Zymergen's entry into the $3 trillion chemical and materials industry has accelerated the production of its pioneering Hyaline film and the commercialization of more breakthrough products in the electronics, agriculture, consumer care and healthcare sectors.
Zymergen is committed to developing and launching better-performing products more sustainably, at a fraction of the cost and time compared to existing technologies. The unique combination of biology, chemistry, machine learning, and laboratory automation cements Zymergen's powerful proprietary platform and drives the company's ability to discover, design, and promote innovative materials.
Zymergen's extensive product portfolio is a beacon of innovation in the previously stagnant chemistry and materials field. The American Chemistry Council report shows that the size of the US chemical industry, which has not produced breakthrough materials since the 1980s, shrank by 3% in 2019 [1]. In view of the existing production infrastructure and outdated practices, many traditional chemical companies have reduced their investment in research and development of new materials, leaving people with inferior products and causing more and more serious environmental damage to the planet. Although the scale of the US chemical industry has shrunk, it is still a huge promoter of global climate change. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) [2] reported that the US chemical industry generated more than 190 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions in 2018 alone.
Peter Singlehurst, Head of Private Equity at Baillie Gifford, said: "Our investment philosophy is to find companies that can achieve important changes in the long term. Zymergen is demonstrating their ability to build products in batches with unprecedented attributes. Their rich and growing product pipeline, plus Its platform approach makes this repeatable process better and better over time. As long-term investors, we have been looking for companies that have the potential to change the industry for decades. Zymergen is just such a company."
The investment announced today will help bring the revolutionary Hyaline product to market faster and accelerate Zymergen's development of pure natural pesticides and other biologically derived crop protection products, as well as biological insect repellents. These product innovations are supported by a strong platform and technical infrastructure, and protected by strong and growing data.
Jay Flatley, Chairman of the Illumina Board of Directors and Lead Independent Director of the Zymergen Board of Directors, said: “Zymergen is taking the torch from early innovators and seizing a huge opportunity to use biotechnology to create transformative products. Zymergen is turning its powerful vision into reality— —In the form of real products — and capture the huge new market that brings value to customers and investors.”
Josh Hoffman, CEO of Zymergen said: “Zymergen is committed to producing revolutionary high-performance products that surpass existing materials while greatly reducing environmental impact. This is the most correct investment at the moment, advancing our long-term transformation vision, and will truly Products to market."
HYALINE ZT-0200-X1
The first in our family of films offering superb optical quality and temperature resistance in a thinner, flexible form factor.
POSSIBLE APPLICATIONS
Touch Sensors
Mechanical robustness means thinner film for maximum design freedom. This enables full-screen touch sensors in flexible/foldable devices.
Hyaline ZT-0200-X1 possesses an unrivaled combination of mechanical, physical, and optical properties.
Hyaline ZT-0200-X1 enables higher ITO annealing temperatures in manufacturing. The result is increased capacity and better functioning systems.
Optical Filters
Thinner film creates design freedom.
High temperature properties enable faster processing times in manufacturing.
Printed Electronics
Completely transparent, high temperature printed electronics are now within reach.
Hyaline ZT-0200-X1 makes printed electronics solderable using standard reflow soldering.
Flexible Printed Circuit Boards (PCB)
Elimination of epoxy/acrylic adhesive layers creates an optimized system, with 30% thinner and more flexible PCBs.