Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology, Ginkgo Bioworks to Develop Biotechnology Manufacturing Associates Degree

BOSTON, Dec. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology (BFIT), a private non-profit college offering affordable education for people seeking technical and trade careers, announced today a partnership with Ginkgo Bioworks (NYSE: DNA) to develop an associate degree in biotechnology manufacturing. The program will be housed at the Nubian Square Life Science Training Center, a collaboration of organizations uniting to meet the demand for a well-trained and diverse life sciences workforce, with additional funding through a $100,000 grant from Kargman Family Foundation.

The training partnership between BFIT and Ginkgo Bioworks, the leading horizontal platform for cell programming, will focus on supporting the development of critical workforce skills in the areas of biotechnology, biomanufacturing, clinical research and bioengineering.  Program graduates will be prepared and trained for a wide range of entry- and mid-level technician positions focused on operations and maintenance, positions that are in high demand throughout the life sciences field. A 2020 report by the Massachusetts Biotechnology Education Foundation shows a 67% increase in life sciences jobs in Massachusetts over the past decade. The report also projected over 109,000 life science jobs in Massachusetts by the year 2024. 

"Our partnership with Ginkgo Bioworks is another example of BFIT's nimble approach toward identifying high demand industries that require a skilled workforce and offer opportunities for sustainable career development for our graduates," said Aisha Francis, President and CEO of BFIT. "This new associate's degree in biotechnology manufacturing positions our students to play a critical role in supplying a diverse and qualified workforce to fill Massachusetts' booming life science and medical industry."

"There is a common misconception that only those with advanced degrees are qualified for jobs in the life sciences field. It's time for that misconception to be corrected," said Reshma Shetty, co-founder, Chief Operating Officer and President of Ginkgo Bioworks. "BFIT has strong community connections and a reputation for successfully educating young people in technical careers, and Ginkgo is committed to producing the next generation of life sciences professionals. Through this partnership, we hope to create long-term career opportunities for individuals who may not have previously considered this field."

A key enabler of the associate degree in biotechnology manufacturing program will be the Nubian Square Life Science Training Center, housed at Nubian Square Ascends in the Roxbury neighborhood. The training center will neighbor BFIT’s proposed 68,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art campus planned for the corner of Harrison Ave and Eustis Street, remaking the landscape and adding economic vitality to this historically and culturally rich area. Both projects were approved at the BPDA board meeting on December 16, 2021. The Nubian Square Life Science Training Center is also located in close proximity to Madison Park Technical Vocational High School, John D. O’Bryant School of Mathematics and Science, Dearborn STEM Academy, Roxbury Community College, and other academic institutions with young talent anxious to be prepared for life science careers. It will be designed to include lab training facilities; BFIT instructors will provide instruction to the talented students studying to enter the growing industries.

"We've entered into this strategic education partnership with corporate partners to make sure that community members from areas historically overlooked have access to new economy jobs that are in high demand and pay well. This is what equity in action looks like and it's long overdue," said Richard Taylor, Managing Director of the Nubian Ascends project.

The Nubian Square Life Science Training Center has already received a $100,000 grant from the Kargman Family Foundation to educate and explain Life Science career options to high school students, community college students, and adults seeking new careers in Boston.

About Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology

Founded in 1908 in Boston, Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology is an affordable, urban College serving the Boston region and committed to student success and career readiness in technology fields, 90% of which are integrated with an approach to sustainability. With clean and green tech verticals in their top programs like HVAC&R, Wind Energy Technology, Automotive, and Electrical Engineering, BFIT provides personalized support, hands-on learning, and industry-informed curricula to prepare graduates for well-paid work, life-long learning, and civic engagement. For more information, please go to www.bfit.edu.

About Ginkgo Bioworks

Ginkgo is building a platform to enable customers to program cells as easily as we can program computers. The company's platform is enabling biotechnology applications across diverse markets, from food and agriculture to industrial chemicals to pharmaceuticals. Ginkgo has also actively supported a number of COVID-19 response efforts, including K-12 pooled testing, vaccine manufacturing optimization and therapeutics discovery. For more information, visit www.ginkgobioworks.com.

About Nubian Sqaure Ascends

In addition to the Life Science Training Center, the Nubian Ascends project will offer affordable artist housing, artist studio and collaboration spaces, commercial space, a marketplace, a 300-car parking garage, and a multi-purpose cultural hall and theater that will support Nubian Square's transformation as a new iconic space for the region. The proposed commercial space will promote job creation, which will bring purchasing power to support neighborhood businesses and create demand for the 48,000 sf marketplace on the ground floor. The marketplace will feature local artisans and makers and a food hall that showcases chefs from an on-site culinary arts program. www.nubiansquareascends.com

Forward-Looking Statements of Ginkgo Bioworks 
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including statements regarding the potential success of the partnership and Ginkgo's cell programming platform. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words "believe," "project," "potential," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "strategy," "future," "opportunity," "plan," "may," "should," "will," "would," "will be," "will continue," "will likely result," and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this document, including but not limited to: (i) the effect of the business combination with Soaring Eagle Acquisition Corp. ("Soaring Eagle") on Ginkgo's business relationships, performance, and business generally, (ii) risks that the business combination disrupts current plans of Ginkgo and potential difficulties in Ginkgo's employee retention, (iii) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Ginkgo related to its business combination with Soaring Eagle, (iv) volatility in the price of Ginkgo's securities now that it is a public company due to a variety of factors, including changes in the competitive and highly regulated industries in which Ginkgo plans to operate, variations in performance across competitors, changes in laws and regulations affecting Ginkgo's business and changes in the combined capital structure, (v) the ability to implement business plans, forecasts, and other expectations after the completion of the business combination, and identify and realize additional opportunities, and (vi) the risk of downturns in demand for products using synthetic biology. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties described in the "Risk Factors" section of Ginkgo's quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on November 15, 2021 and other documents filed by Ginkgo from time to time with the SEC. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and Ginkgo assumes no obligation and does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Ginkgo does not give any assurance that it will achieve its expectations.

GINKGO BIOWORKS INVESTOR CONTACT:
[email protected]  

GINKGO BIOWORKS MEDIA CONTACT:
[email protected]  

SOURCE Ginkgo Bioworks