Carbon Neutrality Policies Boost Bio-Manufacturing Industry; Yikola Biosciences Completes Nearly RMB 300 Million Series C Financing and Files for IPO

VCBeat has learned at the earliest opportunity that,Abiochem Biotechnology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Abiochem Biotech”) has recently completed a Series C financing round of nearly RMB 300 million,This round of financing was led by Temasek. The funds raised will be primarily used for the company’s research and development of synthetic biology products and to advance the construction of a new production base in Chongqing. The injection of capital from this new financing round will further strengthen Abiochem Biotechnology’s leading position in the field of bio-manufacturing.

Abiochem Biotechnology believes that the underlying development logic of “biological intelligent manufacturing” is to standardize biological synthesis systems, with the ultimate goal of achieving large-scale industrial application. Therefore, Abiochem Biotechnology adheres to a dual-wheel drive development strategy of “R&D as the core and industrialization as the lifeline.”

Amid global climate challenges and the constraints of the Paris Agreement, countries around the world have been formulating carbon neutrality strategic goals in recent years. At the United Nations General Assembly in September 2020, China announced its aim to peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. Subsequently, Japan, the European Union, the United States, and others also announced intensified emission reduction efforts or specified target timelines for carbon neutrality. Against this backdrop, low-carbon and sustainable bio-manufacturing has become a primary focus of technological transformation for governments worldwide, as they strive to establish competitive advantages in the emerging industries resulting from this transition.

The McKinsey Global Institute (MGI) released the report “The Bio Revolution: Innovations Transforming Economies, Societies, and Our Lives” in May 2020, pointing out that 60% of industrial products could be manufactured through biotechnology in the future, and predicting that bio-manufacturing driven by the synthetic biology revolution would generate $2–4 trillion in direct annual economic benefits globally between 2030 and 2040.

Synthetic biology R&D relies on two key technologies: enzyme design and engineering, and the construction of synthetic pathways and cell factories. Abiochem Biotechnology has established a solid foundation in enzyme design and engineering.An advanced enzyme library containing over 20,000 enzymes has been established;Meanwhile, a platform for the efficient design and engineering of enzymes has been established, enabling machine learning-based prediction and screening of enzymes according to catalytic reaction requirements, as well as rapid directed evolution of enzymes through high-throughput screening and testing. In the construction of synthetic pathways and cell factories, Abiochem Biotechnology has builtA comprehensive chassis cell library containing 20+ type strains and a genetic element library comprising 50,000+ elements,A substantial reserve of high-quality bioengineering resources has been established, enabling the direct assembly of biosynthetic pathways within cells and the construction of “smart cell factories” driven by genetic elements to synthesize target molecules.

Abiochem Biotechnology is a biomanufacturing enterprise equipped with advanced synthetic biology technologies, primarily engaged in the research and development of synthetic biology methodologies and dedicated to their application in large-scale production.Abiochem Biotechnology has established a biological resource engineering library platform of leading scale and accumulated extensive experience in biosynthesis, the design and creation of high-performance cell factories, and the scaled production of products. The company has successfully applied synthetic biology technologies across various sectors, including pharmaceuticals, crop protection, animal health, and nutrition, making it one of the fastest-growing enterprises globally in the industrialization of synthetic biology.

Since its founding in 2015, Abiochem Biotechnology has frequently attracted capital interest due to its rapid growth and impressive performance. Earlier investors, including Honghui Capital, Huatai Zijin, and Binghong Capital, have continuously increased their stakes, and the company has now introduced Temasek as a new investor, bringing its cumulative fundraising total to nearly RMB 700 million. In addition, VCBeat has learned thatAbiochem Biotechnology is currently in the pre-IPO tutoring phase and plans to file for an initial public offering on the STAR Market.