At Syensqo, we believe biotechnology holds the key to a more sustainable future. Through our Renewable Materials and Biotechnology growth platform, we’re exploring, identifying and investing in growth opportunities that create value, and using these to develop market-leading solutions that enable our customers to respond better and faster to global trends.
An evolving portfolio built on strong foundations
By harnessing the power of biotechnology in combination with chemistry, Syensqo is creating innovative solutions that reduce our reliance on non-renewable resources and minimize environmental impact. We’re leveraging global and regional technology platforms, alongside our internal R&I capabilities, to build a portfolio based on three key technologies: fermentation, cell-free enzymatic catalysis and extraction of natural products.
These vital technologies give us the technical ability to develop a wide range of sustainable solutions for multiple markets, from natural flavors and fragrances to circular, bio-based and biodegradable ingredients for beauty care, enabling us to uncover new ways to address our customers’ challenges.
Investing in innovation in key bio-spaces
In addition to investing in our own technological capabilities, we’re collaborating with cutting-edge startups that allow us to push the boundaries of our technologies and realize our shared ambitions.
Through our venture capital fund, Syensqo Ventures, we partner with leading biotech startups and investment funds. We’ve invested in Europe-based biotech venture capital fund Sofinnova and in US-based fund SOSV’s IndieBio (Genesis Consortium) to strengthen our biotech ambition, by increasing our exposure to new developments in the field. We’ve also invested in Bioeutectics, an Argentinian green solvent startup, to explore natural alternatives to petrochemical-based solvents. And our investment in US-based DMC Biotechnologies will help support our overall growth strategy in the sector, by exploring new concepts in fermentation.
A global network of strategic alliances that advance biotechnology
We are also developing a global network of strategic alliances, aimed at accelerating innovation in areas that are important for our customers. This includes partnerships with key industry players, institutes and universities.
Through our biotechnology partnership with Ginkgo Bioworks, for example, we’re investigating new biopolymers that will expand our offering in the beauty care and materials markets, while our partnership with Allozymes is enabling us to unlock the power of custom-designed enzymes for greener and cleaner manufacturing.
Acquisitions that support our research and product innovation
Acquisitions play a crucial role in advancing our growth strategy. Through the acquisition of South Korean company Jin Young Bio, for example, we launched Cerafy™, a range of biomimetic natural ceramides used as an active ingredient in hair care and skin cleansing formulations.
Similarly, by acquiring a controlling stake in Azerys, a natural rosemary extraction business in Morocco, we have developed our Riza brand of natural, plant-based, non-genetically modified antioxidants and flavors, expanding our capabilities in natural food ingredients to better serve our customers’ needs.
It’s not just about developing products; our acquisitions also allow us to improve our capabilities. By acquiring a former Zymergen lab, we have been able to expand our R&I footprint in the US and accelerate our development plan in synthetic biology. This complements our investment in building a multi-purpose microbiology lab at our R&I centre in France, which will enable us to establish a reference center in microbiology and biodegradability that will drive the development of new and sustainable chemistries.
Syensqo: Your partner in creating a more sustainable future
With the race to net zero now very much on, finding ways to develop and integrate sustainable solutions into everyday products is a bigger priority than ever. Syensqo helps customers embed sustainability and circularity at the core of their businesses, providing the groundbreaking solutions they need to preserve resources, improve product end-of-life management, and support them on their sustainability journey.
