Gaining an in-depth understanding of the technical feasibility and commercialization potential for the cold-active amylase enzyme

Project Information

CLEANprocesses

Grant agreement ID: 817109

DOI

10.3030/817109

Project closed

EC signature date 2 May 2018

Start date 1 June 2018

End date 30 November 2018

Funded under

• INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Innovation In SMEs

Total cost

€ 71 429,00

EU contribution

€ 50 000,00

Coordinated by

NUNAZYMES APS
Greenland

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - CLEANprocesses (Gaining an in-depth understanding of the technical feasibility and commercialization potential for the cold-active amylase enzyme)

Reporting period: 2018-06-01 to 2018-11-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

NunaZymes Aps (NZ) is the only Greenlandic biotech company. It specializes in discovery of cold-active enzymes and holds a patent for the α-amylase AmyI3C6 investigated in the Phase I project, where the technical and commercial feasibility of AmyI3C6 was studied. Cold-active enzymes have significant environmental and financial benefits for society, as they optimize processes and products, leading to savings for producers and consumers. So far, no other company has discovered or engineered enzymes with similar activity levels at the same temperature range as AmyI3C6. AmyI3C6 has shown potential in detergents for cold wash, but the enzyme also has potential in other industries, which were investigated in the project.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The project had one work package split into three parts: market analysis, lab testing, and the business plan. The market analysis was performed in two parts: a global market attractiveness study and an in-depth market analysis. The first study investigated seven industries in order to identify those with the most market potential. In addition to detergents, it found that beverage and bakery industries are relevant as production processes can be optimized through use of cold-active enzymes. The in-depth market analysis focused on these three industries. For detergents, Asia-Pacific had the highest growth rates for cold-active α-amylase. In the beverage and bakery industries, Europe was among the most promising markets. The results feed into the go-to-market logic in the business plan. NZ will create partnerships with enzyme companies from Asia-Pacific and Europe to enter the enzyme market. NZ wants to become the world’s leading cold-active enzyme discovery company, delivering enzyme solutions to other enzyme companies.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

Most cold-active α-amylases show highest activity at app. 30ºC. However, with a temp. optimum at 5-20ºC, AmyI3C6 outperforms the existing cold-active α-amylases in the market. AmyI3C6 yields societal implications in the detergent, bakery, and beverage industries, as it can make these industries greener. The environmental impact of cold-active α-amylase in detergent amounts to 0.3 kg of CO2 per 3 kg of laundry. Further, if all Danish households reduced laundry temperatures to lukewarm water, annual savings would be EUR 67 mio. For beverages, savings amount to 2.5 kg of CO2 per 100 L of beer produced, and for bread, 5.4 kg of CO2 per 100 units of white bread. Thus, AmyI3C6 goes far beyond state-of-the-art for cold-active α-amylases.

Diver in the Ikka Fjord, Greenland, where the enzyme was discovered