TECHNOLOGY LICENSING OPPORTUNITY: Platform to Accelerate Discovery of Tailored Industrial Enzymes (PAD-TIE)
Closed Special Notice Posted
- Solicitation number
- S-167703
- Agency
-
Department of Energy
- Responses due
- Set-aside
- No set-aside
Opportunity facts
- NAICS code
- 541714 Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology)
- Place of performance
- Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, United States
- Points of contact
-
- Caleb Ledgerwood licensing@lanl.gov
Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
Los Alamos National Laboratory, on behalf of the Department of Energy, announced a technology licensing opportunity for PAD-TIE (Platform to Accelerate Discovery of Tailored Industrial Enzymes) with a response deadline of October 1, 2026.
PAD-TIE is a high-throughput screening platform designed to accelerate discovery and optimization of enzymes that degrade polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic. The platform simultaneously evaluates tens of thousands of enzyme variants under industrially relevant conditions, assessing enzyme efficiency, stability, and production potential in a single process. Validated at laboratory scale in bioreactors replicating industrial recycling environments, PAD-TIE breaks PET down into reusable monomers without harsh chemicals or energy-intensive processes, supporting sustainable recycling and upcycling applications. The technology is classified at Technology Readiness Level 6 with three U.S. patents pending.
Key advantages include scalable screening, compatibility with existing recycling infrastructure, elimination of early-stage enzyme purification to reduce material and labor costs, comprehensive performance assessment reducing failure rates, and adaptability to various plastic compositions and processing conditions.
Target market applications span recycling and waste management operations, bioremediation, polymer manufacturing, and circular feedstock recovery for re-polymerization into food-grade or fiber-grade PET.
Prospective partners should contact Michael C. Erickson (michaele@lanl.gov, 505.695.4806) to explore collaborative partnership or licensing arrangements.
Notice text
3 versions
Update #3 · Latest ·
NREL and Los Alamos National Laboratory’s PAD-TIE platform is an advanced screening system designed to accelerate the discovery and optimization of enzymes that break down polyethylene terephthalate (PET), one of the most widely used plastics.
The Challenge:
Traditional enzyme development is slow and requires testing individual enzymes under controlled conditions. PAD-TIE overcomes this limitation by simultaneously screening tens of thousands of enzyme variants under industrially relevant conditions for PET degradation.
How it Works:
Unlike conventional methods, PAD-TIE evaluates enzyme efficiency, stability, and production potential in a single process, ensuring that only the most viable candidates move forward. Validated in lab-scale bioreactors that replicate industrial recycling environments, PAD-TIE supports sustainable PET recycling and upcycling, breaking plastic down into its fundamental building blocks (monomers) for reuse: without the need for harsh chemicals or energy-intensive processes.
Key Advantages:
- Scalable High-Throughput Screening: Evaluates tens of thousands of enzyme variants simultaneously, accelerating discovery.
- Optimized for Industrial Use: Operates at the optimal temperature for enzymatic PET degradation and high plastic processing efficiency, ensuring compatibility with existing recycling infrastructure.
- Efficient Resource Use: Uses widely available reagents and eliminates enzyme purification in early screening, reducing material and labor costs.
- Comprehensive Performance Assessment: Simultaneously measures enzyme activity, stability, and production efficiency, reducing failure rates.
- Adaptable to Industry Needs: Can be optimized for various processing conditions, different PET compositions, and additives in plastic waste.
Market Applications:
PAD-TIE is designed for industry partners seeking scalable, enzyme-based solutions for plastic waste management and recycling, including:
- Recycling & Waste Management: Enhances PET recycling by breaking plastic down into reusable monomers.
- Bioremediation & Environmental: Supports plastic degradation in marine environments, landfills, and polluted sites.
- Polymer Manufacturers: Enables the integration of engineered enzymes into industrial plastic processing workflows.
- Bioplastics & Sustainable Materials: Contributes to the development of biodegradable plastics and ecofriendly alternatives.
