Enzymes exhibit high efficiency, specificity, selectivity, biodegradability, non-toxicity, and the ability to function effectively under gentle biological conditions. These qualities render enzymes a sustainable and eco-friendly substitute for traditional catalysts within industrial settings. However, harnessing enzymes for industrial applications often necessitates extensive and costly experimental engineering efforts. Computational methods hold promise as potential solutions, but these have not yet demonstrated the ability to rapidly design highly efficient enzymes that mimic those found in Nature. As opposed to other methods, our computational approach developed in the previous ERC-STG can introduce active site and distal mutations that modulate the enzyme conformational dynamics, achieving increases in catalytic efficiency of up to 1000-fold. This project aimed to exploit the proprietary technology developed in ERC-STG and ERC-POC for generating a set of patentable rationally designed enzyme kits focused on stereoselective carbon-carbon bond formation. KITZYME aimed to create a spin-off for the exploitation of the new set of rationally designed enzyme kits as well as the proprietary technology developed for enzyme optimization. Both the enzyme kits and our technology formed the cornerstone of the project, for providing industries with a cost-effective, scalable, and environmentally sustainable solution. Beyond the scientific goals, the project was explicitly oriented toward impact, aiming to establish a clear pathway from technological innovation to industrial application through intellectual property protection, strategic partnerships, and the creation of a dedicated spin-off company. In doing so, the project aimed to contribute significantly to the adoption of greener manufacturing processes, reduce development costs and timelines for industrial biocatalysts, and strengthen the transfer of academic innovation into the market, ultimately supporting a more sustainable and competitive chemical sector.
