Cyanobacteria are promising microorganisms to advance sustainable biotechnology, since they can be genetically engineered to convert carbon dioxide and light energy into valuable product molecules.
Cyanobacteria are promising microorganisms to advance sustainable biotechnology, since they can be genetically engineered to convert carbon dioxide and light energy into valuable product molecules.
Now, a new project focusing on this topic has been granted funding from the European Union under the Horizon Europe Pathfinder Challenge "HORIZON-EIC-2024-PATHFINDERCHALLENGES-01-01," specifically dedicated to innovative "Solar-to-X" technologies. Dr. Lennart Schada von Borzyskowski, Assistant Professor at the IBL, is one of the consortium members in this joint European project. Titled C5 (Clever Combination of Synthetic Compartmentalization, Carbon Fixation, and Compound Biomanufacturing), the project is coordinated by the Universidad de Córdoba (Spain) and involves collaborations with three additional European partners: Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin (Germany), Wageningen University (Netherlands), and the SME INsociety (Italy).
C5 aims to develop a Solar-to-X technology that converts sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide directly into valuable chemicals and fuels, notably bio-isoprene. By integrating a new-to-nature carbon fixation pathway into novel synthetic organelles of fast-growing cyanobacteria, the project promises a simplified, efficient, and sustainable method for producing bio-isoprene, an essential compound used widely in rubber, pharmaceuticals, and consumer products.
This pioneering initiative directly supports the EU's Green Deal and REPowerEU strategies by advancing solar-to-X technologies that eliminate the intermediate conversion of solar energy to electricity. C5 reduces process complexity through complete integration of all conversion steps, enabling local solar energy-driven chemical production within a single integrated device. This approach strengthens local economies while enhancing environmental sustainability.
Starting in November 2025, the four-year initiative will advance the technology from its current conceptual stage to practical pilot demonstrations, reaching Technology Readiness Level 4. The ambitious goals include significantly increasing photosynthetic efficiency and productivity, reducing energy consumption, and ensuring the environmental sustainability of chemical production.
