RIKEN Biomass Engineering Program
Program Director
Kazuo SHINOZAKI (D.Sci.)
The RIKEN Biomass Engineering Program (BMEP) takes the lead in pioneering biotechnology and in developing the research and technology necessary to establish innovative ikki tsukan (straight) bioprocesses for creation of biomaterials and bio plastic from plant biomass. By developing such technologies and establishing innovative bioprocesses, collaboration with other universities and companies can invest in the creation of green innovation for the contribution to sustainable society, and advance research and development through international partnerships, in so doing promoting technological development in Asia and other regions throughout the world.
The BMEP is a goal-oriented fixed-term research project extending over a ten-year, two-term period. The following three strategic targets have been proposed as steps toward meeting its objectives:
Strategy 1: Functional enhancement of plants toward the development of highly-productive easily-degradable "super-plants".
Strategy 2: Establishment of efficient ikki tsukan (straight) bioprocesses in biotechnology-based chemical products.
Strategy 3: Pursuit of new "bioplastics" such as polylactic acid.
| Cellulose Production Research Team | Taku DEMURA (D.Sci.) |
| Synthetic Genomics Research Team | Minami MATSUI (D.Sci.) |
| Enzyme Research Team | Kazuo SHINOZAKI (D.Sci.) |
| Bioplastic Research Team | Hideki ABE (Ph.D.) |
| Biomass Research Platform Team | Kazuo SHINOZAKI (D.Sci.) |