ISU infrastructure, industry partnerships to support new scale-up facility
August 15, 2025
BioMADE is partnering with the ISU Research Park and Iowa State University on a collaborative initiative to install a bioindustrial manufacturing scale-up facility at ISU’s BioCentury Research Farm.
AMES, Iowa – In working with research and industry partners, the Biobased Products team – one of three state Bioscience Platforms based at Iowa State University – identified a critical gap to help advance innovative solutions and products from the lab to commercialization.
For the team to effectively support technology-driven economic development in Iowa, Biobased Products program lead Brent Shanks and chief technology officer Kevin Moore knew access to a scale-up fermentation facility was needed. To address this need, the team – a partnership with BioConnect Iowa and Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) – developed a proposal for a bioindustrial manufacturing scale-up facility.
A new biomanufacturing facility announced today by BioMADE, a U.S. Department of Defense Manufacturing Innovation Institute, will make that proposal a reality and provide a pathway to market for biobased products. BioMADE is partnering with the ISU Research Park and Iowa State University on this collaborative initiative to install a multi-use fermentation facility at ISU’s BioCentury Research Farm.
“We know there is potential growth for everything from biopesticides to specialty feed ingredients to bioplastics,” said Shanks, the Anson Marston Distinguished Professor in Engineering and director of ISU’s Center for Biorenewable Chemicals (CBiRC). “BioMADE’s investment in the state will provide both Iowa startups and companies access to the technology infrastructure required to determine if a product is commercially viable.”
In March 2024, BioMADE named Iowa and five other states as finalists for project support. In selecting Iowa for this initiative, BioMADE is committing up to $20 million to the facility, which will be matched by $10 million in funding from IEDA’s Strategic Infrastructure Program and up to $10 million in cost-sharing contributions from Iowa State. The IEDA Board approved the ISU Research Park’s grant application today prior to the BioMADE announcement.
“Iowa’s production of biobased feedstocks makes it an ideal location for biomanufacturing,” said Matt Darr, John Deere Endowed Chair in Ag Innovation and leader of the BioCentury Research Farm. “Iowa State has the infrastructure and focus on innovation at the BioCentury Research Farm to support this state-led economic development effort. Since 2009, we’ve led and supported more than $85 million in grant funding supporting more than 50 research and industry service projects each year.”
Benefits to industry and state
Plans for the biomanufacturing facility, which BioMADE will operate, include 5,000- and 10,000-liter fermenters. According to the IEDA report, “The project creates immense value for Iowa feedstocks and distributed manufacturing jobs across the state. … The facility substantially de-risks a wide range of bioprocessing projects, and provides hands on training, workforce and talent development for bio-process engineers, scientists and technicians.”