Development Status: Technology Readiness Level6 - Full System Prototype Built with Components Thoroughly Tested
Three U.S. patents pending
https://www.lanl.gov/engage/collaboration/feynman-center/tech-and-capability-search/pad-tie
LA-UR-25-23941
LANL Tech Partnerships: Unlock the Innovative Potential
Los Alamos National Laboratory offers a wide range of cutting-edge technologies and capabilities that may provide your company with a competitive edge in the market and unlock the innovative potential that can enhance, refine, and revolutionize your products.
LANL’s licensing program focuses on moving inventions developed by our researchers to commercial innovations. Patented and patent pending inventions and copyrighted software are available to existing and start-up companies through exclusive and non-exclusive licensing agreements. For specific discussions, please contact licensing@lanl.gov.
Note: This is not a call for external services for the development of this technology.
https://www.lanl.gov/engage/collaboration/feynman-center/partner-with-us/licensing-technology
https://www.lanl.gov/engage/collaboration/feynman-center/tech-and-capability-search
Update #2 ·
NREL and Los Alamos National Laboratory’s PAD-TIE platform is an advanced screening system designed to accelerate the discovery and optimization of enzymes that break down polyethylene terephthalate (PET), one of the most widely used plastics.
The Challenge:
Traditional enzyme development is slow and requires testing individual enzymes under controlled conditions. PAD-TIE overcomes this limitation by simultaneously screening tens of thousands of enzyme variants under industrially relevant conditions for PET degradation.
How it Works:
Unlike conventional methods, PAD-TIE evaluates enzyme efficiency, stability, and production potential in a single process, ensuring that only the most viable candidates move forward. Validated in lab-scale bioreactors that replicate industrial recycling environments, PAD-TIE supports sustainable PET recycling and upcycling, breaking plastic down into its fundamental building blocks (monomers) for reuse: without the need for harsh chemicals or energy-intensive processes. Validated in lab-scale bioreactors that replicate industrial recycling environments, PAD-TIE supports sustainable PET recycling and upcycling, breaking plastic down into its fundamental building blocks (monomers) for reuse: without the need for harsh chemicals or energy-intensive processes.
Key Advantages:
- Scalable High-Throughput Screening: Evaluates tens of thousands of enzyme variants simultaneously, accelerating discovery.
- Optimized for Industrial Use: Operates at the optimal temperature for enzymatic PET degradation and high plastic processing efficiency, ensuring compatibility with existing recycling infrastructure.
- Efficient Resource Use: Uses widely available reagents and eliminates enzyme purification in early screening, reducing material and labor costs.
- Comprehensive Performance Assessment: Simultaneously measures enzyme activity, stability, and production efficiency, reducing failure rates.
- Adaptable to Industry Needs: Can be optimized for various processing conditions, different PET compositions, and additives in plastic waste.
Market Applications:
PAD-TIE is designed for industry partners seeking scalable, enzyme-based solutions for plastic waste management and recycling, including:
- Recycling & Waste Management: Enhances PET recycling by breaking plastic down into reusable monomers.
- Bioremediation & Environmental: Supports plastic degradation in marine environments, landfills, and polluted sites.
- Polymer Manufacturers: Enables the integration of engineered enzymes into industrial plastic processing workflows.
- Bioplastics & Sustainable Materials: Contributes to the development of biodegradable plastics and ecofriendly alternatives.
Development Status: Technology Readiness Level6 - Full System Prototype Built with Components Thoroughly Tested
Patent pending
https://www.lanl.gov/engage/collaboration/feynman-center/tech-and-capability-search/pad-tie
LA-UR-25-23941
LANL Tech Partnerships: Unlock the Innovative Potential
Los Alamos National Laboratory offers a wide range of cutting-edge technologies and capabilities that may provide your company with a competitive edge in the market and unlock the innovative potential that can enhance, refine, and revolutionize your products.
