The year 2023 marked the first year for fully implementing the guidelines of the 20th CPC National Congress as well as a critical year for the implementation of the 14th Five-Year Plan. In the past year, under the guidance and support of Shenzhen Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (hereinafter referred to as SIAT) and SIAT University (preparatory) , and with the care and help from all quarters of society, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Institute of Synthetic Biology of Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, School of Synthetic Biology of SIAT University (hereinafter referred to the School), were striving for a best performance with unity. Guided by the spirit of the 20th CPC National Congress, they deeply implemented the Xi Jinping’s Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, aligned with the goals and requirements of “taking the initiative in four aspects” and “acceleration in two aspects and working hard in one aspect”, focused on their primary duty and task and taking bold moves in reform towards the peak of science and technology, with the goal to addressing major strategic outputs and key and core technologies.
On the afternoon of January 30, the 2023 annual year-end summary and commendation conference of the School was held with the theme of “Working together to tackle problems and forge ahead in the pursuit of the dream”. The staff and students of the School were gathered to draw a successful end for 2023 and open up a new situation in 2024. Liu Chenli, vice president of Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology and president of Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Zhang Xian'en, dean of the School of Synthetic Biology of SIAT University, leaders, employees and student representatives of the School attended the commendation conference. The conference was presided over by An Yishuo, vice president of Shenzhen Institute of Synthesis Biology, deputy director of the Institute of Synthetic Biology and secretary of the General Branch of the Party.
In the past year, the School assumed the mission of building a strong country with science and technology and pursuing scientific and technological innovation in its effort to occupy the commanding height in science and technology, stick to its mission and positioning of developing the national strategic prowess in science and technology, aligned to the world’s frontiers of science and technology, launching institutionalized basic research with a high quality. It has been approved to build the Key Laboratory of Quantitative Synthetic Biology (Chinese Academy of Sciences) and the Strategic Pilot Science and Technology Project of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Class B) - Biomacromolecule Synthetic Single Cell Lives and establish the National Biomanufacturing Industry Innovation Center as the leading organization. Based on the synthetic biology research infrastructure, it has gone all out to build the new ecosphere for the innovation of biomanufacturing, open up new tracks for the development of synthetic biology, create new drivers and advantages for development and promote the high-quality development of China’s synthetic biological industry.
Looking back at 2023, the various undertakings of the School have reached a new level. Fu Xiongfei, vice president of Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology and director of the Institute of Synthetic Biology, summarized the work highlights and achievements of the School in 2023. He said, in the past year, under the joint efforts of all staff and students, facing the world’s science and technology frontiers and major scientific and technological tasks of the nation, the School made important efforts in such aspects as assuming major science and technology tasks, seeking breakthroughs in key and core technologies, fostering scientific and technological talents, building talent teams, and promoting the industrial development. It has delivered a satisfactory performance for 2023.
To meet the major needs of the nation and contribute to the mission of Shenzhen
1. It was approved to establish the Key Laboratory of Quantitative Synthetic Biology (Chinese Academy of Sciences) to carry out organized and institutionalized research and seize the commanding heights of synthetic biotechnology.
2. Approved to establish the National Bio-manufacturing Industry Innovation Center, build an industrial collaborative innovation ecosphere, and promote the leap-frog development of China’s bio-manufacturing industry.
People-oriented, combining introduction and cultivation to form the national strategic force in biological science / synthetic biology
1. Introduced seven new PI / lecturing professors in 2023, and currently there are 54 full-time PI.
2. Introduced 12 national talents, the number of national talents accounting for 72%, among which youth accounted for 61%.
Working hard on scientific research and achievements, with a steady increase in the number of papers published
In 2023, a total of 271 papers were published, including 251 SCI papers and 42 articles in CNS series, 16 papers published as the first author or the first author organization.
Highlight: It has been selected as the “Top 10 Pieces of Domestic Science and Technology Progress News” for two consecutive years
² Cell: Human immune system development map - Top 10 Pieces of Domestic Science and Technology Progress News in 2023
² Nature Catalysis: Turning Carbon dioxide into “grain and oil” - Top 10 Pieces of Domestic Science and Technology Progress News in 2022
Build an ecological chain of innovation in the whole process of “basic research + technological breakthrough + application of research achievements + science and technology finance + talent support”, with complete innovation elements
1. The transfer and commercialization of research achievements promotes enterprises to take root and thrive.
² A total of 477 patent applications have been submitted, including 322 inventions, 7 designs, 28 utilities and 120 PCT.
² A total of 107 authorized patents, including 75 inventions, 7 designs, 25 utilities.
2. The upstairs and downstairs innovation and entrepreneurship complex launched selection worldwide, and the new highland of industrial clusters has taken initial shape.
At present, 125 enterprises have been selected, and 46 enterprises have been attracted by incubators and parks. The settled enterprises raised a fund of nearly 3 billion yuan, with an estimated value exceeding 20 billion yuan. 7 enterprises have been recognized as a national high-tech enterprise, and 18 enterprises have graduated.
