- Minister presented with roadmap to establish UK lead role in international synthetic biology
- Shared vision provides first step towards realising the potential of synthetic biology
- Expert report: synthetic biology could offer significant UK economic growth
Minister for Universities and Science, David Willetts, was presented with a Synthetic Biology Roadmap today which
provides the vision and direction for supporting a world-leading synthetic biology community in the UK. The
publication, produced by an independent panel of experts for the government’s Department for Business Innovation and
Skills, sets out a shared vision for realising the potential of synthetic biology in the UK.
The roadmap aims to deliver a synthetic biology sector that is cutting edge; economically vibrant, diverse and
sustainable; and of clear public benefit.
Welcoming the roadmap, Minister for Universities and Science, David Willetts, said: “Synthetic Biology has the
ability to revolutionise major industries in bio-energy and bio-technology in the UK. If we develop this exciting
area to its full potential there are fantastic opportunities in sectors such as bio-fuel and medical care that are
largely untapped. This roadmap positions the UK as a leader in global synthetic biology, which presents significant
growth and employment opportunities.”
The recommendations in the roadmap provide a compass-bearing for the synthetic biology community, helping to
align interests towards future growth opportunities, whilst identifying the resources and support needed to
accelerate progress in the shorter term.
The roadmap outlines five key recommendations:
- Invest in a network of multidisciplinary centres to establish an outstanding UK synthetic biology resource.
- Build a skilled, energised and well-funded UK-wide synthetic biology community.
- Invest to accelerate technology responsibly to market.
- Assume a leading international role.
- Establish a leadership council.
Lionel Clarke, Chairman of the UK Synthetic Biology Roadmap Coordination Group, said: “Synthetic biology has the
potential to deliver significant benefits, addressing important challenges and generating exciting opportunities for
growth – but much work needs to be done and has to be done responsibly. Engaging the synthetic biology community in
shaping this roadmap has contributed a first step towards realising this potential, through building a shared
vision.”
Synthetic biology is the design and engineering of biologically based parts, novel devices and systems as well as
the redesign of existing, natural biological systems, for a useful purpose. It has the potential to deliver
important new applications and improve existing industrial processes – resulting in economic growth and job
creation.
Specific applications are already emerging, but its long-term potential for a range of industrial sectors (e.g.
industrial biotechnology, bioenergy and healthcare) remains largely untapped. Applications could include biosensors
to identify infections; more personalised medicines; improved waste treatments; and more cost-effective routes to
renewable chemicals, materials and fuels. A recent assessment by BCC research on behalf of Global Information Inc
concluded that the value of the global synthetic biology market will grow from $1.6bn in 2011 to $10.8bn by
2016.
A coordination group steered the development of a Synthetic Biology Roadmap and included a wide range of
stakeholders, including academics, industrialists and, on behalf of the Research Councils, the Biotechnology and
Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the
Technology Strategy Board (TSB).
Professor Douglas Kell, Chief Executive of BBSRC, said: “The UK is world-leading on the global stage of
bioscience and, thanks to huge progress in our understanding of biological systems, we have reached an important
milestone in realising the capacity of synthetic biology to develop useful applications.”
“We have the perfect environment to be leaders in the internationally-expanding field of synthetic biology and
this roadmap will help the community to deliver responsibly and in a coordinated way. BBSRC has made big investment
in this area, recognising the important role that it can play in addressing many of the grand challenges we face,
and in helping to provide future prosperity.”
Professor David Delpy, Chief Executive of EPSRC said: "Synthetic Biology is an area of strategic priority for the
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), we have already invested in research and wish to see it
continue to grow. The engineering and physical sciences community has a crucial role to play in how synthetic
biology develops."
Iain Gray, Chief Executive of the TSB, said: “The UK is developing world leading capability in synthetic biology,
particularly in the research base, and the roadmap charts how UK businesses could use this emerging technology
responsibly to deliver future growth and create jobs through developing new products, applications, processes and
services.”
