NOROO Holdings Makes Major Strides Toward Commercialization of Bio-based '3-HP' Through Large-Scale Korean Government Project

Selected as the final executing organization for a large-scale project supervised by the Korea Evaluation Institute of Industrial Technology (KEIT), entering the full commercialization stage.

Building a 'total value chain' through close collaboration between industry, academia, and research institutes, from raw material procurement to final products.

Indicating a shift from the traditional 'Research & Development (R&D)' focus to full-scale 'industrial development (Development)' in the biotechnology field.

[SEOUL, June 10, 2026] NOROO Holdings (headquarters: Seoul, South Korea), a comprehensive chemical group, has been selected as the final executing organization for the 'Technology Development for Raw Material Production and Product High Value-Added for Vitalizing the Bio-based Polymer Market' project supervised by the Korea Evaluation Institute of Industrial Technology (KEIT), a Korean government agency. This selection is expected to significantly accelerate the company's entry into the global industrial bio market through the development of the next-generation bio-based platform chemical '3-HP (3-hydroxypropionic acid)'.

■ What is 3-HP (3-hydroxypropionic acid)? '3-HP' is one of the 'Top 12 Value-Added Bio-based Platform Chemicals' selected by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). It is a core intermediate that can be converted into various high-value-added products, from cosmetics to industrial coatings and environmentally friendly plastics. It is positioned as a sustainable alternative to traditional petroleum-based raw materials and a foundational material for the 'white biotechnology' industry in the carbon-neutral era.

■ Main Project Goals With full support from the Korean government, NOROO Holdings will lead the core program, 'Demonstration of Mass Production of 3-HP Using Waste Biomass'. The company will oversee the entire value chain, from raw material procurement and process optimization to pilot-scale production and commercialization.

- Development of bio-based acrylic acid-based polymer materials
- Demonstration of mass production and scale-up of 3-HP using agricultural and industrial waste biomass
- Demonstration of bio-acrylic acid synthesis through catalytic conversion of 3-HP

The greatest strength of this project lies in the establishment of a robust 'industry-academia-research consortium' that brings together leading research institutions and partners. This integrated framework enables seamless innovation, from basic scientific research and advanced process engineering to the commercialization of downstream products.

Furthermore, this initiative is expected to create strong synergies among NOROO Group's core businesses, particularly its chemical and coatings divisions. By incorporating 3-HP-derived materials into automotive coatings, industrial paints, and architectural finishes, the company aims to solidify its competitiveness in the rapidly growing market for environmentally friendly and high-performance materials.

■ Comments from Officials An official from NOROO Holdings emphasized, 'This selection for a national policy project is a pivotal turning point for our industrial biotechnology division. It signifies a definitive transition from the long-standing 'Research' phase to a full-fledged 'Development' and commercialization phase, supported by large-scale investment in a pilot plant.'

The company added, 'The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy's leadership in such a development-oriented project demonstrates the nation's strong will to expand the infrastructure for industrial bio-materials. NOROO Holdings will lead this green transition, proving both the environmental sustainability and economic feasibility of next-generation chemical substitute materials.'

Meanwhile, NOROO Group's dedicated bio-research institute, 'NOROO Bio Convergence Research Institute', has focused for over a decade on engineering microbial strains and advancing biosynthesis technologies for 3-HP production. The institute has already completed the construction of a 5-ton scale demonstration facility and successfully demonstrated 3-HP production. Furthermore, it has completed EU REACH registration for 3-HP derivatives and verified 99% biodegradability in a 28-day cycle. These achievements provide a solid foundation for rapid commercialization and full-scale entry into the global market.