Ginkgo Bioworks lands $4.66M deal with EMSL for automated anaerobic phenotyping platform.

Ginkgo Bioworks has been selected by the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL) at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory to deliver an automated anaerobic phenotyping platform using Ginkgo Automation's Reconfigurable Automation Cart (RAC) technology. The platform will enable EMSL's open-ended exploration of bioconomy-relevant microbes, supporting U.S. energy production and advancing fundamental biological research. The contract is valued at $4.66M.

Ginkgo Bioworks (NYSE: DNA) has been selected by the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL) at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) to deliver an automated anaerobic phenotyping platform. This platform will leverage Ginkgo Automation's Reconfigurable Automation Cart (RAC) technology, valued at $4.66M. The contract, signed on July 30, 2025, marks a significant step in EMSL's mission to advance fundamental biological research and support U.S. energy production [1].

The platform will consist of a fully integrated workcell comprising 18 different devices within a modular anaerobic chamber. This system, designed in partnership with EMSL, will use Ginkgo Automation's RAC technology to enhance laboratory throughput, efficiency, and data quality. The platform will enable remote operation of complex end-to-end anaerobic phenotyping workflows, streamlining research processes and accelerating discovery [1].

The platform is expected to be fully operational later this year, supporting critical work in microbial engineering, biodesign, and advancing bioeconomy fundamental science. The deployment of Ginkgo's RAC technology at EMSL demonstrates growing demand for its automation capabilities and validates its potential in government research markets [2].

Ginkgo Bioworks builds the tools that make biology easier to engineer for everyone, offering customizable R&D packages and modular, integrated laboratory automation solutions. The company's automation systems have been deployed across its own labs and external customer sites, delivering increased throughput, repeatability, and data capture [1].

The $4.66M contract with EMSL is a strategic expansion for Ginkgo Bioworks, demonstrating its ability to adapt and provide value to leading research institutions. The platform's AI-driven autonomous science capabilities aim to empower researchers to move towards fully autonomous science workflows, accelerating discovery and characterization of new biological phenomena [1].

References:
[1] https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ginkgo-to-deploy-modular-automation-technology-to-the-environmental-molecular-sciences-laboratory-emsl-at-pacific-northwest-national-labs-pnnl-to-accelerate-microbial-research-for-the-bioeconomy-302517319.html
[2] https://www.stocktitan.net/news/DNA/ginkgo-to-deploy-modular-automation-technology-to-the-environmental-xhgbf2anwjuj.html