Sunthetics selected as Co-Principal Investigator for $19.5M NSF AI Lab Initiative
SAN DIEGO, Sept. 1, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- Sunthetics, a leading AI technology company based in San Marcos, Texas, has been selected as a Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI) on a $19.5 million U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) initiative aimed at advancing AI-powered autonomous laboratories. This initiative, part of the NSF's Programmable Cloud Laboratories (PCL) Test Bed, will leverage the efforts of 20 teams across the nation and is expected to significantly impact scientific research and technology.
The PCL Test Bed initiative, which will span four years, aims to establish a nationwide network to test, scale, and demonstrate novel methods and tools that enhance automated science and engineering. These advancements are anticipated to accelerate discoveries and innovations in various fields, thereby strengthening U.S. leadership in scientific research and technology.
Sunthetics, a portfolio company of L'ATTITUDE Ventures, a prominent Latino-focused early-stage venture capital firm, will collaborate with Scripps Research and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) to create an open, AI-guided platform for high-throughput chemical reaction discovery. This platform integrates advanced robotics and automation, AI models trained on chemical reactivity, and open data formats and FAIR-compliant standards.
"We are honored to be part of this initiative and contribute to the future of American innovation," stated Daniela Blanco, CEO and Founder of Sunthetics. "The partnerships and technologies developed in this effort will lead to breakthroughs that redefine how we leverage AI in science for decades to come."
Sunthetics specializes in empowering chemical and pharmaceutical companies with a machine learning platform that can create data-driven roadmaps for R&D scientists, even using as few as five data points. This platform guides experimentation and identifies product pathways, allowing Sunthetics' partners to achieve better results in a fraction of the time and bring products to market faster than traditional processes.
"L'ATTITUDE Ventures is thrilled to see the impact of diverse, women-led companies like Sunthetics in shaping the future of AI and scientific discovery," said Laura Moreno Lucas, General Partner at L'ATTITUDE Ventures. "Daniela and the Sunthetics team are demonstrating that the best AI for science is built by diverse founders who deeply understand the problems they are solving. The future of autonomous discovery is open, and it is being built now."
Through this NSF initiative, Sunthetics and its partners aim to revolutionize traditional manufacturing practices by democratizing AI, thereby reducing carbon footprints and optimizing production efficiency. Sunthetics was founded with the mission of accelerating innovation and sustainability in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, and this initiative is a testament to its commitment to these goals.