A new challenge has been opened by the German incubator for breakthrough innovations SPRIND, with funding of up to 4.3 M EUR per team across three stages.

ENGINEERING MICROBIAL CONSORTIA

Developing robust biomanufacturing processes with Microbial Consortia and AI

The goal of this Challenge is to develop new kinds of robust, circular, end-to-end biomanufacturing processes for sustainable chemicals and materials using fermentation with microbial consortia. These processes will be continuously optimized and actively controlled through AI-supported Design-Build-Test-Learn (DBTL) cycles. As these processes mature, they could turn waste streams and future feedstocks made from captured CO₂ into useful chemicals and materials, improving resource efficiency and helping close material and carbon cycles.

Robust processes must deliver consistent, reliable production even as feedstocks vary, operating conditions shift, or chemical transformations generate toxic intermediates. The challenge is calling for fully integrated manufacturing systems that unite feedstock preparation, biological conversion, active process control, product recovery, and formulation where needed. Teams will use AI/ML models to make quantitative predictions and enable closed-loop process control.

Participation is open to university research groups, non-university research institutions, startups, established companies, incubators, or teams that have not yet formed a legal entity. Teams must be headquartered in the EU, EFTA, or the UK.

The Challenge focuses on commercial execution and building new manufacturing capabilities that can be sustained by market demand.

Deadline for applications is 16 November 11:00 h CET.

A webinar gives you the chance to learn more: 03 November 26 from 16: – 17:30 CET.

All information can be found here: https://www.sprind.org/en/actions/challenges/engineering-microbial-consortia