与其期待未来 不如自己创造

Rather than waiting the future, create it!

建设世界一流的合成生物学研究机构

Shenzhen Biofoundry

The Shenzhen Municipal Government invested in and constructed the “Major Scientific and Technological Infrastructure for Synthetic Biology Research” (hereinafter referred to as the “Shenzhen Biofoundry”) as one of the priority projects in the construction of the Science City in Guangming District, Shenzhen. Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences is the main organization involved in development of the  Shenzhen Biofoundry, while BGI and Shenzhen Second People’s Hospital are active participants.

On August 5, 2020, the Development and Reform Commission of Shenzhen Municipality issued the Response of the Development and Reform Commission of Shenzhen Municipality on the General Estimate of Major Scientific and Technological Infrastructure Projects for Synthetic Biology Research (Development and Reform Commission of Shenzhen Municipality [2020] No. 490). The project investment approved by the Development and Reform Commission of Shenzhen Municipality is estimated to be RMB 722.2 million.

The “Shenzhen Biofoundry and Technological Infrastructure for Synthetic Biology Research” will create a synthetic biology research platform that is both a “cloud lab” for users and a “smart lab” for operators. It will be open to both academia and industry to use. The key development of the “Major Scientific and Technological Infrastructure for Synthetic Biology Research” includes three major platforms: design & learn platform, synthesis & testing platform, and detection & analysis platform.

The design & learn platform utilizes bioinformatics, mathematical models, big data, artificial intelligence, and other means to provide experimental plans for specific scientific needs. The platform generates executable instructions for the synthesis & testing platform. The software tools and databases are primarily developed internally.

The synthesis & testing platform consists of building and testing large-segments of DNA (assisted by BGI), bacteriophages, bacteria, yeast, and other systems. It will be composed of “functional islands” with automated modules, and achieve flexible integration of various “production lines” according to user requirements. The development of key technology and equipment follows the concept of the Red and Blue Armies, giving importance to both independent innovation and integrating advanced technologies from overseas.

The detection & analysis platform integrates three systems: protein and metabolite analysis, chassis cell culturing, and advanced imaging, in order to conduct multi-modal cross-scale comprehensive testing of synthesized products.

The Shenzhen Biofoundry aims to build a basic platform for the intelligent design and automated construction of artificial living organisms. The Shenzhen Biofoundry will build upon the theoretical basis of basic synthetic biology research, and introduce the concept of intelligent manufacturing from the process automation industry to synthetic biology research. It will use intelligent, automated and high-throughput equipment to build synthetic biology research components, such as biological parts, complex networks, and artificial cells for the synthesis, assembly, and testing of multi-dimensional synthetic biological systems. Combining the above with the in-depth R&D of design software and machine learning techniques, the Shenzhen Biofoundry can complete the  “design-build-test-learn” cycle quickly, at low cost, and in multiple cycles to realize the rational design and synthesis of artificial living organisms.

The project is located in the Guangming Science City, with a construction area of about 33,966 m2. The construction period is 60 months (civil engineering and public utilities projects have been separately approved). Upon completion, the Shenzhen Biofoundry will be developed into a leading life sciences R&D platform on par with international standards, and will be the first large-scale synthetic biology research infrastructure in China that systematically integrates software control, hardware integration, and synthetic biology applications.