Objective
A major challenge in carbon-based bioproduction is achieving high-yield conversion of carbon feedstocks—such as methanol—into target compounds, while avoiding carbon losses to biomass or CO2 emissions. Current microbial metabolism prioritizes energy and biomass generation, often oxidizing a substantial fraction of carbon as CO2 via respiration, limiting the sustainability of bio-based production systems. CarboNcare proposes a breakthrough solution: a synthetic fermentative metabolism engineered into E. coli and P. putida, which forces methanol assimilation into value-added products without releasing CO2. These strains grow only if they convert methanol into target chemicals, lactate, succinate, and 2,3-butanediol with high stoichiometric yields, ensuring a tight growth-product coupling and preventing evolutionary drift toward biomass overproduction. By bypassing oxidative respiration and instead generating energy through substrate-level phosphorylation and controlled electron transfer to quinones, CarboNcare eliminates the need for CO2-emitting pathways. Electrons are redirected to internal metabolites (e.g. pyruvate, acetyl-CoA), maximizing carbon retention in final products. The system operates under aerobic but non-respiratory conditions, simplifying scale-up, reducing methanol loss, and enhancing process robustness. CarboNcare follows a Design-Build-Test-Learn (DBTL) approach, combining cutting-edge strain design with metabolic rewiring. The project brings together leading European partners: CHA (strain engineering and synthetic metabolism), DTU (systems biology and P. putida engineering), MPI (computational modelling), ULEI (enzyme engineering), CEA (adaptive laboratory evolution), IN and DEC (communication, stakeholder engagement, business modelling), and HES-SO (bioprocess development and scale-up). Together, they will deliver a robust and climate-resilient platform for sustainable methanol-based bioproduction.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences chemical sciences organic chemistry alcohols
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins enzymes
You need to log in or register to use this function
We are sorry... an unexpected error occurred during execution.
You need to be authenticated. Your session might have expired.
Thank you for your feedback. You will soon receive an email to confirm the submission. If you have selected to be notified about the reporting status, you will also be contacted when the reporting status will change.
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
-
HORIZON.3.1 - The European Innovation Council (EIC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-EIC - HORIZON EIC Grants
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-EIC-2025-PATHFINDEROPEN
See all projects funded under this callCoordinator
Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
10117 Berlin
Germany
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.