New Research Project

AI and Fungi in the Fight Against Global Challenges

A new collaboration between DTU and three Danish startups will use advanced technologies, data, and AI to unlock the vast potential of fungi as sustainable solutions to pressing societal problems. The goal is to create the next generation of fungal solutions in food, feed, medicine, and agriculture.  

A new collaboration between DTU and three Danish startups will use advanced technologies, data, and AI to unlock the vast potential of fungi as sustainable solutions to pressing societal problems. The goal is to create the next generation of fungal solutions in food, feed, medicine, and agriculture.

RAPIDFUNG is a new research project that combines DTU’s expertise in fungi with innovative high-throughput and AI technologies. The project aims to identify and analyse filamentous fungi, fungi that grow in long threads, and pave the way for the development of sustainable solutions based on them.

The project is particularly relevant at a time of increasing global challenges. Food prices are rising, climate change is putting pressure on agriculture and production, and there is an urgent need for environmentally friendly and sustainable solutions and products. Here, fungi can play a crucial role. The RAPIDFUNG project aims to realise this potential and contribute to concrete solutions for some of today’s greatest challenges.

Technology to Close the Knowledge Gap
While fungi have many documented benefits, there is still a lack of knowledge about the many different species—and how they can best be used. RAPIDFUNG will close this knowledge gap by combining advanced technologies that can both harness the positive properties of fungi and limit the negative ones.

RAPIDFUNG provides access to advanced tools that create high-quality data and a unique and diverse fungal collection. This opens up opportunities to develop fungal-based products for food, agriculture, pharma, and biotech more quickly.
Associate Professor Jakob Blæsbjerg Hoof who leads the project DTU Bioengineering

The collaboration brings together DTU and three innovative Danish startups:

  • Reshape Biotech has developed a high-throughput (HTP) time-lapse camera robot that can capture images of fungal colonies over time.
  • BioSense Solutions offers a time-lapse microscope that enables detailed analysis of fungi at the cellular level.
  • Mycoverse combines HTP metabolomics and functional screening to develop fungal-based solutions for agriculture, food, feed, and medicine.

By combining DTU’s 40 years of experience in mycology with the technological expertise of its partners, the project elevates the development of fungal-based products to a new level.

RAPIDFUNG is co-funded by the Innovation Fund Denmark through the Grand Solutions programme.

Facts

  • Innovation Fund Denmark’s investment: DKK 18.1 million
  • Total project budget: DKK 26.6 million
  • Duration: 4 years
  • Official title: Robotics and AI-Powered Identification of Fungal Solutions (RAPIDFUNG)

Contact

Jakob Blæsbjerg Hoof

Jakob Blæsbjerg Hoof Associate Professor Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine Phone: +45 45252676 Mobile: 6166 5792