In the United States (US), Synthetic Genomics, Inc., a privately held biotechnology company, has announced that it will begin operating under its new corporate name, Viridos, Inc., effective September 27, 2021.
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The name change from Synthetic Genomics to Viridos is part of the company’s broader effort to deploy its cutting-edge genomic expertise and algal engineering platforms that create transformative solutions to climate change.
The name Viridos, drawn from the Latin word “viridis”, translating to green and fresh, represents our company’s mission to design revolutionary technologies, products, and systems that enable businesses and governments to implement sustainable solutions needed to mitigate climate change. It is my hope that our new name, Viridos, not only signals our best-in-class algal biotechnology but also becomes a byword for a new bioeconomy of solutions that enable the world to decarbonize and build more sustainable systems, said Dr Oliver Fetzer, CEO at Viridos.
Founded in 2005 by leading figures in synthetic biology, including J Craig Venter and Hamilton Smith, Synthetic Genomics/Viridos quickly established itself as a powerhouse for innovative research, transplanting the first genome, synthesizing the first bacterial genome, and creating the first synthetic cell.
In addition to its work in sustainable algal biofuel, Viridos is deploying its expertise in algal genomics, photosynthesis, and advanced agronomics to decarbonize other industries that need to operate more sustainably.
Viridos’ algal biofuel research is part of a 12-year partnership with ExxonMobil to bring advanced biofuels to the transportation market.
Our work with Viridos has helped advance the science of algae as a next-generation biofuel and a lower-emission alternative for heavy transportation. ExxonMobil is committed to researching, developing, and deploying lower-carbon energy technologies that help society achieve its net zero ambitions, said Dr Vijay Swarup, VP for Research and Development at ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company.