Where are they now? 2020 Challenge Winner Leverages Cosmetics Innovation to Boost US Industrial Base
The Air Force Research Laboratory's (AFRL) Biotechnology Grand Challenge was a collaborative effort involving the Wright Brothers Institute (WBI), AFRL's Small Business Directorate, and the National Security Innovation Network (NSIN). This partnership was strategically formed to foster defense innovation by engaging non-traditional defense contractors and small businesses in addressing critical national security challenges.
WBI played a pivotal role in structuring the challenge to attract a diverse array of participants, particularly those with innovative biotechnological solutions applicable to defense needs. By leveraging its extensive network and expertise in technology transfer, WBI ensured that the challenge was accessible to small businesses and startups, facilitating their entry into the defense sector.
In 2020, Debut Biotechnology, a San Diego-based innovator in cell-free biomanufacturing, achieved a significant milestone by securing a $1 million award from the Air Force Research Laboratory's Biotechnology Grand Challenge. This recognition was for their groundbreaking proposal on the biosynthesis of monomers for aerospace applications, aiming to develop scalable, bio- and metal-free synthesis methods for key aerospace polymer precursors.
"The Air Force Research Lab has a well-documented history in discovering and leveraging breakthrough technologies. By offering a cell-free, continuous biomanufacturing process, we are excited to continue that legacy of innovation through our work with them," said Dr. Joshua Britton, CEO and Founder of Debut Biotechnology.
The timing was perfect for Debut Biotechnology. A 2022 study by the Center for a New American Security found that, “While it has been well-established by numerous start-ups, academics, and DoD laboratories that biology can generate products at the bench scale that could potentially fill capability gaps, research is required in scaling-up biomanufacturing to produce at a scale sufficient to prototype these products.”
Debut’s success with the AFRL Challenge, and a 2021 partnership with Batelle, perfectly positioned them to acquire a $2 million contract by the Department of Defense (DoD) in July 2024. This contract, part of the Distributed Bioindustrial Manufacturing Program (DBIMP), tasked Debut with producing comprehensive business and technical plans for constructing a domestic bioindustrial manufacturing facility. The initiative aligns with the DoD's objective to bolster the domestic supply of critical materials and enhance the bioindustrial manufacturing base.
If Debut's planning efforts meet the DoD's expectations, the company could access up to $100 million in follow-on awards to establish the proposed facility. This facility aims to onshore the production of essential precursors vital for manufacturing ingredients, materials, resins, polyesters, and thermosetting resins, thereby reducing reliance on foreign sources and strengthening national supply chains.
“By making these investments in domestic bioproduction infrastructure, we are making a significant move toward fortifying the American industrial base," said Dr. Aprille Ericsson, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Science and Technology, which falls under the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD(R&E)). (source – defense.gov)
Debut's trajectory exemplifies how strategic support and challenge-based initiatives can propel innovative companies to the forefront of critical industries, fostering advancements that benefit both the defense sector and the broader economy.
Sources:
https://www.prweb.com/releases/debut-biotechnology-awarded-1m-from-air-force-research-lab-to-leverage-cell-free-continuous-biomanufacturing-in-aerospace-applications-818135820.html
https://www.dodmantech.mil/News/News-Display/Article/3839308/dod-announces-first-award-for-the-distributed-bioindustrial-manufacturing-progr/
https://www.meritalk.com/articles/dod-rolls-out-first-award-for-bioindustrial-manufacturing-program/
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/03/pentagon-seeks-to-jumpstart-nascent-biomanufacturing-industry-with-new-strategy/