MicroBioGen Expands State-of-the-art Macquarie Park Facilities

Australian innovator MicroBioGen has significantly expanded its Sydney research facilities with a multi-million-dollar investment that signals growing confidence in the domestic synthetic biology sector. The company now occupies the entire fourth floor at 78 Waterloo Road, Macquarie Park, establishing what it calls Australia’s leading Industrial Biotechnology Hub.

The expansion builds on steady growth. The Australian biotechnology company, which specialises in enhancing the industrial capabilities of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, has grown from around 625 square metres at its previous Lane Cove Business Park location to more than 1,200 square metres when it first opened at Macquarie Park in 2022, and now over 1,800 square metres of state-of-the-art laboratory and office space. The larger facilities provide scientists with more bench and collaborative space, while also housing advanced equipment, including a sorting flow cytometer and additional HPLCs to support its proprietary directed evolution platform.

“MicroBioGen is playing a key role in establishing Macquarie Park as a centre for industrial biotechnology,” says Geoff Bell, CEO and co-founder. “Our expanded facilities are accelerating yeast innovation and enabling us to attract world-class scientific talent to help drive the next wave of biotech advancement.”

MicroBioGen’s expansion comes as it strengthens partnerships with global industry leaders. To date, the company has developed 11 commercially successful yeast products, partnered with Danish biotechnology firm Novonesis under the Innova® yeast series, and expanded this partnership to include biochemicals. The company has also established an exclusive global partnership with French fermentation leader Lesaffre to advance innovation in baking, biochemicals and yeast extracts, combining MicroBioGen’s yeast biotechnology with Lesaffre’s fermentation expertise.

With more than 20 years of research and development, MicroBioGen has built a proprietary platform and what it describes as the world’s most comprehensive library of elite Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast strains, optimised to thrive in diverse industrial conditions. These innovations underpin industries worth over US$2 trillion globally, from biofuels and pharmaceuticals to sustainable food and feed, and position the company as a collaborator of choice for yeast biotechnology.

“We welcome opportunities to work with startups, researchers and companies interested in S. cerevisiae,” says Head of Communications An Grobler.

Founded in 2001 by CEO Geoff Bell and scientists Dr Philip Bell and Dr Paul Attfield, MicroBioGen spent many years developing its technology under the radar. In recent years, however, it has gained recognition through two national export awards and growing government support, including from local MP Jerome Laxale, who cut the ribbon at the recent facility opening.

Grobler, who studied under CoESB Director Prof Ian Paulsen, sees strong momentum in synthetic biology, with promising startups emerging from local universities.

“It’s encouraging to see the traction Ian is getting,” she adds.

MicroBioGen’s approach of partnering with established market leaders rather than direct-to-market sales has enabled the small but highly specialised team to focus entirely on research and development.

That specialisation, and the room for growth, augurs well for young synthetic biologists looking for their next move.

“We are a very hands-on R&D company, and our success comes from the creativity and dedication of our talented team,’ says Geoff Bell. “With just 33 employees, most of them scientists, we offer a collaborative environment where everyone can make a real impact.”