Approximately seven or eight millennia ago, the human race made its first discoveries in biotechnology when it purposefully fermented milk to make yogurt. In the 1880s, Pasteur developed vaccines for anthrax, cholera, and rabies. Modern-day scientists and engineers are exploring biotechnological approaches for a broad spectrum of applications including bioremediation and pharmacology. In short, humanity has a long, diverse history with biotechnology.
In the past, regardless of where or when biotechnological research and development has taken place, humanity has had to contend with the same general environmental concerns: temperature, pressure, radiation, and gravity. With the advent of modern space programs, however, new environmental conditions and testing paradigms are now available to scientists exploring the cutting-edge of biotechnology.
To assist those scientists, Rhodium Scientific and TechConnect are proud to launch the 2024 Space Programs Advancing Research and Commercialization (SPARC) Biotech Challenge.
Founded in 2014, Rhodium Scientific is a Hispanic-American, woman-owned small business providing access to the microgravity environment for research and development, product testing, and in-flight manufacturing. As a science implementation partner for the International Space Station (ISS) and other private on-orbit platforms, Rhodium Scientific supports a variety of scientific investigations and technology demonstrations in biomanufacturing, regenerative medicine, biofuels, synthetic biology, and pharmaceuticals.
With 25+ years of experience connecting emerging technologies with unique funding and partnership opportunities, TechConnect boasts the most robust research and innovation network in the world. It employs a broad scope of tools to deliver top technologies, including open innovation programs, conferences, and open-access publications. Each year, TechConnect scouts, vets, and connects thousands of emerging technologies with corporate, investment, municipal, and national defense clients. TechConnect is a division of Advanced Technology International.
Together, Rhodium Scientific and TechConnect are transforming and advancing research and discoveries in space.
Through the SPARC Biotech Challenge, we seek to identify cutting-edge research in biotechnology or synthetic biology that has the ultimate goal of developing a commercial product. Areas and applications of interest include:
- Agriculture
- Biomanufacturing
- Bioremediation
- Industrial Fermentation
- Pharmacogenomics
- Pharmacological Development
- Regenerative Medicine
- Viral Detection and Countermeasures
Compelling responses with the promise of an impactful commercial product will receive intensive guidance from Rhodium Scientific on developing that concept into a fully flight-ready experiment. The most exceptional proposal will have their experiment flown to the International Space Station in late 2025.
Why Conduct Research In Microgravity?
On Earth, everything from the smallest cell to the largest building is subject to gravity. So are the processes that affect how everything reacts to everything else. In a microgravity environment, however, fires burn differently and hydrostatic pressure disappears.
For biotechnology research: cells don’t settle in suspension and crystals develop new shapes, among other impacts.
Conducting biotech research in a microgravity environment grants opportunities to explore what’s possible when the fundamental force of gravity is reduced. As well as the chance to discover new solutions for a myriad of situations.
Through the SPARC Biotech Challenge, Rhodium Scientific and TechConnect bring that opportunity to biotech researchers from around the globe.