Synthetic biology is a field of science that combines biology and engineering to design and construct new biological systems or modify existing ones. It involves the use of engineering principles to create new biological systems with unique functions. It includes techniques like gene editing, genome synthesis, and metabolic engineering and is applied in fields like medicine, agriculture, industrial biotechnology, and environmental science.
The Chinese synthetic biology market is divided into three segments: enabling products, core products, and enabled products. Enabling products facilitate synthetic biology research through services and tools like DNA synthesis and sequencing. Core products are directly used in synthetic biology research, such as gene editing tools and synthetic DNA. Enabled products are the end products of synthetic biology research, such as specialty chemicals and biofuels.
Key Drivers of the China’s Synthetic Biology Market
Research and Development and Funding
The country has several synthetic biology R&D institutes that drives the market, such as Tsinghua University, Peking University, Jiangnan University, Beijing University Chemical Technology, Tianjin University, Nankai University, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, and Nanjing University of Technology. The Chinese government is a major source of funding. The National High-tech R&D Project, the National Science Foundation of China (NSFC), and the National Program on Key Basic Research Project all offer financing for synthetic biology research and development in China. Private players also fund the research to support the market development. For instance, in August 2019, the Hong Kong plastics and real estate mogul Li Ka Shing announced a donation of HK$500 million ($63 million) to establish a major institute for synthetic biology research at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). The new institution is searching for top worldwide talent to research synthetic biology, which combines biological systems' materials and processes with engineering's design/test/build strategy.
Demand for Personalized Medicine
The rising demand for personalized medicine is also driving the growth of the synthetic biology market. Personalized medicine aims to provide treatments tailored to individual patients, based on their genetic makeup, environment, and lifestyle. Synthetic biology techniques are being used to develop personalized therapies and drugs, which can target specific genetic mutations or diseases. Hence, the country is witnessing new developments related to medical synthetic biology. For instance, in May 2019, China established a new biomedical research center in Shanghai focused on mammalian and medical synthetic biology. The center, launched by East China Normal University, aims to develop intelligent diagnosis and treatment techniques for diseases using synthetic biological approaches such as gene and cell therapy, artificial intelligence cells, and tumor intelligent immunotherapy. The center's developments will be applied to translation research within five years. Synthetic biology combines engineering principles with biology and can be applied to medicine, material science, and environmental science. Other Chinese cities, including Beijing, Tianjin, and Shenzhen, have also established synthetic biology research centers.
Expansions and Innovations by Major Market Players
The China’s synthetic biology market has significant contributors such as Desktop Genetics, Ltd., E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Co., GenScript Biotech Corp., Ginkgo Bioworks (The Organism Co.), Merck KGaA, Synthetic Genomics, Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., Twist Bioscience Corp., and Vedanta Biosciences, Inc., among others. These players assist in the market’s growth with the launch of new products and through collaborations and investments. Some of the recent developments in the market include-
• In April 2023, a new synthetic biology innovation center was established in Shanghai's Baoshan District to tap into the city's ambition to become a scientific innovation center with global influence. The center combines biology and engineering to create new biological systems for various applications, such as healthcare, food and agriculture, and environmental sustainability. Over 20 leading companies in synthetic biology have moved to the city's first synthetic biology industrial park, located in the Nanda Digital City, to accelerate the application of synthetic biology technologies.
• In August 2022, Illumina built its initial manufacturing facility in China, allowing it to produce gene sequencing tools and consumables for the Chinese market. The Shanghai plant will initially produce 16 sequencing reagents for clinical application. Illumina intends of achieving total localized manufacture of gene sequencing devices and consumables over the following five years.