The3rd Synthetic Biology Innovation Competition

Name: The3rd Synthetic Biology Innovation Competition

Date: August8-9,2024

Title: Youth Ignite the Flame of Innovation: The 3rd Synthetic Biology Innovation Competition Successfully Held in Shenzhen!

Add: Guangming Tian"an Cloud Valley International Conference Center,ShenZhen

Shenzhen,August8-9,2024, The3rd Synthetic Biology Innovation Competition (SynBio Challenges,hereinafter referred to as the "Innovation Competition"), hosted by the Synthetic Biology Branch of the Chinese Society of Biotechnology (CSBT), and jointly organized by the School of Synthetic Biology at Shenzhen Institute of Technology (SIT), the Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology (SISB) of the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology (SIAT) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), the Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology Innovation (SISBI), the Shenzhen Synthetic Biology Association (SSBA), and the Shenzhen Engineering Biology Industrial Innovation Center (SEIC), was successfully held at the Guangming Tian"an Cloud Valley International Conference Center in Shenzhen.

The Innovation Competition focuses on the field of synthetic biology, aiming to provide a stage for communication and competition for young students studying in universities. The competition attracted 147 teams from over 60 domestic and international universities, with more than 450 students participating on-site. Since its inception, the number of participating teams has nearly doubled year after year, and the event"s influence has expanded rapidly.

At the opening ceremony, Zhang Xianen, Chairman of the Innovation Competition, Dean of the Schoolof Synthetic Biology at Shenzhen Institute of Technology, Vice Chairman of the Chinese Society of Biotechnology, and Director of the Synthetic Biology Branch,statedin his speech:"Synthetic biology-biotechnology-bio-manufacturing-bio-economyis becoming the main theme of innovative development in our era. The Synthetic Biology Innovation Competition provides young students with a unique platform for learning and exchange, encouraging their spirit of exploration, creativity, and teamwork, so they can grow into high-quality reserve talents in the future. We also hope to build the Innovation Competition into the world"s second-largest international synthetic biology competition after the International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) competition."

It is understood that this year"s Innovation Competition underwent a comprehensive upgrade in its format compared to the previous two editions: The regular competition newly designed three thematictracks,coveringmultiple cutting-edge directions in syntheticbiology. These include theGreen Trackfocusing on agriculture and environmental protection, theRed Trackcentered on healthand medicine,and theWhiteTracktargeting bio-chemical engineering. These tracks encourage participating teams to leverage their original innovation capabilities to propose innovative solutions addressing specific societal development needs. The Bacterial Game Competitionand Protein Design Competitioncontinued the Olympic-stylecompetitive mechanism, testing not only the participants"precisionand depth in understandingspecific challenges but also challenging their professional abilities in strategy formulation and experimental operation.

Lin Ying, Professor at the School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, and a judge and guest of the Innovation Competition, pointed out that the competition evaluates students" performance based on multiple dimensions such as project scientificity, design innovation, and market potential. It tests students" knowledge accumulation and problem-solving abilities while also emphasizing forward-thinking regarding the project"s implementation and application prospects in the industry.

In addition to gathering numerous academic experts, this Innovation Competition specially invited artists from the Central Academy of Fine Arts to present a bio-art exhibition and lectures, combining synthetic biology with artistic aesthetics and adding a unique perspective to the event.

After three days of competition among 60 teams, the NEFUChina team from Northeast Forestry University, participating in the Bio-Chemical Engineering Track, won the Grand Prize of this InnovationCompetition.Theirprojectemployed metabolic engineering and directed evolution strategies for thede novo biosynthesis of p-hydroxymandelic acid, focusing on and targeting the resolution of two key bottlenecks: insufficient precursor supply and low activity of key enzymes in the biosynthetic pathway.

The HELLO-ZJU team from Zhejiang University, the Shanghaitech-China team from ShanghaiTech University, and the NEFU_China team from Northeast Forestry Universitywon the Best Awards in theBiomedical,Environmental/Agricultural,and Bio-Chemical Engineering categories, respectively. In the two featured tracks, the Wild Growth team from Jilin Agricultural Universitywon the Best Bacterial Game Award; the Nankai Small Team from Nankai Universityand the Helix Heroes team from Shanghai Jiao Tong Universitywon the Best Protein Design Award.

During interviews, Mei Jian, a student from Waseda University in Japan, expressed that through visits to the Shenzhen Major Science and Technology Infrastructure for Synthetic Biology Research and its laboratories, he experienced the advanced level of domestic automation and cutting-edge technology. As a member of the first overseas team in the Innovation Competition, he also hopes to expand the competition"s influence to more international teams.

Wang Li, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee, Vice Chairman, and General Manager of the Innovation Competition"s cooperating unit, Kweichow Moutai Group, stated that the brewing science embodied in Moutai liquor belongs to the first generation of biotechnology. Synthetic biology technology will lead the future fifth bio-manufacturing industrial revolution and is a key technological engine for our country"s layout of future industries, especially future manufacturing. Moutai"s support for hosting the Synthetic Biology Innovation Competition represents a handshake exchange across time and space between the first generation and the fifth generation of biotechnology.

Yi Xiao, Member of the Innovation Competition Organizing Committee and Secretary-General, and Researcher at the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, CAS, stated that this Innovation Competition is not only a stage for young students to showcase their talents and realize innovation but also an important opportunity to cultivate interdisciplinary talents in synthetic biology with forward-looking scientific vision. He looks forward to promoting educational innovation and industrial application of synthetic biology globally through the Innovation Competition, injecting new vitality into the future development of synthetic biology.

Liu Chenli, Deputy Director of the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, CAS, Director of the National Bio-manufacturing Industrial Innovation Center, and Director of the Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology Innovation, said in his concluding remarks that the original intention of holding the China Synthetic Biology Competition was to provide an innovative, intelligent, and creative platform to ignite students" enthusiasm for synthetic biology. Acknowledging that the experimental journey is often accompanied by monotony and challenges, he encouraged everyone to deeply explore the scientific principles of this emerging discipline and its innovative applications in various fields.

At the closing ceremony, Zeng Wufei, Member of the Standing Committee of the Guangming District Committee and Head of the Organization Department, stated that Guangming Science City is currently in a critical stage transitioning from construction to scientific empowerment, urgently needing the active participation of young scientific and technological talents. He expressed hope that everyone participating in this Innovation Competition, where science and dreams converge, would forever maintain the original aspiration of entrepreneurs, the passion of strivers, and the resilience of front-runners.

This Innovation Competition thoroughly implemented the core concept of synthetic biology, "creating to understand, creating to apply", highlighting the powerful driving force of interdisciplinary integration and innovation. The participating teams also demonstrated diverse research directions and distinctive innovative ideas.

The competition received support from multiple units, including the Organization Department of the CPC Guangming District Committee of Shenzhen, the Shenzhen Institute of Technology Foundation, and the Guangming District Mass Organizations Department of Shenzhen. Special thanks were extended to ​​Kweichow Moutai Group​​ as the exclusive partner for their strong support during the conference preparation, and to the Guangming Science City Youth Talent 72-Hour "Science+" Innovation Challenge for leaving wonderful moments for the event.