Evonetix collaborates with imec to expand the production of chip-based technology for the third-generation DNA synthesis platform.

EVONETIX LTD ('Evonetix'), the synthetic biology company developing a desktop platform for scalable, high-resolution, and rapid gene synthesis, announced today that it has entered into a partnership with imec, a globally leading research and innovation center active in the fields of nanoelectronics and digital technologies, to increase the production of Evonetix's proprietary silicon-based microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) and to manufacture the platform at a commercial scale. The novel silicon chip is a key component of Evonetix's desktop DNA platform, which, once fully developed, will facilitate and enable the rapidly growing field of synthetic biology.

Evonetix's technology uses a silicon chip manufactured through MEMS processing that controls DNA synthesis at thousands of independently controlled reaction sites or "pixels" on the chip surface in highly parallel fashion. After synthesis, the strands are assembled on-chip into double-stranded DNA in a process that identifies and eliminates errors, resulting in significantly improved accuracy, scalability, and speed compared to conventional approaches. As part of the collaboration, imec, together with Evonetix, will scale up the manufacturing of MEMS technology on 8-inch silicon wafers, enabling Evonetix to supply large quantities to its customers. Imec leverages its experience in silicon manufacturing for life sciences applications to transfer the innovative Evonetix process to its foundries and to support further volume expansion.

Dr. Matthew Hayes, Chief Technology Officer at Evonetix, said: "With the support of imec, a world leader in microchip technology, we will be able to optimize our highly parallel desktop platform for commercial deployment".

Peter Peumans, Senior Vice President of Life Science Technologies at imec, added: "We possess extensive practical knowledge in chip design and technology, which we leverage to develop innovative tools for research and development in the life sciences and pharma sectors. Evonetix has developed an innovative approach that integrates physics and biology to enable the production of highly precise, long DNA sequences in a highly parallel manner. We are committed to contributing to their success with our nanotechnology capabilities".