In this edition of our Thought Leadership Series, we speak with Nick, CEO of Ingenza, a leading CRDMO with leading technology focused on the delivery of AI/ML driven biotechnology routes to new materials.

 

Origins and Vision

Ingenza was founded by Ian Fotheringham, whose early work in scaling artificial sweeteners in the US gave Ian valuable insights into the challenge of scaling biotechnological processes and through this shaped the company’s DNA. Returning to the UK in the early 2000s, he set out to build a CRDMO focused on biotechnological routes to unnatural amino acids for pharmaceutical applications. In doing so, Ingenza developed a broader capability—spanning fermentation, gene design, molecular biology, and downstream processing—positioning itself as a versatile partner for biologics and enzyme development. Today, Ian continues to guide the company as President of Technology.

The Challenge of Scaling Biology

Unlike chemistry, where processes tend to be predictable, biology introduces variability. As Nick puts it, “cells don’t always behave in the way we expect them to.” While processes may work in the lab, scaling them economically and reproducibly is far more complex. Two key challenges stand out:

  • Developing the expertise to move from lab to full-scale production
  • Accessing scalable infrastructure, which is costly and investment-heavy

These challenges are particularly acute outside of pharma, where industrial biotech is still building capacity.

What Sets Ingenza Apart

Ingenza differentiates itself through what it calls “dual engineering.” The company combines AI and machine learning tools with deep wet-lab expertise to bridge the gap between digital design and real-world biological systems.

This approach enables:

  • Faster identification of viable routes to expression of protein or enzyme candidates
  • More reliable scale-up into production environments

Additionally, Ingenza is advancing antibiotic-free expression systems—an innovation increasingly important in food, nutrition, and consumer biotech, where sustainability and safety are critical concerns.

Where Demand Is Growing

Ingenza sees balanced demand across sectors. While pharma remains a major driver of revenue and long-term growth, non-pharma applications—such as agriculture, beauty and nutrition—are emerging as strong near-term opportunities.

Operating across multiple industries allows the company to diversify risk while applying its core technologies broadly.

The Future of Biomanufacturing

For Nick, the most exciting aspect of biomanufacturing lies in its potential to enable new product innovation whilst also addressing global sustainability challenges. From reducing carbon emissions to enabling greener production methods, biology offers new ways to rethink how materials and products are made.

“At its core, it’s about delivering new technologies whilst also leaving the world in a better place,” he says. “Sustainable innovation isn’t optional—it’s where the industry must go.”