LANL’s licensing program focuses on moving inventions developed by our researchers to commercial innovations. Patented and patent pending inventions and copyrighted software are available to existing and start-up companies through exclusive and non-exclusive licensing agreements. For specific discussions, please contact licensing@lanl.gov.
Note: This is not a call for external services for the development of this technology.
https://www.lanl.gov/engage/collaboration/feynman-center/partner-with-us/licensing-technology
https://www.lanl.gov/engage/collaboration/feynman-center/tech-and-capability-search
Update #1 ·
Los Alamos National Laboratory’s PAD-TIE platform is an advanced screening system designed to accelerate the discovery and optimization of enzymes that break down polyethylene terephthalate (PET), one of the most widely used plastics.
The Challenge:
Traditional enzyme development is slow and requires testing individual enzymes under controlled conditions. PAD-TIE overcomes this limitation by simultaneously screening tens of thousands of enzyme variants under industrially relevant conditions for PET degradation.
How it Works:
Unlike conventional methods, PAD-TIE evaluates enzyme efficiency, stability, and production potential in a single process, ensuring that only the most viable candidates move forward. Validated in lab-scale bioreactors that replicate industrial recycling environments, PAD-TIE supports sustainable PET recycling and upcycling, breaking plastic down into its fundamental building blocks (monomers) for reuse: without the need for harsh chemicals or energy-intensive processes. Validated in lab-scale bioreactors that replicate industrial recycling environments, PAD-TIE supports sustainable PET recycling and upcycling, breaking plastic down into its fundamental building blocks (monomers) for reuse: without the need for harsh chemicals or energy-intensive processes.
Key Advantages:
- Scalable High-Throughput Screening: Evaluates tens of thousands of enzyme variants simultaneously, accelerating discovery.
- Optimized for Industrial Use: Operates at the optimal temperature for enzymatic PET degradation and high plastic processing efficiency, ensuring compatibility with existing recycling infrastructure.
- Efficient Resource Use: Uses widely available reagents and eliminates enzyme purification in early screening, reducing material and labor costs.
- Comprehensive Performance Assessment: Simultaneously measures enzyme activity, stability, and production efficiency, reducing failure rates.
- Adaptable to Industry Needs: Can be optimized for various processing conditions, different PET compositions, and additives in plastic waste.
Market Applications:
PAD-TIE is designed for industry partners seeking scalable, enzyme-based solutions for plastic waste management and recycling, including:
- Recycling & Waste Management: Enhances PET recycling by breaking plastic down into reusable monomers.
- Bioremediation & Environmental: Supports plastic degradation in marine environments, landfills, and polluted sites.
- Polymer Manufacturers: Enables the integration of engineered enzymes into industrial plastic processing workflows.
- Bioplastics & Sustainable Materials: Contributes to the development of biodegradable plastics and ecofriendly alternatives.
Development Status: Technology Readiness Level6 - Full System Prototype Built with Components Thoroughly Tested
Patent pending
https://www.lanl.gov/engage/collaboration/feynman-center/tech-and-capability-search/pad-tie
LA-UR-25-23941
LANL Tech Partnerships: Unlock the Innovative Potential
Los Alamos National Laboratory offers a wide range of cutting-edge technologies and capabilities that may provide your company with a competitive edge in the market and unlock the innovative potential that can enhance, refine, and revolutionize your products.
LANL’s licensing program focuses on moving inventions developed by our researchers to commercial innovations. Patented and patent pending inventions and copyrighted software are available to existing and start-up companies through exclusive and non-exclusive licensing agreements. For specific discussions, please contact licensing@lanl.gov.
Note: This is not a call for external services for the development of this technology.
https://www.lanl.gov/engage/collaboration/feynman-center/partner-with-us/licensing-technology
https://www.lanl.gov/engage/collaboration/feynman-center/tech-and-capability-search
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| Tech-Snapshot-PAD TIE_July 2026.pdf | ||
| pad-tie-laur-25-23941_97688.pdf |
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