This week BioMADE, which is planning a $40 million site in Iowa, is noting the five years that have passed since its creation. In 2020, the U.S. Department of Defense announced an $87 million, seven-year award to the BioIndustrial Manufacturing and Design Ecosystem, commonly known as BioMADE, a nonprofit created by the Engineering Biology Research Consortium, for a new Manufacturing Innovation Institute. Headquartered at the University of Minnesota in St. Paul, BioMADE collaborates with public and private partners to advance bioindustrial manufacturing technologies. The effort helps mid-stage biotech companies upscale and is supported by 325 partners, ranging from small startups to corporations like Cargill. BioMADE has also funded nearly 100 research projects valued at more than $200 million. BioMADE has announced three sites in its national Pilot Plant Network in Minnesota, California and Iowa. These sites aim to provide bioindustrial manufacturing infrastructure and accelerate commercialization of new bioproducts. The plants are: 

• Minnesota: A 122,000-square-foot facility equipped with 25,000-liter fermenters, downstream processing and workforce training opportunities.
• Iowa: A specialized 15,000-square-foot facility dedicated to advancing agricultural bioproducts, bio-based chemicals and food ingredients.
• California: A 25,000-square-foot facility featuring 4,000-liter fermentation tanks and adaptable downstream capabilities.