Biotechnology

Innovation is crucial to fulfil the potential of industrial biotechnology for sustainable production of fuels, chemicals, materials, food and feed. Similarly, scientific and technological advances in environmental biotechnology are needed to enable novel approaches to water purification, and ‘waste-to-product’ processes thus contributing to a circular economy. Increased fundamental knowledge encompassing enzymes, microorganisms and processes are essential for progress in this field. The Department of Biotechnology covers this research area and, based on new insights, selects, designs and tests new biobased catalysts, micro-organisms, and processes.

The department encompasses five research sections:

20 March 2024

Jack Pronk receives the 2024 Novozymes Prize

The Novo Nordisk Foundation proudly announces Professor Jack Pronk as the recipient of the 2024 Novozymes Prize for his groundbreaking contributions to industrial biotechnology. His transformative research in yeast physiology and metabolic engineering has not only revolutionised biofuel and chemical production but has also provided critical solutions to longstanding challenges in sustainable bioprocesses. At the turn of the century, as the world faced the looming climate crisis spurred by fossil-fuel consumption, the importance of alternative fuels became increasingly apparent. Bioethanol emerged as a promising solution, yet its production from non-food sources posed significant challenges. “It had been a dream for decades to establish a biobased economy utilising microorganisms. An example is producing fuel ethanol from sugar using yeast, which efficiently converts glucose into ethanol. However, this approach was controversial because unlimited expansion could lead to competition with food production,” explains Jack Pronk, Professor and Head of the Department of Biotechnology at Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) in the Netherlands. Although yeast could efficiently turn sugars from fruits and other edible sources into bioethanol, the metabolism of sugars from agricultural waste streams posed a critical hurdle for economical bioethanol conversion, since traditional yeast strains struggled to utilise pentose sugars, which are abundant in agricultural residues. In a groundbreaking collaboration with fellow microbiologist Huub Op den Camp from Radboud University Nijmegen, Jack Pronk discovered a potential solution in an unlikely source – the anaerobic fungus Piromyces sp. strain E2, isolated from the faeces of an Indian elephant. This fungus harboured a xylose isomerase gene that held the key to unlocking the pentose challenge. “The result initiated years of research, increasingly involving collaboration with the company DSM,” states Jack Pronk. “Through this process, baker’s yeast was adapted for processing pentose sugars from agricultural waste streams.” “Jack Pronk is one of Europe’s foremost leaders in innovative, sustainable biotechnology using microbes for environmentally friendly conversion of waste streams into biofuels and fine chemicals. The fundamental research and the knowledge generated about the functioning of yeast and fungi from Jack Pronk’s laboratory has been the basis for a wide range of commercial applications with clear societal impact, as demonstrated by their full-scale industrial implementation. The Novo Nordisk Foundation is proud to recognise Jack Pronk’s excellence in research with the 2024 Novozymes Prize,” says Professor Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen, CEO of the Novo Nordisk Foundation. By 2010, the modified yeast could efficiently convert the most important sugars from plant residues into ethanol, paving the way for sustainable biofuel production technologies. Despite setbacks in large-scale implementation, Jack Pronk believes that the production of ethanol from agricultural residues will make a comeback. Ethanol is not only useful as a transport fuel but also as a precursor for compounds ranging from ethylene to aviation fuel. “I do see a future for ethanol, produced by low-emission technologies, as a generic feedstock for production of food protein, pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals. There is huge potential for its production from agricultural residues. I am convinced that genetically modified microorganisms, be they yeasts, bacteria or fungi, will enable cost-effective and sustainable ethanol production from these feedstocks.” The 2024 Novozymes Prize therefore celebrates Professor Jack Pronk’s exceptional contributions to industrial biotechnology, highlighting his innovative solutions to longstanding challenges and his enduring commitment to sustainable bioprocesses. His work exemplifies the transformative potential of biotechnology in addressing global challenges and building a more sustainable future. “The advances Jack Pronk has made, especially with using yeast, are based on exceptionally deep knowledge of physiology and metabolism, rooted in rigorous fundamental research. His superb understanding of how a yeast cell operates has directly translated into Jack being able to exploit yeast cells as industrial-level factories for producing fuels and chemicals. He clearly is a world leader in industrial biotechnology and fermentation science, with a specific focus on developing sustainable bioprocesses that help to reduce waste streams and carbon footprint,” concludes Professor Detlef Weigel, Chair of the Committee on the Novozymes Prize. About Professor Jack Pronk 1986 MSc in biology (cum laude), Leiden University 1991 PhD in microbial physiology, TU Delft 1991-1999 Assistant Professor, TU Delft 1999- Professor of Industrial Microbiology, TU Delft 2002-2013 Co-founder and Scientific Director, Kluyver Centre for Genomics of Industrial Fermentation 2015 Fellow of the American Society of Microbiology 2015 Professor of Excellence Award, TU Delft 2018 International Metabolic Engineering Award 2019- Head of the Department of Biotechnology, TU Delft 2020 Member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Sciences 2021 Knight in the Order of the Netherlands Lion About the Novozymes Prize The Novozymes Prize recognises outstanding research or technology contributions that benefit the development of biotechnological science for innovative solutions. The Prize is awarded annually and is intended to further raise awareness of basic and applied biotechnology research. The Prize is accompanied by DKK 5 million (€672,000) and comprises a DKK 4.5 million (€605,000) research grant and a personal award of DKK 0.5 million (€67,000). The Foundation will award an additional DKK 0.5 million for hosting an international symposium within the recipient’s field(s) of research. Further information TU Delft: Charlotte de Kort, Communications Manager TNW, +31 (0)6 140 15 135, c.g.w.dekort@tudelft.nl Novo Nordisk Foundation: Christian Mostrup, Senior Lead, Corporate Affairs, +45 3067 4805, cims@novo.dk Prof. Jack Pronk Head of department / Full professor +31 15 2783214 j.t.pronk@tudelft.nl Room number: B58.C1.080

