On the afternoon of May 21, the 8th Annual Meeting of Shanghai Synthetic Biology Innovation Strategic Alliance and the 2023 New Development Forum were held in Baoshan. With the theme of “Uniting and Cooperating, Innovating and Creating”, this forum focuses on the scientific frontier, key technologies, industrial planning, innovation cultivation and other aspects of synthetic biology, and discusses the construction of synthetic biology innovation system in Shanghai and Yangtze River Delta through various forms.

Yang Shengli, academician of Shanghai Consulting & Academic Activities Center for Academicians of Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE), Zhao Guoping, academician of the CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Deng Zixin, academician of Shanghai Jiaotong University, Chen Xiaoya, academician of the CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chen Fener, academician of Fudan University, Xuan Fuzhen, president of East China University of Science and Technology, Wu Dan, deputy director of the School Affairs Committee of Shanghai Jiaotong University, Zhao Jian, chief engineer of the Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality, and many other top scientists and young talents in synthetic biology, as well as professionals from the government, related industries and the finance circle, gathered in Baoshan to talk about the new development path of sci-tech innovation and cooperation, aiming to embark on a new journey in a city-industry integration manner. Chen Jie, Secretary of the District Party Committee, and Zhai Lei, Deputy Governor of Baoshan District, attended the meeting.

Chen Jie said in his speech that synthetic biology is a powerful engine for the future development of bio-economy, and is regarded as a new key to understand life and one of the disruptive technologies in the future. Since 2021, Baoshan has taken the lead in laying out the synthetic biology industry in the whole city around the strategic positioning of “building the main front of Shanghai Science and Technology Innovation Center”, and founded the city’s first Synthetic Biology Industrial Park in Baoshan’s Nanda area. In addition, aiming at the bottom tool layer, technology platform layer and product application layer of the industrial chain, Baoshan has introduced a group of top talents, professional institutions, high-quality projects and active capital, thus initially constructing the ecology of synthetic biology industry. Today’s meeting was held in Baoshan, thanks to the deep trust and strong support of Shanghai Synthetic Biology Innovation Strategic Alliance. Just like the meaning of synthetic biology, synergy can prosper the industry. The synergy between Baoshan’s development and synthetic biology industry will give birth to opportunities, advantages and shared future, thus setting an example for the development of synthetic biology industry in the whole city. Secretary Chen hopes that everyone can come to Baoshan, a hot land for sci-tech innovation, to start a business, and work together to realize the original innovation and miracle creation of synthetic biology by gathering the wisdom of the masses and employing the government-industry-university-research-finance strength.

Xuan Fuzhen, president of East China University of Science and Technology, Wu Dan, deputy director of the School Affairs Committee of Shanghai Jiaotong University, and Zhao Jian, chief engineer of the Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality, delivered opening speeches for the forum.

Yang Shengli, academician of Shanghai Consulting & Academic Activities Center for Academicians of the CAE made a summary for the annual meeting.

Zhao Guoping, academician of the CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, and other participants discussed the new development strategy together.

Deng Zixin, academician of Shanghai Jiaotong University, made a summary for the Alliance’s work.

Xiong Yan, a researcher at Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, CAS, shared a report on the development trend of synthetic biology.

Eight enterprise partners, including SipengTech, SynbioTech and YolTech Therapeutics, signed contracts on innovative projects, which marks that the member units of the Alliance have taken a solid step to help the transformation and upgrading of biotechnology enterprises.

This annual meeting gathered the strengths of the government, industries, as well as academic and financial circles to plan the construction of the synthetic biological innovation chain system centering on the scientific frontier, key technologies, industrial planning, innovation cultivation and other aspects of synthetic biology. Through Keynote Report, Youth Report, Flash Talk and other forms, the meeting is divided into four theme forums: original innovation of synthetic biology, enabling technology of synthetic biology, intellectual creation of biomedicine, industrial design and investment/road show, continuously playing the role as a bridge and a platform for the government-industry-university-research-finance synergistic network.

Shanghai is the birthplace of synthetic biology in China. Shanghai Synthetic Innovation Strategic Alliance is jointly initiated by several academicians. Taking 13 scientific research institutions in the field of synthetic biology in Shanghai and Yangtze River Delta as the first batch of governing units, these academicians gathered many partner universities and enterprises to form this alliance together, which is the core of synthetic biology in Shanghai. This annual meeting was held in Baoshan, which benefited from Baoshan District’s forward-looking arrangements and careful cultivation on the track of synthetic biology.

In recent years, Baoshan District has proactively implemented national strategies and pursued high-level and independent technological development in the process of industrial transformation and upgrading. Since 2021, Baoshan has been cultivated the synthetic biology industry prospectively, becoming the first district of the city to develop the industry. Shanghai’s first and only synthetic biology industrial park was established in Nanda Smart City in Baoshan, indicating that Baoshan has chosen a new “racing track” for faster development under the guidance of the Northern Transformation strategy. Baoshan has formulated a master plan for the development of the synthetic biology industry in a coordinated manner, and then launched special action plans and supporting policies. Nanda Smart City serves as a key platform to gather experts, leading enterprises and active capital, so as to create a sound investment environment. Baoshan district government, several academicians and renowned expert teams have agreed to jointly establish an institute for industrial innovation and other original-innovation type research facilities and technological platforms. As a result, Baoshan has attracted a cluster of leading enterprises in the field of synthetic biology and upstream and downstream resources of the industry chain. In addition, it has integrated a pool of active capital to form a “Finance Supermarket”, and has organized various special forums, summits, and investment and financing road shows. Guided by Nanda comprehensive R&D headquarter in Baoshan, supported by enterprises (e.g. Bao Pharma) that hold cell factory and biosynthesis technologies, and based on basic advantageous industries such as life and health, chemicals, materials and energy, Baoshan District has initially formed a layout covering the whole industrial chain. In particular, it has gathered nearly 20 high-quality enterprises dedicated to synthetic biology in the Nanda area.

Baoshan is making solid progress to build a “Scale Transformation Platform for Synthetic Biology in Shanghai” and improve the hardware and software service infrastructure, so as to build a synthetic biology industry innovation demonstration zone with global influence. The convening of this annual meeting guides the development of Baoshan’s synthetic biology industry, and promotes the integration of the innovation chain, industry chain and talent chain. Besides, it will facilitate Baoshan to expand the scale of synthetic biology industry and push it to a new height for opening up a highland for future industries.