The 4th SynBio Challenges was recently held in Guangdong's Shenzhen, drawing over 265 university teams and nearly 1,900 young talents from across Asia.
The competition featured seven major tracks: Synthetic Cell, Bacterial Gladiator, Protein Design, Biomedicine, Agriculture & Environment, Biochemical Engineering, and Responsible Innovation. Participants explored how synthetic biology drives innovation across diverse fields while pursuing their scientific passions.
Competing teams. Photo provided by Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences
Liu Chenli, vice chair of SynBio Challenges and president of the Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (SIAT), emphasized three truths about synthetic biology in his speech: "We are not merely studying DNA, but redefining biology itself; this competition transcends practice to become real-world execution; and here in Shenzhen—a city thriving on technological advancement—these cutting-edge facilities empower us to turn ideas into real-world solutions."
"I represent the IGNITE UKM team 2025. We participated in both the AI-Driven Protein Design and Synthetic Cell tracks," said Anisza, a PhD student from University Kebangsaan Malaysia. "Synthetic biology is deeply connected to our daily lives. It's a fascinating and thrilling new paradigm."
Three teams from Thailand's Suranaree University of Technology shared their mission: "Our goal is to design more stable proteins for disease tracking and antibacterial assays." The multidisciplinary teams added, "Most of us majored in molecular biology, but the rapid growth of synthetic biology captivates us. We are excited and enjoy working together, gaining new knowledge every day."
Competing teams. Photo provided by Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences
"The SynBio Challenges 2025 ignites young innovators," stated Zhang Xian'en, Vice President of the Chinese Society of Biotechnology, Dean of the Faculty of Synthetic Biology at Shenzhen University of Advanced Technology, and Chairman of SynBio Challenges. "This platform empowers students to strive for excellence, demonstrate their talents, and forge lasting international friendships," he said.
The competition fully leveraged the capabilities of the Shenzhen Synthetic Biology Infrastructure. Building on synthetic biology's leading-edge position in future industries, it actively advanced the holistic integration of education, technology, and talent development.
Competing teams. Photo provided by Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences
SynBio Challenges is supported by the Chinese Society of Biotechnology and co-hosted by SIAT, the Shenzhen Institutes of Synthetic Biology, the Shenzhen Synthetic Biology Association, and the National Industrial Innovation Center for Bio-manufacturing.
Launched in 2022, this annual initiative empowers youth to address global challenges through synthetic biology innovation while fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and sustainable solutions.