Winner takes all synthetic biology! Various regions are competing comprehensively in terms of policies, funds, parks, and talents!
In 2024, the Central Economic Work Conference listed biomanufacturing as one of the strategic emerging industries, and local governments have introduced policies to seize the initiative in this field.
For example, Yunnan relies on its excellent strain resources and fermentation conditions to strive for the layout of yeast and fermentation industries.
Heilongjiang, as one of the major grain producing areas in China, has already implemented a 50000 ton straw to lactic acid project.
Wuxi City is backed by Jiangnan University and specializes in the manufacturing of high-end synthetic biology instruments and core equipment, while also paying special attention to scientific anti-aging and health applications.
Funds are rapidly pouring into the synthetic biology industry. With the rapid development of synthetic biology, the capital market is also paying attention to this field. The national team has become an important investor in the field of biomanufacturing, with local governments being particularly prominent among them.
For example, in the private placement projects of certain biotechnology companies, the presence of local governments is particularly prominent, with 8 out of 9 specific targets having state-owned assets backgrounds, respectively from Anhui, Hubei, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Xiamen, and Changsha.
In the private placement project of Kaisai Biotechnology with a total fundraising of 6.6 billion yuan, the state-owned enterprise China Merchants Group has become an important indirect shareholder of Kaisai Biotechnology by holding 49% equity of Shanghai Yaoqin, the largest shareholder of Kaisai Biotechnology.
The construction of synthetic biology industrial parks has become a hot trend, and the development of the synthetic biology industry has also driven the planning and construction of industrial parks. Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and other places are planning synthetic biology/biomanufacturing industrial parks, most of which are still under construction.
These parks not only provide financial support, but also project support to help enterprises build a full chain platform from small trial to mass production.
The construction of synthetic biology industry in Guangming District, Shenzhen is at the forefront of the country, with 117 synthetic biology enterprises gathered.
The planned land area of Shanxi Synthetic Biology Industry Ecological Park is as high as 17000 acres, known as the largest synthetic biology industry park in the country, with a total investment scale of 80 billion yuan.
The Changde Synthetic Biology Industrial Park project mainly relies on academicians and experts in the field of synthetic biology from He Fu Elementary School and high-quality synthetic biology enterprises such as Lier Biology to build a comprehensive synthetic biology industry chain that integrates research and development, pilot testing, and production.
Synthetic biology talent has become a key factor in competition. Synthetic biology is a highly dependent field on talent and innovation, and local governments prioritize innovation and transformation when building the biomanufacturing industry chain.
Due to the fact that the innovation sources of biomanufacturing in China are mainly concentrated in universities or research institutes in Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, and Shenzhen, various regions are competing for high-quality professor and even academician projects.
For example, research institutions related to synthetic biology in China, such as the Institute of Natural Science and Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Microbiology of the Chinese.
Academy of Sciences, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and Jiangnan University, have become targets of contact and cooperation among local governments.
These collaborations aim to innovate and transform from the source, driving the development of synthetic biology.
