en.Wedoany.com Reported - South Korea's NOROO Holdings has been selected to lead a major government-backed initiative aimed at accelerating the commercialization of bio-based 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3-HP).
3-HP is a high-value platform chemical considered a key building block for next-generation sustainable materials. The project, titled "Promoting Raw Material Production and Value-Added Product Technology Development for the Bio-based Polymer Market," is being carried out by the Korea Evaluation Institute of Industrial Technology (KEIT) under the support of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE).
NOROO will be responsible for "Large-scale Demonstration of 3-HP Production Using Waste Biomass," covering the entire value chain from sourcing renewable raw materials and optimizing production processes to pilot-scale production and commercialization planning. The core of the initiative is to convert agricultural and industrial waste into feedstock that can be scaled for industrial biotechnology use.
A key pillar of the project is the development of bio-based acrylic-derived polymer materials, while simultaneously scaling up 3-HP production and validating the synthesis of bio-acrylic acid through catalytic conversion processes. This work is expected to lay the foundation for replacing traditional petroleum-based acrylic acid with sustainable alternatives.
The project brings together an industry-academia-research alliance aimed at integrating basic research, engineering, and industrial deployment into a single process, accelerating the transition from laboratory innovation to commercial application. NOROO's paint subsidiary, NOROO Paint Co., will play a central role in the technology application phase, focusing on converting 3-HP into raw materials for the paint industry, targeting the automotive, industrial, and construction sectors.
A spokesperson for NOROO Holdings stated that this national-level project marks a critical turning point for its industrial biotechnology division, shifting from a long-term "research (R)" phase to comprehensive "development (D)" and commercialization stages, supported by investments in pilot plant infrastructure. The company also emphasized that the support from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy reflects the nation's commitment to expanding industrial bio-material infrastructure.
NOROO stated that its Bio Fusion Research Institute has spent over a decade developing microbial strain engineering and biosynthesis technologies for 3-HP. The group reported having a 5-ton-scale production facility, verified stable yields, EU REACH registration for derivatives, and a 99% biodegradation rate within 28 days—milestones that are said to support rapid scale-up and global commercialization.
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