3. The National Bio-manufacturing Industry Innovation Center’s industrial chain has shifted from the original linear transformation mode from laboratory to enterprise into a non-linear interactive mode, with the deployment focused on advantaged areas such as greenness and low-carbon, bio-agriculture, and healthcare, which has incubated a batch of major scientific and technological achievements.
Build major operation and maintenance facilities, and promote the iterative upgrading of the scientific research industry
The construction of major scientific and technological infrastructure for synthetic biology research was smooth:
1. Design and learning platform has realized the core software requirements of synthetic biology, and further developed the popular software of synthetic biology; the cloud laboratory system has continuously developed the highly information-based software platform, and formed the prototype of facility-based digital research.
2. The user testing platform has completed the installation and debugging of the core equipment in an orderly manner, and each system initially equipped with the testing service capacity.
3. Develop a service capacity to support the output of scientific research achievements.
The integration of science and education, industry and education, with continuous efforts in talent training
Adopt the operation mode of “deep integration of two in one”. At present, there are 78 full-time supervisors, including 58 doctoral supervisors and 20 master supervisors. More than 500 students have been trained, providing a solid support for scientific research and education.
Comprehensive support and guarantee ensures that service goes before management, and management is practiced in service
1. The management team was gradually optimized to fully support the development of the “six in one” mode of the School.
2. Party building leads the all-round and high-quality development of the School. Awarded with honors such as a Demonstrative Party Member Education Base in Guangming District, the first place among the excellent cases of “Innovation with the Party”.
3. Keeping a close watch on safety responsibility in experiments, with zero safety accidents throughout the year.
4. The platform construction was gradually improved to fully support the scientific research.
Grasp the frontier and follow the strategy, with an increasingly high international status
1. Seize the situation and opportunities in international cooperation.
Relying on the major infrastructure of synthetic biology research, “SynCell Asia” was launched. It planned to take the lead to establish “SynCell Global” in Shenzhen with international organizations such as SynCell EU, SynCell US in 2024, and launch the international big science program to consolidate the Institute’s international status in the field of single cell synthesis.
2. Think tank construction with suggestions.
Strategic research was focused at the level of national policy making. A roadmap was developed to lead the development of China’s synthetic biology.
3. Expand circles and make friends through academic activities.
It led and organized major academic activities such as the second Yanqi Lake Youth Forum on Synthetic Biology of Chinese Academy of Sciences, the fourth Engineering Biology Innovation Conference, the 17th Q-Bio International Conference on Quantitative Biology, the first International Symposium on Agriculture and Plant Synthetic Biology to further broaden its “circle of friends” in scientific research industry and capital at home and abroad.
In the past year, all the staff and students worked hard together to brave the wind and waves, and forge ahead. A large batch of excellent research management teams and advanced individuals have emerged in this effort.
In this commendation conference, a total of 69 people won the Special Award from President, Individual Award for Outstanding Contribution to Major Tasks, Science and Education Cooperation Award, Excellent PI Award, Science and Technology Pioneer Award, Best Support Award, Outstanding Student Award, and Safety Service Award, and the three working groups won an award for prominent contributions to major tasks. The conference called on all staff to take the outstanding employees, advanced individuals and teams as the benchmark, learn from their spirit of devotion to scientific research, innovation and excellence, earnest work and dedication and unite and forge ahead with a new look, and make greater contributions to the development and leap of the School.
Zhang Xian’en, dean of the School of Synthetic Biology, concluded that the School had made remarkable achievements last year in all its tasks. He congratulated the winning individuals and teams who have made contributions to the development of the School and thanked the institute for its full support to the work of the School of Synthetic Biology. President Zhang Xian’en hoped that the Institute and the School of Synthetic Biology could continue to make greater progress in the New Year, make due contributions to promoting high-level self-reliance of technology in China, and embrace a bright future together.
Liu Chenli, vice president of Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology and president of Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology spoke highly of the work done by all centers and departments, staff and students in the past year and pointed out that the nation and Shenzhen attached importance to the synthetic biology and biomanufacturing industry, encouraged all staff to assume their responsibility and seize the opportunities to realize their dream. He hoped that the Institute could stick to the “six in one” development mode, take the major infrastructure of synthetic biology as the basic platform, take the Key Laboratory of Quantitative Synthetic Biology (Chinese Academy of Sciences) as the source of innovation, take the National Biomanufacturing Industry Innovation Center as the engine, lead the high-quality development of biomanufacturing industry, build a world-class research institution, and work together to scramble for the commanding height of global synthetic biology technology.
In 2023, all staff and students had worked hard together to overcome all difficulties, showing a positive outlook of the Institute. In 2024, we will forge ahead with confidence against difficulties and start off to embrace a brighter future.
