One of the most exciting horizons for biotechnology is space manufacturing and members of the NSF-PTRM Engine are leading the way once again.
Ronawk, an NSF-PTRM Engine ecosystem startup company producing bio-blocks, will send its products to the International Space Station by 2026. The mission’s experiments will focus on growing multiple tissues in low Earth orbit, where cells experience accelerated growth due to low gravity. Ronawk is the second NSF-PTRM Engine member to have its products included in space missions.
Jana Stoudemire, a key member of the NSF-PTRM Engine leadership team and an innovation strategist in commercial space manufacturing, delivered the keynote address at a recent Biomanufacturing in Space Symposium in Florida. The symposium fostered collaboration between academia, industry, and space exploration, aligning the NSF Engines’ mission to fuel innovation and workforce development in emerging technology sectors.