Zymosense, Inc. has received a $92,000 commercialization grant from the NSF RuralSTAMINA Biomanufacturing Engine to advance its nanotechnology-enabled method for measuring phytase activity. The project will support technical validation and commercialization efforts aimed at reducing risk, strengthening industry partnerships, and moving the technology toward broader market adoption. Unlike conventional tests that determine whether an enzyme is present, Zymosense's platform measures what the enzyme is actually doing—providing more timely and actionable information for phytase producers and users in agricultural and biomanufacturing markets.
AMES, Iowa, Sept. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Zymosense, Inc. has been selected to receive a $92,000 commercialization grant through NSF RuralSTAMINA Biomanufacturing Engine in Iowa and Nebraska to advance the company's phytase measurement nanotechnology toward broader commercial use.
The project will build on Zymosense's approach to measuring enzyme function by employing a novel nanotechnology platform. For phytase producers and users, functional measurement of activity can provide more actionable information than tests that establish only whether an enzyme is present. The grant will support work intended to reduce technical and commercial risk as Zymosense moves the technology closer to market.
"This award gives Zymosense the opportunity to convert function-based nanotechnology into a practical commercial solution," said Scott D. Nelson, CEO of Zymosense. "It also validates the importance of measuring what biology is doing—not simply whether a target is present. We are grateful to RuralSTAMINA for investing in new technologies that can grow from Iowa and serve global biomanufacturing and agricultural markets."
RuralSTAMINA is an Iowa–Nebraska regional initiative focused on translating biomanufacturing and biomass-conversion innovation into scalable manufacturing, commercialization and economic impact. Its Commercialization Seed Grant program helps technologies bridge the commercialization gap through validation, scale-up and de-risking.
During the grant period, Zymosense expects to focus on technical validation and commercialization activities for its phytase application. The work is expected to strengthen the company's path to follow-on partnerships, funding and market adoption.
About Zymosense
Zymosense, Inc., based in Ames, Iowa, develops nanotechnology-enabled tools that measure biological function. Its platform helps researchers, manufacturers and other users obtain timely, decision-relevant information about what enzymes and other biological targets are doing. Learn more at https://zymosense.com
About NSF RuralSTAMINA
The NSF RuralSTAMINA Biomanufacturing Engine in Iowa and Nebraska is helping America's agricultural heartland build and manufacture what the world needs next: from fuels and industrial materials to pharmaceuticals and consumer products.
RuralSTAMINA connects research, manufacturing, workforce and entrepreneurship resources, and industry partnerships to turn agricultural resources into new high-value products, create competitive jobs, and unleash economic opportunities across Iowa and Nebraska. Learn more at ruralstamina.org
Media Contact
Media Relations, Zymosense, Inc., 1 515-515-7299, [email protected], https://www.zymosense.com
SOURCE Zymosense, Inc.
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