In 2024 the Nobel Prize for Chemistry was awarded to biology. This presentation will show several examples of how the Nobel Prize winning tool AlphaFold has been adapted to revolutionize enzyme engineering and the development of biosolutions to deliver sustainable innovations in homecare that was unimaginable just a few years ago.

We will also demonstrate examples of how the remarkable advancements in both screening and upscaling have allowed innovations to be commercialized at scale for the first time. We will show how the breakthrough method developments in DNA sequencing have escalated the speed of protein engineering by faster and cheaper analysis of enzyme variants’ genetic sequences, which won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2018. Additionally, a patented method in microfluidics, an ultra-high throughput screening using microdroplets, has allowed a full genomic understanding of the enzyme and production host, enabling sustainable innovations to be commercialized at scale at a speed never seen before.

However, the true value of these tools lies in the application understanding. For example, we will show how AI-driven molecular modelling can predict conformational changes of enzymes in surfactant systems and wash water, aiding in practical applications. High-content screening using microscopy provides mechanistic insights into the wash process at the stain level. And AI-enabled screening of detergent formulations further enhances enzyme performance through predictive modelling. This process has led to the launch of innovative products, including phosphodiesterase, inhibitor-free proteases, and new enzyme classes in new formats like unit dose, which underscore the pivotal role of AI in revolutionizing enzyme engineering for detergents, paving the way for more efficient and sustainable cleaning solutions.