Industry partnership opportunities

The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology has teamed up with Halo to provide ASBMB members fresh industry partnership opportunities each month. Below you'll find several requests for assistance from companies seeking certain expertise and technologies. Learn more about our partnership with Halo.

Private company: Color care and textile strength solutions for laundry products 

A Fortune Global 500 is looking for innovative technologies to be incorporated into laundry products in the following areas: 1) Color/dye fixation: solutions that help to keep the color of textiles, avoiding color fading and color transfer; 2) Renew effect: solutions that maintain the appearance of new textiles for a longer period and improves the condition of damaged textiles, not only in cotton but also in other synthetic fabrics; and 3) Textile strength: solutions that increase the strength of fibers and/or their resistance to damage and wear, as well as reduce inter-fiber friction. Funding is proposal-dependent starting with a feasibility study or proof-of-concept, up to $100,000 with the potential for expansion based on results and opportunities. The deadline to apply is Aug. 31. Read more about the project call here.

Private company: Screening systems to investigate estrogen pathway modulators 

A major player in the consumer health and beauty industry is looking for a high throughput screening system/model to identify compounds and botanicals that impact estrogen modulation. The system should quantify estrogen pathway molecule expression, enzyme inhibition, activation, metabolism, activity reduction, and/or gene expression modulation. Funding is proposal dependent, but an accepted proposal could expect support in the range of $25,000 - $100,000 (milestone dependent) with the potential for follow-on funding. The deadline to apply is Aug. 31. Read more about the project call here.
 

Private company: Screening systems to identify stress mitigating botanicals in vitro 

A major player in the consumer health and beauty industry is seeking high-throughput screening system/model to identify stress-mitigating natural ingredients, compounds, or botanicals through enzymatic inhibition (11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase), receptor interference, activity reduction, and/or gene expression modulation. Funding is proposal dependent, but an accepted proposal could expect support in the range of $20,000 - $85,000 (milestone dependent) with the potential for follow-on funding. The deadline to apply is Aug. 31. Read more about the project call here.
 

Private company: Natural ingredients for appetite suppression and “food noise” reduction

A Fortune 500 subsidiary is actively searching for novel and natural ingredient solutions that can reduce “food noise” and effectively suppress appetite, similar to the effect of anti-obesity medications (drugs), such as GLP-1s and GIPs. Their ideal solution should not only curb “food noise” with high efficacy, but also be adaptable to their existing supply chain, cost-effective, and suitable for implementation within the frozen food, beverage, and snacking categories. Up to $50,000 in funding is available for proof of concept, with the potential for follow-on funding for further development. The deadline to apply is Aug. 31. Read more about the project call here.

Private company: Enhancing stabilization in microbials and sensitive biomolecules

A Fortune 500 company is looking to establish collaborations with experts in the agricultural, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, biochemical, microbial, or related fields to evaluate and develop novel stabilization technologies for biologicals (e.g. Gram-negative bacteria, Gram-positive bacteria, fungi, small molecules, enzymes, and peptides). They are interested in technologies that can offer foundational platforms for stabilizing representative biological candidates. More specific examples include Alpha and Beta proteobacteria, Bacillaceae, and Ascomycetes. Given the wide range of storage conditions specific to different market applications, they are open to solutions adaptable to various scenarios, provided they do not rely on cold storage. Stabilizing solutions must eventually meet several requirements, such as being sustainably sourced, free of microplastics, using GRAS-listed or inert ingredients, and ultimately complying with agricultural input regulations. Funding is proposal-dependent and can range from $70,000 to $150,000 for 12 months, with the opportunity for follow-on funding and continued collaboration upon successful proof-of-concept. The deadline to apply is Aug. 31. Read more about the project call here.

Private company: Strategies to lower microbial load in wheat flour

A well-known Fortune 500 company is seeking innovative solutions to improve the microbiological quality of wheat flour by reducing the microbial load (specifically, pathogenic Escherichia coli, Salmonella sp., and indicator Enterobacteriaceae). Ideal solutions should be simple, adaptable to the company's existing processes and supply chain, andimplementable at either the milling stage or upon receipt at CPG facilities. Up to $50,000 in funding is available for proof of concept, with the potential for follow-on funding for further development. The deadline to apply is Aug.31. Read more about the project call here.

