Developing synthetic biology for industrial biotechnology applications.
Biochem Soc Trans
; 48(1): 113-122, 2020 02 28.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-32077472
ABSTRACT
Since the beginning of the 21st Century, synthetic biology has established itself as an effective technological approach to design and engineer biological systems. Whilst research and investment continues to develop the understanding, control and engineering infrastructural platforms necessary to tackle ever more challenging systems - and to increase the precision, robustness, speed and affordability of existing solutions - hundreds of start-up companies, predominantly in the US and UK, are already translating learnings and potential applications into commercially viable tools, services and products. Start-ups and SMEs have been the predominant channel for synthetic biology commercialisation to date, facilitating rapid response to changing societal interests and market pull arising from increasing awareness of health and global sustainability issues. Private investment in start-ups across the US and UK is increasing rapidly and now totals over $12bn. Health-related biotechnology applications have dominated the commercialisation of products to date, but significant opportunities for the production of bio-derived materials and chemicals, including consumer products, are now being developed. Synthetic biology start-ups developing tools and services account for between 10% (in the UK) and â¼25% (in the US) of private investment activity. Around 20% of synthetic biology start-ups address industrial biotechnology targets, but currently, only attract â¼11% private investment. Adopting a more networked approach - linking specialists, infrastructure and ongoing research to de-risk the economic challenges of scale-up and supported by an effective long-term funding strategy - is set to transform the impact of synthetic biology and industrial biotechnology in the bioeconomy.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Biotechnology
/
Synthetic Biology
Limits:
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
Biochem Soc Trans
Year:
2020
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
United kingdom