Recently, SIAT and Xbiome co-established the “BT-IT Material Innovation” Laboratory (hereinafter referred to as “the Laboratory”), which was officially inaugurated on September 26. In the past three years, SIAT and Xbiome have successively co-established two joint laboratories of “Micro-ecological Pharmaceutical” and “BT-IT Material Innovation”, laying a foundation for further implementing the national innovation-driven development strategy and promoting the scientific research and innovation of microorganisms in the fields of pharmaceutical and materials. In the past two years, the Synthetic Biology Institute of SIAT has co-established ten joint laboratories with enterprises to effectively support the construction of the “upstairs and downstairs innovation and entrepreneurship complex”.
According to the introduction, in their cooperation this time, both sides will give full play to their respective advantages, launch a comprehensive cooperation around the co-building of a joint laboratory, co-build a long-term technology development platform, and promote the development of synthetic biology of microbial materials. Both sides will make full use of the human resources and scientific achievements of the research institution, along with the industrial and market advantages of the enterprise, to jointly promote the transformation and application of research achievements, and create a high-quality platform for the transformation of SIAT’s research achievements.
Relying on the newly inaugurated “BT-IT Material Innovation” Laboratory, both sides will further improve the BBSniffer software they have developed, develop an algorithm with complete rules, and combine it with various software and tools to predict and guide the design of biopolymers at the gene level and protein level. According to the introduction, BBSniffer recommended as a synthetic biology tool for biopolymer gene cluster mining and high-yield biopolymer strains; both sides will continue to expand its mining scope, and cooperate on such aspects as cutting-edge technology research, product development, platform construction, and talent cultivation.
A scene of the inauguration ceremony
On the morning of September 26, Fan Jianping, president of SIAT and director of preparatory office of SIAT University, Zhong Chao, director of Materials Synthetic Biology Research Center of SIAT, and Tan Yan, co-founder and CEO of Xbiome, attended the inauguration ceremony held in Guangming District of Shenzhen. At the ceremony, Fan Jianping said that in recent years, the crossover integration of biotechnology (BT) and information technology (IT) was ushering in new academic ideas, new scientific discoveries, new technological inventions, and new industrial directions, reshaping the innovation and industrial chains. China has accelerated the deployment in the integrated research of BT and IT in recent years. The national key R & D program focuses on major demands such as future life science, medical and health industry, and economic and social development.
President Fan Jianping delivers a speech
Zhong Chao said that the cross-border integration of BT and IT not only brought important opportunities to the development of both fields, but also brought a new impetus to the development of other fields. It is expected that the establishment of the laboratory will not only drive the comprehensive deployment of the Material Synthetic Biology Center in BT-IT, but also add the “element” of microbial materials to Xbiome’s deployment in the field of microbial therapy.
Mr. Zhong Chao delivers a speech
Tan Yan introduced that synthetic biology was an emerging interdisciplinary field of biology, chemistry, information technology, etc., with great application prospects in such fields as medicine and materials. At present, the national key basic research development plan has established a special project of synthetic biology. The “14th Five-Year Plan of Biological Economy Development” proposes to vigorously develop biological economy. Shenzhen has also issued supportive policies, built industrial clusters and developed futuristic industries, all of which will be a huge driving force to promote the development of synthetic biology.
Tan Yan delivers a speech
SIAT has a proactive scientific research layout, technology and facilities for synthetic biology. Since its establishment nearly 5 years ago, Xbiome has built an industry-leading AI + BT microbiome research and development platform, with a genetic engineering microbial drug pipeline that has entered the clinical stage, and has accumulated good achievements and experience in the scientific research and industrial transformation of synthetic biology. This time, both sides will co-build a technology platform and launch a comprehensive cooperation by establishing joint laboratories. SIAT will promote the transformation of research achievements and facilitate the development of synthetic biology of microbial materials in China with the accumulation of Xbiome in such aspects as research and industry.
About SIAT
The SIAT was co-established by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen municipal people’s government and the Chinese University of Hong Kong, with an aim to develop into an internationally first-class engineering institute. It is committed to building a new research institution geared to the international academy and the industries in the Pearl River Delta. It aims to be built into an internationally first-class research institution to improve the independent innovation capacity of the manufacture, health and modern service sectors of the Greater Bay Area and advance the establishment of new industries with independent intellectual property rights. SIAT focuses on its deployment in such fields as health and medical care, and has made constant breakthroughs in key technologies such as synthetic biological devices, with a lot of major scientific achievements. Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology constructed under the leadership of SIAT was officially inaugurated in 2019; the construction of two major scientific infrastructure projects of “Brain Analysis and Simulation” and “Synthetic Biology Research” have commenced in Guangming Science City.
About Xbiome
Founded in 2017, Shenzhen Xbiome Biotech Co., Ltd. is currently an industry-leading AI + BT microbiome research and product development platform. The company aims to achieve disease remission or treatment through living biological drugs and microbial-derived molecular modifiers with microbial technology and AI technology. It has more than 10 drug pipelines, 4 of which have entered the clinical development stage. In 2020, it obtained the certification of “National High-tech Enterprise”; in 2022, it obtained the certification of a “SRDI” enterprise. Since its establishment, it has been awarded “50 Smart Companies” by MIT Technology Review and “Top 50 Best Innovative Companies in China” by Fast Company.