From Concept to Co-Innovation: How Syensqo Built a Future-Ready Biotech Lab
Syensqo inaugurated its largest global microbiology lab on June 12, 2025, in Lyon, France—a purpose-built facility that boosts biodegradability testing capacity tenfold and showcases best practices in sustainable, high-performance lab design. All images: Courtesy of Syensqo/Darius Salimi
On June 12, 2025, Syensqo officially inaugurated its new state-of-the-art microbiology, (eco-)toxicology, and biotechnology laboratory at the company’s flagship Research & Innovation Center in Lyon, France. As the company’s largest microbiology facility globally, this purpose-built lab dramatically enhances Syensqo’s ability to accelerate sustainable product development—and offers a compelling case study in user-driven, high-performance lab design.
With a tenfold increase in biodegradation testing capacity compared to 2021, this 550-sm facility is more than just a space upgrade—it represents a holistic investment in scientific agility, digital transformation, and sustainability. It also offers practical guidance for others planning to build next-generation laboratory environments.
Engaging end users from Day One
One of the lab’s standout features is how thoroughly it integrates insights from the very scientists who use it.
“The entire biodegradability lab team was engaged from the outset of the lab design process,” says Thomas Canova, Head of Research and Innovation and Head of Syensqo’s Renewable Materials and Biotechnology Growth Platform. “They provided feedback on enhancements based on their past experiences. Examples include the installation of serving hatches for raw materials and waste, implementing a forward flow system in the labs, and incorporating digitalization and automation.”
This early and continuous end-user engagement helped the team optimize everything from workflow efficiency to biosafety and ergonomics, demonstrating the value of inclusive design practices that go beyond top-down planning.
From legacy facility to future hub
The new lab replaces a smaller, older facility, but the transition was carefully managed to avoid disrupting ongoing research.
“The transition was meticulously planned and organized to minimize downtime and ensure seamless business continuity,” says Canova. While some equipment was relocated, many new machines were also purchased, and the lab continues to be outfitted with top-tier instrumentation.
This hybrid outfitting approach—balancing legacy systems with new investments—provides an important takeaway: modernization doesn't always mean starting from scratch. Strategic reuse can ease transitions and preserve institutional knowledge while enabling rapid ramp-up.
Innovation in action: tools that transform testing
Syensqo’s Lyon lab features advanced technologies—including in-house High Throughput Screening tools, real-time microfluidic monitoring, the BioLector system, and rare Impedancemetry equipment—to accelerate biodegradability and toxicology research.
Several custom and rare technologies distinguish the Lyon facility from standard microbiology labs.
A standout is a High Throughput Screening (HTS) tool developed in-house to meet customer needs and vastly expand biodegradability testing throughput. Other unique tools include:
Microfluidic systems with optical sensors, allowing real-time, non-invasive microbial monitoring in microtiter plates.
The BioLector, which continuously tracks biomass, pH, and oxygen to accelerate microbial screening and R&D.
Impedancemetry, a sensitive, high-throughput method to assess cell viability and toxicological effects—rare in specialty chemical research.
“Syensqo is one of the rare chemical specialties groups that owns that [Impedancemetry] tool,” notes Canova. These innovations support the lab’s mission to create biodegradable-by-design solutions and give the company an edge in both internal R&D and external service offerings.
Digital and AI infrastructure: from data to discovery
Digitization wasn’t just an afterthought—it was foundational to the lab’s operation.
“The laboratory digital infrastructure has been designed to streamline our testing processes by using software to manage all aspects of a biodegradation test—from request entry to sample management, automation of data acquisition, and reporting,” explains Canova.
Machine learning is also used to predict biodegradability outcomes, helping scientists identify promising compounds earlier. The team has already developed a model that predicts small molecule biodegradability with high accuracy and is building additional models for polymer biodegradation and mechanism-based insights.
These capabilities not only cut costs and development time but also enable “fail fast” strategies that prioritize efficiency and sustainability.
Built for sustainability, compliance, and collaboration
Syensqo’s Lyon lab serves as a model for future-ready lab design, offering practical lessons in user engagement, sustainability, digital integration, and global collaboration to accelerate science and innovation.
Environmental performance was embedded in the lab’s construction. Syensqo achieved a 35 percent reduction in power consumption and a 36 percent cut in CO₂ emissions thanks to a heat/cold recovery system and three heat pumps—all planned from the project’s inception.
As Syensqo prepares the lab for GLP (Good Laboratory Practices) accreditation in July 2025, the company has taken a robust, structured approach to ensure compliance. They held regular meetings with the team, worked with a GLP consultant, engaged end users, implemented comprehensive training, and conducted internal audits, says Canova. They also established strong documentation and archiving systems to ensure traceability and accountability.
Once accredited, the lab will open its services to external partners, supporting regulatory submissions and expanding Syensqo’s role in the global R&D ecosystem.
“The decision to open the biodegradability lab to selling services was made based on the strengths of our lab,” says Canova. “GLP accreditation, the skills of our microbiology team, and the diverse competencies of our Lyon ecosystem all support this move.”
Lessons and takeaways
Syensqo’s microbiology lab offers clear, practical lessons for organizations building or upgrading their lab infrastructure:
Engage end users early to design labs that truly work for scientists.
Blend new and legacy equipment to reduce costs and ensure continuity.
Invest in automation and AI to future-proof testing workflows.
Build for sustainability from the ground up, not as a retrofit.
Design for compliance early to smooth accreditation pathways.
Create labs that connect—to customers, to global teams, and to shared innovation platforms.
As part of Syensqo’s broader co-innovation model, the Lyon lab isn’t just a facility—it’s a hub of transformation. And in the face of complex environmental challenges, it's a timely reminder that good lab design can help science move faster, cleaner, and smarter.