Ginkgo Bioworks Expands Autonomous Lab Network to Caltech, MIT, Maryland and Northwestern

BOSTON, August 4, 2026 - Ginkgo Bioworks (NYSE: DNA) today announced its collaboration on four new autonomous lab initiatives across leading academic institutions: California Institute of Technology (Caltech), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), University of Maryland (UMD), and Northwestern University. These projects advance the deployment of cloud-accessible, automated laboratories across the country, supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF), Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC), and Ginkgo's leading robotic infrastructure for life sciences.

Three of the new lab nodes, Caltech, UMD, and Northwestern, were selected as part of the NSF Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP) Test Bed: Toward a Network of Programmable Cloud Laboratories (NSF PCL Test Bed) program. The MIT Media Lab received a grant from the MLSC to establish a cloud laboratory dedicated to biotechnology learning and education. Together, these initiatives enable researchers and students to programmatically design, execute, and analyze scientific experiments remotely.

To power these autonomous facilities, Ginkgo is expecting to deploy its Reconfigurable Automation Carts (RACs) alongside its Catalyst Software. This integrated hardware and software stack brings secure cloud access and end-to-end, "walk-away" laboratory automation to each facility, turning physical lab benches into cloud-programmable assets.

Overview of the Four Autonomous Lab Nodes

• California Institute of Technology (ELECTRA): Directed by Dr. Hosea Nelson under the NSF PCL Test Bed program, the ELECTRA (the Electron Diffraction Cloud Laboratory for Research and Autonomy) node at Caltech aims to accelerate structural elucidation (biology materials and chemistry) through automated electron diffraction and spectroscopy. Ginkgo expects to provide RACs and Catalyst Software to integrate sample preparation, data collection, and analytical processing into a single autonomous, cloud-accessible platform.

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (CBI): Led by Dr. David Kong and the Community Biotechnology Initiative (CBI) at the MIT Media Lab, this node is supported by a grant from the MLSC. RACs are expected to power the first ever Cloud Laboratory for Learning, focused on democratizing hands-on biotechnology, AI, and robotics education, enabling students and researchers to perform remote laboratory experiments.

• University of Maryland (CRAB Lab): Led by Dr. William Bentley at the Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research (IBBR), a long-standing partnership between UMD and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the Collaborative for the Realization of Autonomous Biomanufacturing (CRAB) Lab focuses on advancing smart biomanufacturing as part of the NSF PCL Test Bed network. By combining molecular and electronic measurements to monitor bioprocess "vital signs," the lab will use AI to optimize production in real time. Ginkgo plans to deploy approximately 11 RACs and Catalyst Software to deliver an automated, cloud-accessible biomanufacturing suite, complete with a digital twin sandbox for risk-free workflow design.

• Northwestern University (DREAM Cloud Lab): Led by Dr. Julius Lucks as part of the NSF PCL Test Bed network, the AI-Driven, Rapid, Experimental Automation Machine (DREAM) Cloud Lab node focuses on scaling cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) to advance applications in biosensors, therapeutics, and sustainable biomanufacturing. Ginkgo anticipates deploying five RACs and Catalyst software to establish reproducible, cloud-automated CFPS protocols.

About Ginkgo Bioworks

Ginkgo Bioworks builds the tools that make biology easier to engineer for everyone. The company offers autonomous laboratories that replace manual laboratory work with robotics in the lab, greatly improving the productivity of scientists. Ginkgo's in-house autonomous lab is also available as a "Cloud Lab" through our Datapoints and Solutions contract research services. For more information, visit ginkgobioworks.com, read our blog, or follow us on social media channels such as X (@Ginkgo), Instagram (@GinkgoBioworks), Threads (@GinkgoBioworks), or LinkedIn.

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 capabilities and potential success of the partnership. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words "believe," "can," "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 press release, including but not limited to: (i) our ability to realize near-term and long-term cost savings associated with our site consolidation plans, including the ability to terminate leases or find sub-lease tenants for unused facilities, (ii) volatility in the price of Ginkgo's securities due to a variety of factors, including changes in the competitive and highly regulated industries in which Ginkgo operates and plans to operate, variations in performance across competitors, and changes in laws and regulations affecting Ginkgo's business, (iii) the ability to implement business plans, forecasts, and other expectations, and to identify and realize additional business opportunities, including with respect to our solutions and tools offerings, (iv) the risk of downturns in demand for products using synthetic biology, (v) the uncertainty regarding the demand for passive monitoring programs and biosecurity services, (vi) changes to the biosecurity industry, including due to advancements in technology, emerging competition and evolution in industry demands, standards and regulations, (vii) the outcome of any pending or potential legal proceedings against Ginkgo, (viii) our ability to realize the expected benefits from and the success of our Foundry platform programs and Codebase assets, (ix) our ability to successfully develop engineered cells, bioprocesses, data packages or other deliverables, (x) the product development, production or manufacturing success of our customers, (xi) our exposure to the volatility and liquidity risks inherent in holding equity interests in other operating companies and other non-cash consideration we may receive for our services, (xii) the potential negative impact on our business of our restructuring or the failure to realize the anticipated savings associated therewith and (xiii) the uncertainty regarding government budgetary priorities and funding allocated to government agencies. 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 annual report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on February 26, 2026, 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.

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SOURCE Ginkgo Bioworks