Synthetic biology in the UK – An outline of plans and progress
Author(s)
Clarke, LJ
Kitney, RI
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Synthetic biology is capable of delivering new solutions to key challenges spanning the bioeconomy, both nationally and internationally. Recognising this significant potential and the associated need to facilitate its translation and commercialisation the UK government commissioned the production of a national Synthetic Biology Roadmap in 2011, and subsequently provided crucial support to assist its implementation.
Critical infrastructural investments have been made, and important strides made towards the development of an effectively connected community of practitioners and interest groups. A number of Synthetic Biology Research Centres, DNA Synthesis Foundries, a Centre for Doctoral Training, and an Innovation Knowledge Centre have been established, creating a nationally distributed and integrated network of complementary facilities and expertise.
The UK Synthetic Biology Leadership Council published a UK Synthetic Biology Strategic Plan in 2016, increasing focus on the processes of translation and commercialisation. Over 50 start-ups, SMEs and larger companies are actively engaged in synthetic biology in the UK, and inward investments are starting to flow.
Together these initiatives provide an important foundation for stimulating innovation, actively contributing to international research and development partnerships, and helping deliver useful benefits from synthetic biology in response to local and global needs and challenges.
Critical infrastructural investments have been made, and important strides made towards the development of an effectively connected community of practitioners and interest groups. A number of Synthetic Biology Research Centres, DNA Synthesis Foundries, a Centre for Doctoral Training, and an Innovation Knowledge Centre have been established, creating a nationally distributed and integrated network of complementary facilities and expertise.
The UK Synthetic Biology Leadership Council published a UK Synthetic Biology Strategic Plan in 2016, increasing focus on the processes of translation and commercialisation. Over 50 start-ups, SMEs and larger companies are actively engaged in synthetic biology in the UK, and inward investments are starting to flow.
Together these initiatives provide an important foundation for stimulating innovation, actively contributing to international research and development partnerships, and helping deliver useful benefits from synthetic biology in response to local and global needs and challenges.
Date Issued
2016-10-17
Date Acceptance
2016-09-23
Citation
Synthetic and Systems Biotechnology, 2016, 1 (4), pp.243-257
ISSN
2405-805X
Publisher
Elsevier
Start Page
243
End Page
257
Journal / Book Title
Synthetic and Systems Biotechnology
Volume
1
Issue
4
Copyright Statement
©
2016 Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of KeAi Communications Co.
This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-
nc-nd/4.0/
).
2016 Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of KeAi Communications Co.
This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-
nc-nd/4.0/
).
Sponsor
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
Grant Number
EP/G036004/1
EP/L011573/1
EP/M006700/1
EP/N023854/1
Publication Status
Published