Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies has expanded its partnership with North Carolina State University to create future innovation opportunities through new research projects, sustainable facility design, and bioprocessing advancements at the future Holly Springs cell culture biomanufacturing site. The partnership will focus areas of research and facility design to support Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies’ goal to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2030 for its new $2 billion site in Holly Springs. Additionally, the partnership will create opportunities for the organizations to develop new bioprocess development techniques using machine learning, artificial intelligence, and analytical methods.

This agreement builds on the existing partnership which has led to projects to promote sustainability at the Holly Springs site and strengthen Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies’ talent at both of its North Carolina sites.

With the Holly Springs site set to open by 2025, landscape architecture and environmental planning experts at NC State are collaborating with Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies on sustainable site development plans to achieve carbon neutrality. The future site design targets 100% clean energy utilization, implementation of cutting-edge waste disposal and recycling, among other sustainability plans.

NC State’s College of Design researchers are conducting an ecosystem services assessment to set and monitor environmental performance targets. The plan will guide the site’s sustainable development and ensure it delivers optimum benefits to the surrounding community, for example, improving wastewater treatment, and identifying the most environmentally beneficial ways to incorporate pollinators, natural learning gardens and other biodiversity features.

The agreement was signed during a ceremony held on NC State’s campus in Raleigh on November 11, 2022. NC State Chancellor Randy Woodson and Kenneth Bilenberg, vice president and Holly Springs site lead for Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies as well as other guests were present. The first project under the new agreement is expected to begin by the end of 2022

“We’ve built a strong relationship with NC State that started well before our 2021 announcement to build North America’s largest end-to-end cell culture biomanufacturing facility in Holly Springs and has already resulted in numerous improvements to achieve a facility design with sustainability at its core,” said Bilenberg. “The research agreement will enable increased collaborations with the university, and NC State has the expertise to help reach our ambitious goals for the new site not only with regard to sustainability and environmental stewardship but also as we evaluate future greenway development and manufacturing efficiency projects.”

Chancellor Woodson said, “We are proud to partner with Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies to develop sustainability solutions. The research agreement will strengthen collaborations, provide new opportunities to faculty and students, and will help Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies achieve their goals.”

The existing partnership has already resulted in improvements of the sustainable design of the new Holly Springs site. For example, NC State performed a pre-development assessment of biodiversity and beneficial use at the future Holly Springs site, and identified design strategies to minimize environmental impact, preserve biodiversity, and restore the habitat, which includes restoration of more than 30 acres at the site.

NC State and Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies also have an existing training partnership that matches business needs with university talent and research. Already, more than 200 employees have completed advanced training through NC State’s Biotechnology Training and Education Center (BTEC).