Tomohiro FUJITA
CEO
CHITOSE Group
CHITOSE Group leverages biotechnology to create sustainable, bio-based alternatives across pharmaceuticals, food, chemicals, agriculture, and energy. They develop novel processes and products, such as bio-PET resin and microalgae-derived biofuels, to transition industries away from fossil fuels and towards a circular economy.
Updated 5 months ago
Funding
Raised to date
$28.5MRaised to date based on public sources. This may differ from the amount the company actually raised and is based only on what is publicly available on the internet.
Funding rounds are not available yet.
Founders
Rie KUGIMIYA
COO
Product
Problem
The global economy remains heavily reliant on fossil fuels, contributing to environmental degradation and resource depletion. Transitioning to a sustainable, circular economy requires innovative solutions that leverage biological processes to replace petrochemical-based industries.
Solution
CHITOSE Group is a biotechnology conglomerate dedicated to advancing the global bioeconomy by facilitating a shift from fossil fuel dependence to a circular society powered by photosynthesis. The group's diverse operations span pharmaceuticals, food, chemicals, agriculture, and energy sectors, all underpinned by a commitment to sustainable biotechnology. Through strategic collaborations and technological development, CHITOSE aims to create novel bio-based products and processes that offer environmentally sound alternatives to conventional industrial practices. Their initiatives focus on harnessing the power of living organisms, particularly microalgae, to develop sustainable materials, fuels, and food sources, thereby contributing to a more resilient and abundant future.
Target Audience
CHITOSE Group targets industries seeking sustainable alternatives across pharmaceuticals, food production, chemicals, agriculture, and energy, as well as partners interested in developing bio-based products and circular economy solutions.
Features
- Development of AI-driven fermentation control systems to optimize microbial culture conditions and enhance productivity, as demonstrated by a doubling of protein productivity in filamentous fungi.
- Pioneering the production of 100% bio-PET resin from microalgae through the "PET-MATSURI" project, addressing the need for sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based plastics.
- Cultivation of microalgae for biofuels, including research into algae-derived aromatic hydrocarbons and their application in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and marine biofuels.
- Advancement of cell line development for biopharmaceutical manufacturing, including the creation of novel CHO-MK host cell lines recognized with the Society of Biotechnology, Japan's Excellent Paper Award.
- Implementation of sustainable agricultural practices in Southeast Asia, focusing on tropical agriculture and the development of proprietary strawberry varieties.
- Research into soil and gut microbiota to develop microbial inoculants for soil enrichment and to understand trends for new lifestyle applications.
- Participation as a technical supervisor for algae-focused exhibits at the Japan Pavilion for Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, showcasing the potential of microalgae in various applications.
- Cross-industry collaboration through the "MATSURI" initiative, fostering a microalgae-based industry and promoting the broader bioeconomy.