News

05 July 2018

Delft Advanced Biorenewables attracts capital and commercial director for scale-up phase

Serial entrepreneur Jan Willem Klerkx participates and joins start-up Delft Advanced Biorenewables (DAB), that developed a unique technology to produce biochemicals and biofuels in a cheaper and more efficient way. Klerkx becomes shareholder and joins the management. Details about the investment are not published. DAB , a spin-off of TU Delft, has gone through an extensive development trajectory in the last four years and is now in the phase of scaling up, in which Klerkx will play an important role. Using his knowledge and experience, the serial entrepreneur regularly joins technology start-ups to strengthen them in the field of management and sales. Previously, he invested in the start-up Scyfer (artificial intelligence), which was taken over by Qualcomm last year. With DAB, Klerkx now focuses on sustainable energy. "I had the idea for a while to spend my time and energy on supporting the circular economy. What DAB does - reducing the production costs of biofuels and biochemicals - is an important contribution to this. The technology and scientific team of DAB are world-class. I look forward to making the company stronger commercially with my experience." DAB Corporate Movie from DelftAB on Vimeo . Director of DAB, Kirsten Steinbusch, is pleased with the arrival of Klerkx. "Jan Willem has proven to be able to make a difference in knowledge based start-ups. We can use his commercial skills and strategy to enable DAB to grow further." TU Delft also has an interest in DAB through ‘ Delft Enterprises ’. Director Paul Althuis: "TU Delft is committed to work on a sustainable future. That is why it is important that our scientists’ groundbreaking research also reaches the market. That is why we invest in promising technological innovations, such as those of DAB." DAB was founded in 2012 with the conviction that in the near future there will be an increasing demand for advanced fuels and chemicals that are produced from biomass. To make biobased an attractive alternative, the production process should become cost effective and scalable. DAB has developed a unique separation and reactor technology to convert organic material into biofuels and biological chemicals in a single process step, resulting in both lower costs and simplified production. DAB works closely with TU Delft and the Bioprocess Pilot Facility (BPF) to scale up the technology. The joint research project is subsidized by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, national regulations for Ministry of Economic Affairs subsidies and the ‘Top Sector Energie’ carried out by the Dutch Enterprise Agency (RVO). For more information, please contact Kirsten Steinbusch - Managing Director DAB