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Three questions with Craig Arnold, president and CEO of Dakota BioWorx

Craig Arnold is well-versed in what it takes to move university-level research into the marketplace. In South Dakota, he has helped grow two startup companies from research discoveries, commercializing cutting-edge biotechnology products and raising millions in private equity. In 2022, Arnold was hired to launch Dakota BioWorx, a nonprofit organization responsible for facilitating research projects in the POET Bioprocessing Center, a unique facility owned by the South Dakota Board of Regents and strategically located in the Research Park at South Dakota State University.

What role does Dakota BioWorx play in South Dakota's research and commercialization ecosystem?

There is a significant gap between a research discovery or invention and seeing that invention in the marketplace. Our role at Dakota BioWorx is to help bridge that gap. Our state-of-the-art bioprocessing facility is unique to the region and offers both the equipment and technical support that is needed to validate, scale and optimize biological processes and products. We have everything from bench-scale bioreactors to 3,000-liter pilot-scale fermenters. This infrastructure is vital for early-stage biotechnology ventures as they often lack the capital needed to purchase this highly expensive equipment and scale their product. Our staff provides the technical expertise to help inventors refine their process and develop the documentation and data needed for attracting outside investment or partnerships. By validating processes at pilot scale, we reduce the uncertainty that keeps investors on the sidelines, which is a major advantage for researchers looking to turn their inventions into viable commercial products.

We have also started a robust intern program where students get hands-on training in these advanced bioprocessing procedures and equipment. This is really helping to build the biotechnology workforce here in South Dakota. When a new company is formed or moves into the Research Park, our students will have the expertise and training needed to fill those positions. It’s not just STEM opportunities, either. We have accounting and business interns as well.

What type of projects can be found in the facility?

There are a variety of projects ongoing. Currently, we have around 20 clients, some of whom are from outside the state. A major focus of these projects is to add value to agricultural commodities or byproducts. For example, an SDSU research team is using corn syrup and molasses — ag byproducts — to grow carotenoids, which can be used as a natural food coloring additive. Another team from South Dakota Mines is developing soybean-based adjuvants, which can provide new crop protection tools and will open new markets for our state's producers.

How can we raise the return on investment of research here in South Dakota?

We need to take stock of what's available. If I were to look out a window in California, I would see an endless supply of saltwater. Here in South Dakota, we produce millions and millions of bushels of corn and soybeans. What can we do with this?

The raw materials are here. The markets are here. Now we have the processing capacity to convert our corn and soybeans into value-added products, too. We are aligning research at our two partner schools — SDSU and Mines — with our team at Dakota BioWorx. Couple this with a growing group of highly trained graduates who are experts in bioprocessing technologies, and we are creating a powerful economic engine that can elevate our state's economy by creating demand and new markets for our surplus of commodities.