Nippon Steel Engineering to Participate in NEDO's 'Bio-manufacturing Revolution Promotion Project'

Nippon Steel Engineering Co., Ltd. (President: Yukito Ishiwa, Head Office: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, hereinafter "the Company") announces its participation as a joint implementer in the research and development theme "Establishment of a Saccharification Enzyme Supply Platform to Create Industries Utilizing Unused Biomass Resources," proposed by Kao Corporation. This theme has been selected for the 'Bio-manufacturing Revolution Promotion Project' promoted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO).

This is a national project aimed at transitioning the manufacturing of chemicals, materials, and fuels from conventional chemical processes to bio-processes that utilize microorganisms and enzymes, with the goal of social implementation. In the bio-process, the saccharification step, which breaks down biomass into sugars, plays a crucial role. The saccharification enzymes at the core of this process are key elements whose performance, supply stability, and cost determine business competitiveness. However, current challenges include high enzyme costs and the need to strengthen the domestic supply system.

In this R&D effort to address these challenges, Kao will work on building an enzyme supply platform, including the development and provision of improved saccharification enzymes*1. In cooperation with Kao, our company will evaluate saccharification performance using the enzymes provided by Kao and select the optimal enzymes. We will also jointly proceed with studies to expand the adaptability of enzymes for saccharification according to raw material characteristics and pretreatment conditions. In addition, we will utilize our on-site enzyme production facility CellEzyme™*2, for which we have been conducting equipment studies and commercialization. We will advance equipment design and standardization for large-scale enzyme production, and conduct integrated demonstrations using portable CellEzyme™ units for second-generation bioethanol demonstration operators, among others, to carry out technical studies for the social implementation phase.

• Expanding the adaptability of enzymes for saccharification according to the characteristics of biomass raw materials and pretreatment conditions

• Advancement and standardization of equipment for commercial use

• Integrated demonstration using the portable on-site enzyme production facility CellEzyme™ for second-generation bioethanol demonstration operators and others

By leveraging the knowledge and demonstration results gained through participation in this project, our company will advance efforts to establish and promote the on-site enzyme production facility CellEzyme™, with a view to its application in fields such as second-generation bioethanol, SAF raw materials, and biorefineries, thereby contributing to a decarbonized society.

*1 Reference: Kao Corporation press release dated February 16, 2026
https://www.kao.com/jp/newsroom/news/release/2026/20260216-001/
*2 CellEzyme™ is a trademark for an on-site enzyme production facility that produces enzymes using proprietary enzyme-producing microorganisms on the premises of a biorefinery plant. We are developing it based on our unique technology and design philosophy, and have already established a level of technical reliability that allows for its application in semi-commercial scale bioethanol production plants.
https://www.eng.nipponsteel.com/business/environment_and_energy_solution/biomass_to_ethanol/biomass_to_ethanol_conversion_equipment/#cellezyme