The recommendations in the roadmap point towards multidisciplinary synthetic biology centres in existing higher
education establishments and an extension of the UK-wide synthetic biology community. The formation of an
overarching network, an annual forum, and funding competitions to support the development of novel applications were
also suggested.
Responsible research and innovation was a key theme in the document, including the need for awareness, training
and adherence to regulatory frameworks. The roadmap sets out plans to ensure that this technology continues to be
developed in a socially responsible fashion. The UK has already initiated public dialogue in synthetic biology and
encouraged interaction between regulators and funders.
The need for the UK to build on its current strengths and assume a leading international role in synthetic
biology to set standards and shape future regulations was also highlighted and recommendations included
participating in trans-national grant funding, hosting international conferences and continuing to foster
coordinated efforts in synthetic biology through research partnerships.
The roadmap was presented to the Minister during a visit to TMO Renewables, a UK company, established with
long-term support from BBSRC, which uses synthetic biology techniques in the production of renewable fuels and
chemicals.
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Further information
Contact:
Rob Dawson
BBSRC Head of News
Tel: 01793 413 204 or email: Rob Dawson
Notes to editors
More information about the synthetic biology roadmap is available here.
About the Synthetic Biology Roadmap
The synthetic biology approach is to engineer biological systems to perform new functions in a modular, reliable
and predictable way, allowing modules to be reused in different contexts. It has the potential to deliver important
new applications and improve existing industrial processes across many sectors including healthcare, energy,
pharmaceuticals, materials, and remediation – resulting in economic growth and job creation.
The primary purpose of this technology roadmap is to establish a vision for synthetic biology in the UK, and to
identify the processes that must be applied to realise it. It provides a framework within which to consider future
options and coordinate actions. Because synthetic biology is an emerging and fast-developing sector, the purpose of
the roadmap is not to provide a detailed project plan but, more importantly, to determine those core elements that
need to be put in place as a secure platform upon which innovative developments may build in future.
This roadmap has been produced during 2012 by an independent panel of experts at the request of the UK Department
for Business Innovation and Skills. It incorporates material generated during two UK roadmap workshops attended by
70 participants representing a broad range of stakeholders from industry, public bodies, academia and other
organisations. The workshops followed a process established through extensive experience by the Institute for
Manufacturing (IfM) in Cambridge, ensuring substantial engagement of all participants and generating a wealth of
valuable material and insights. The roadmap has also been heavily informed by the large and rapidly growing body of
world literature and the outputs of the numerous conferences, symposia and discussion forums that have focused on
synthetic biology in recent years.
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
BBSRC invests in world-class bioscience research and training on behalf of the UK public. Our aim is to further
scientific knowledge, to promote economic growth, wealth and job creation and to improve quality of life in the UK
and beyond.
Funded by the UK Government, and with an annual budget of around £445M (2011-2012), we support research and
training in universities and strategically funded institutes. BBSRC research and the people we fund are helping
society to meet major challenges, including food security, green energy and healthier, longer lives. Our investments
underpin important UK economic sectors, such as farming, food, industrial biotechnology and pharmaceuticals.
More information about BBSRC, our science and our impact.
More information about BBSRC strategically funded institutes.
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) is the UK’s main agency for funding
research in engineering and the physical sciences. EPSRC invests around £800 million a year in research and
postgraduate training, to help the nation handle the next generation of technological change. The areas covered
range from information technology to structural engineering, and mathematics to materials science. This research
forms the basis for future economic development in the UK and improvements for everyone’s health, lifestyle and
culture. EPSRC works alongside other Research Councils with responsibility for other areas of research. The Research
Councils work collectively on issues of common concern via Research Councils UK.
The Technology Strategy Board
The Technology Strategy Board is the UK’s innovation agency. Its goal is to accelerate economic
growth by stimulating and supporting business-led innovation. Sponsored by the Department for Business, Innovation
and Skills (BIS), the Technology Strategy Board brings together business, research and the public sector, supporting
and accelerating the development of innovative products and services to meet market needs, tackle major societal
challenges and help build the future economy.