BioMADE and Lygos to Fast-Track Pilot Biomanufacturing Facility in California
The Hayward facility aims to open by the early 2026 and will expand domestic bioindustrial manufacturing capabilities, strengthen national security, and secure domestic supply chains for needed materials.
MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL, MN/HAYWARD, CA, April 30, 2025 – Today, BioMADE announced an agreement with Lygos, a pioneering sustainable specialty chemicals company, to transition its pilot-scale biomanufacturing infrastructure into a nationally available, multi-user facility. BioMADE will independently operate the pilot-scale facility as the second announced site in its national network of bioindustrial manufacturing infrastructure. The move enables both organizations to expand their impact: BioMADE by accelerating and broadening access to scale-up infrastructure, and Lygos by focusing resources on commercialization of its high-performance sustainable solutions.
The nearly 25,000 square foot facility will include piloting, processing, and analytical space. BioMADE will independently operate the Hayward facility, while Lygos will remain a key customer of the facility’s expanded capabilities. BioMADE will acquire the processing equipment and further invest in the facility to expand capabilities in fermentation capacity and downstream processing. Taken together, the project represents an investment of at least $80M, with funding provided by the U.S. Department of Defense.
For Lygos, the transition supports a capital-efficient growth model, allowing the company to prioritize commercialization of its biodegradable performance polymers and accelerate time-to-market through partnerships that provide access to commercial scale assets. By enabling broader access to its advanced infrastructure, Lygos is doubling down on its mission to deliver high-performing sustainable solutions at commercial scale.
“This facility will play a critical role as America works to regain dominance in the biotechnology and biomanufacturing industry,” said Douglas Friedman, Chief Executive Officer. “Other countries around the world have been investing in biotechnology for decades, and the U.S. is at risk of falling behind. Expanding nationwide capabilities to produce chemicals and materials needed for defense and consumer applications will strengthen national security and secure domestic supply chains.”
Bioindustrial manufacturing has the power to create or improve needed defense materials like lightweight composite materials, anti-corrosive lubricants, energetics and energetic precursors, fuels, high temperature-resistant foams and thermal protection systems, and more. In addition to providing key defense capabilities, bioindustrial manufacturing secures consumer supply chains for products like plant-based fabrics, detergents, paints and coatings, adhesives, beauty and personal care items, and bioplastics.
The facility will focus on a broad range of products – including chemicals, materials, and food – to serve a variety of innovative biotechnology companies in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. It will feature multiple aerated stirred tanks with volumes of up to 4,000 liters along with downstream processing capabilities including harvest tanks, centrifuges, membrane filtration, evaporation, and spray drying. It will also have the ability to bring in third party equipment skids for additional downstream processing operations.
Pilot-scale facilities represent a critical step to move products out of the lab and into the defense and commercial market. The bioindustrial manufacturing industry in the U.S. currently faces a scale-up challenge due to a critical lack of infrastructure. As a result, American companies often have to seek relevant facilities overseas, taking American R&D efforts with them and risking IP loss. BioMADE is working with the U.S. Department of Defense and partners across the country to establish a nationwide network of pilot- and demonstration-scale facilities to address this gap. This announcement of a pilot-scale facility in California complements BioMADE's announcement yesterday of a new demonstration-scale facility in Minnesota.
“Lygos has built a foundation that enables high-performing, sustainable solutions to be delivered at scale, right now,” said Eric Steen, CEO of Lygos. “This represents an opportunity to focus on our commercial growth while accelerating broader access to world-class biomanufacturing infrastructure -- we’re proud to partner with BioMADE on a shared vision to strengthen U.S. capabilities.”
“This acquisition represents a unique opportunity for BioMADE to provide more rapid access to critical bioindustrial manufacturing infrastructure,” added Friedman. “California was one of six states that BioMADE identified last year for potential infrastructure investment. This facility is placed near one of the densest populations of biotechnology companies in the world. The Hayward facility provides a key pilot-scale steppingstone before companies transition to demonstration-scale production in the industrial Midwest.”
As a multi-user facility, the Hayward site will serve companies across a wide range of applications, from small-scale development capabilities to commercial testing and process refinement. BioMADE aims to open the facility to customers in early 2026.
Visit www.biomade.org for more information about BioMADE’s infrastructure initiative.
About BioMADE
By supporting the development of biomanufacturing technologies, BioMADE and its network of more than 300 members across 39 states are strengthening American competitiveness, creating a more resilient supply chain, re-shoring manufacturing jobs, and producing biobased products without relying on foreign sources. BioMADE is also building a globally competitive STEM workforce to ensure American workers are prepared and ready to fill new jobs within this rapidly growing industry. BioMADE was catalyzed by the U.S. Department of Defense in October of 2020 and is a proud member of Manufacturing USA®.
About Lygos
Lygos, Inc. is a sustainable specialty chemical company accelerating the transition to high-performing, sustainable solutions. We create biodegradable polymers tailored for diverse applications, from agronomy to home care and personal care. With an integrated supply chain, we ensure efficient, cost-effective delivery at commercial scale, enabling brands to meet their performance and sustainability goals. By replacing persistent chemicals with superior alternatives, Lygos is driving measurable environmental and operational impact.
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