Atacama Biomaterials is a startup led by co-founder Paloma Gonzalez-Rojas, which combines machine learning, architecture, and chemical engineering to create eco-friendly materials. The company aims to contribute to sustainability by creating innovative materials for various industries such as biofuels, biological drugs, and mining. The company was started in 2020 and has gone through several entrepreneurship initiatives at MIT.
Gonzalez-Rojas, originally from Chile, was inspired to start the company due to the environmental issues she witnessed in her home country, particularly the problem of plastic waste in the Atacama Desert. She was already studying at MIT, using machine learning methods to simulate pedestrian motion in her work with the Department of Architecture’s Design and Computation Group. Her concern for sustainability led her to explore biopolymers and degradable bio-based materials with other researchers at MIT, one of whom became her co-founder. Together, they used machine learning to create a library of data and materials applicable to various industries.
Atacama Biomaterials creates low-cost, locally sourced, and eco-friendly bio-based polymers and packaging. The company also offers AI products. A notable achievement is their development of naturally decomposable plastic. They are also targeting a 16.7% reduction in CO2 emissions associated with the manufacturing process of its polymers, via the utilization of renewable energy.
Regarding the development of new biomaterials, Gonzalez-Rojas used her background in material development, molecular dynamics, and the principles she studied in simulating pedestrian motion. Leveraging machine learning, she worked on simulating molecule trajectories to identify potential applications in biomaterials. She also used her architectural training to create a holistic vision for Atacama, which encouraged a focus on sustainability from the beginning of the company’s development.
MITdesignX, a mentorship and advice initiative of the Department of Architecture, played a crucial role in Atacama’s development. They received support in areas such as intellectual property and strategic planning, which helped shape Atacama’s vision and align it with market demand.
The startup has already proven the demand for their materials and tested their products, manufacturing process, and technology in critical environments. Atacama now plans to scale their operations, considering resources from around the world. The immediate next steps for the company include expanding manufacturing capabilities and research facilities. Atacama is currently considering establishing a factory in Chile and a research and development lab along with a manufacturing plant in the U.S.
