EXPLORA SRL

Their core work

Explora is a Rome-based biotech SME specializing in synthetic biology and microbial cell factory engineering. They design and optimize biological production systems — reprogramming microorganisms like yeast, E. coli, and P. putida to manufacture high-value compounds including alkaloids, flavonoids, and pharmaceutical ingredients. Their work spans from fundamental protocell research and artificial cell design to applied metabolic engineering for industrial biotechnology. They also contribute to synthetic biology standardization and community-building efforts at the European level.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their early H2020 period (2015–2018), Explora worked across diverse frontier topics — living architecture, protocells, artificial life, pharmaceutical chassis engineering, and DIY-bio — suggesting an exploratory phase testing multiple synthetic biology directions. From 2019 onward, their focus sharpened significantly toward applied microbial production: engineering specific organisms (yeast, P. putida, E. coli, S. albus) to manufacture defined compounds like alkaloids and flavonoids. Their most recent project (DESTINATION, 2021) signals a further pivot into RNA nanotechnology and information-carrying biological systems, adding a nucleic acid engineering dimension to their primarily protein/metabolite production background.

Explora is moving from broad synthetic biology research toward targeted bio-manufacturing platforms, with a new thread in RNA nanotechnology that could define their next phase of work.

How they like to work

Explora operates almost exclusively as a consortium partner (9 of 10 projects), contributing specialized synthetic biology capabilities to larger teams rather than leading them. They coordinated only once — Synbio4Arch, a small CSA (€100K) — suggesting they prefer the specialist contributor role where they can focus on technical delivery. With 74 unique partners across 21 countries, they are well-networked and comfortable working in diverse, large-scale European consortia rather than returning to the same small circle.

Explora has built a broad European network of 74 unique consortium partners spanning 21 countries, indicating they are a sought-after biotech partner rather than a locally focused company. Their participation in both FET and BIO pillar projects gives them connections across fundamental research labs and applied biotechnology groups alike.

What sets them apart

Explora occupies a rare niche as an Italian SME that bridges fundamental synthetic biology research (protocells, artificial cells) with applied industrial biotechnology (microbial production of alkaloids, flavonoids, pharmaceuticals). Most companies this size pick one side; Explora's range across both makes them a versatile partner who can contribute to exploratory FET projects and product-oriented RIA consortia alike. Their multi-organism expertise — working across yeast, E. coli, P. putida, S. albus, and actinomycetes — means they can adapt to whichever chassis a consortium needs.

Highlights from their portfolio

• DRIVE
  Their largest single grant (€820K) focused on diabetes-reversing implants — a high-stakes biomedical application far from their typical microbial production work.
• ACDC
  A FET-funded project building artificial cells with distributed cores using microfluidics and protocell technology — represents their most fundamental research engagement.
• SynBio4Flav
  Demonstrates their core applied capability: engineering synthetic microbial consortia (multiple species working together) to produce functionalized flavonoids at scale.