Corteva: Innovative research to understand long term breeding effects on corn hybrids

Corteva is looking for novel ideas and concepts to be investigated using ERA hybrids. Submissions should present a plan to answer new questions about indirect breeding effects and their implications. They are open to partnering with scientists and institutions with expertise in plant breeding, agronomy, ecology, crop physiology, plant biology, climate change, molecular biology, food science, or any related discipline. Corteva is especially interested in expanding beyond ideas previously tested. Up to $75,000 is available, inclusive of all indirect costs. The deadline to apply is Sept. 30. Read more about the project call here.

Corteva: Scalable and cost-effective mono-hydroxylation of relevant process chemistry building blocks

Corteva is seeking short, non-confidential proposals that describe a plan for a scalable, selective and cost-effective process for mono-hydroxylation of readily synthetic building blocks (visual is included on project call page). Proposals should include: 1) Detailed method or plan on how we can develop and implement the process ; 2) Relevant literature or industrial application references; 3) A high-level cost estimate; and 4) A proposed development timeline. Submissions should exclude any proprietary and confidential information such as specific reagents, process conditions, specific enzymes and/or sequences. Up to $100,000 in funding is available, inclusive of indirect costs. There are opportunities for extended collaboration and additional funding if successful. The deadline to apply is Sept. 30. Read more about the project call here. 

Private company: Fast-acting treatments for ingrown hair prevention and relief

A consumer goods company is looking for innovative solutions that address ingrown hairs. The primary focus is on finding faster alternatives to current treatment methods. They are open to all application methods, including topical, oral, and other novel approaches. The ideal solution should offer quick and effective relief from the symptoms of ingrown hairs while also preventing their occurrence. Selected applicants will be provided funding, company data, expertise, and have access to the company's facilities and services. The deadline to apply is Sept. 30. Read more about the project call here. 

Private company: Nonodorous topical formulations for hair removal

A consumer goods company is seeking innovative solutions to develop the next-generation hair removal topical formulation that eliminates the unpleasant odor associated with current depilatory products. Specifically, they are looking for an alternative to thioglycolic acid that is both effective and non-malodorous. As an alternative, they are also interested in technologies for odor control that can mask the unpleasant smell inherent in current depilatory products, which becomes more pronounced during the hair removal process. Ideally, this new active compound or formulation should be easy to use, allowing users to apply it and continue with their activities without discomfort or lingering odors. It would also ideally offer an added skin care benefit, such as moisturization or soothing. Selected applicants will be provided funding, company data, expertise, and have access to the company's facilities and services. The deadline to apply is Sept.30. Read more about the project call here. 

Procter & Gamble: Regulatory path to commercial food attractants for indoor bugs

Procter & Gamble is seeking subject matter experts who specialize in regulatory requirements for food-based attractants for indoor insects, with a focus on formulation, product claims, and manufacturing requirements. The deadline to apply is Sept. 30. Read more about the request for experts here.

Procter & Gamble: Biogenic linear alpha olefins

Procter & Gamble is looking for unique solutions to directly transform fatty acid methyl esters (or triglycerides) into a key raw material, linear alpha olefins, for later conversion to surfactants that can be utilized in consumer products. The solution could be chemical or non-chemical (e.g. biotransformation), processes, technologies, materials (e.g. catalysts) and/or services. The deadline to apply is Sept. 30. Read more about the request for experts here.

UPL: Herbicide enabling technologies

UPL is looking for innovative ideas that enable existing herbicides to be used in new ways through improvements in performance, selectivity, novel combinations, formulation stability or handling (residual control, reduced leaching, and minimized off-target effects). Potential solutions may include, but are not limited to, the use of crop safeners, herbicide encapsulation, formulants, adjuvants, synergists, tank-mix partners and soil behavior modifiers. Funding is proposal dependent, but an accepted proposal may receive support in the range of $50,000 - $200,000  (milestone dependent) with the potential for follow-on funding. The deadline to apply is Oct. 31. Read more about the project call here.