Ajinomoto is an ideal production partner for us”
AMSilk’s recombinant silk protein fibers are said to offer a combination of strength and flexibility in textile applications, including high-performance materials. Their bio-based formulation enables the development of animal-free, biodegradable, recyclable, and plastic-free alternatives to traditional synthetic materials. Moreover, these materials can be tailored at a molecular level to specific market needs, with applications across various industries.
In other strategic collaborations, the German innovator partnered with Denmark’s 21st.BIO will accelerate the production of its recombinant proteins to meet the growing demand for sustainable material solutions. It also partnered with BRAIN Biotech to optimize a specific natural structural protein for use in high-performance biomaterials and registered the first patent application for this optimization process.
Last year, the company raised €25 million from existing investors ATHOS (AT Newtec) with participation from Novo Holdings, Cargill, and MIG Capital. The round brought its total investment capital to €54 million.
Ulrich Scherbel, CEO of AMSilk, comments: “As a global player with longstanding expertise, Ajinomoto is an ideal production partner for us. Their premier fermentation capabilities in France enable us to meet the demands of our European customers by providing nearshored, high-quality materials.”
