DOE Launches AI-Powered Robot Lab to Accelerate Bioeconomy Research 24/7
Summary
The Department of Energy launches AMP2, an AI-powered robot lab that operates 24/7 to accelerate research on bacteria and fungi for producing chemicals, energy, and biomaterials, positioning the U.S. to compete in a bioeconomy projected to grow from $4 trillion to $30 trillion by 2050.
Key Points
- The Department of Energy commissions the Anaerobic Microbial Phenotyping Platform (AMP2) at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, marking a breakthrough in autonomous biological discovery to strengthen the U.S. bioeconomy
- AMP2 uses artificial intelligence and robotics to accelerate research on bacteria and fungi that produce chemicals, energy, fuels and biomaterials, operating 24/7 with unprecedented speed and precision
- The facility serves as a prototype for the larger Microbial Molecular Phenotyping Capability (M2PC) expected to open by 2030, positioning the U.S. to compete in the global bioeconomy projected to grow from $4 trillion to $30 trillion within three decades