From May 11 to 12, the "2023 China Synthetic Biology Technology Innovation and Development Forum" was successfully held in Beijing. The event was hosted by the China Bio-fermentation Industry Association and organized by Meihua Group (600873). The forum focused on the theme of "Synthetic Biology Technology – Leading the Future Bioeconomy" and aimed to further promote the deep integration of synthetic biology with the fermentation industry, accelerating the high-quality development of China’s bio-fermentation sector. The event featured a range of activities, including opening speeches, keynote summits, and roundtable discussions.

The forum attracted notable guests, including Academician Zixin Deng of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Academicians Jian Chen and Yuguo Zheng of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Fuping Lu, President of Tianjin University of Science and Technology, and several other distinguished industry leaders, such as Xuejun Yu, President of the China Fermentation Industry Association, honorary president Weichen Shi, vice-president and secretary-general Jie Wang, as well as Aijun Wang, Chairman of Meihua Group, and Jun He, CEO. Representatives from other businesses, research institutions, universities, and investment organizations also participated in the forum to explore how synthetic biology can support the development of the bio-fermentation industry.

Xuejun Yu, Chairman of the China Fermentation Industry Association, served as the moderator for the event. In his opening remarks, he highlighted that synthetic biology is an emerging interdisciplinary field within life sciences, regarded as a key to understanding life and one of the disruptive technologies of the future. He also emphasized that synthetic biology is a field that countries around the world are focusing on for development. With historical opportunities and vast prospects, synthetic biology is rapidly moving toward practical application and industrialization. It will play a unique role in areas such as "dual carbon" (carbon neutrality), biomaterials, bioinformatics, and artificial intelligence. He stressed that synthetic biology is increasingly seen as a crucial component of national science and technology strategies and will be pivotal in transforming industrial growth models, achieving green and sustainable development, and propelling China’s bioeconomy toward becoming a global leader.

Jun He, CEO of Meihua Group, delivered a keynote address focused on the company's achievements and capabilities in the field of synthetic biology. He shared that since 2010, Meihua Group has been deeply involved in synthetic biology. Over the past decade, the company has built a specialized team of PhD and Master's level experts focused on strain modification, process optimization, and application development. The company specializes in computer-aided strain design and genome editing of amino acid production chassis cells. This team works seamlessly with the company’s fermentation processes and separation-extraction laboratories to iteratively optimize and scale up production strains. Meihua Group is equipped with advanced tools, including next-generation genome sequencers, which allow for rapid profiling of products and genotypes from high-throughput screening, analyzing high-yield targets, and uncovering new mechanisms to guide the design of next-generation synthetic biology strains. These capabilities lay a solid foundation for the future development of the industry.

During the forum, academicians from the Chinese Academy of Engineering and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, university professors, and industry representatives provided authoritative interpretations and comprehensive insights into the forum’s theme. Zixin Deng shared his keynote on "Leveraging Synthetic Biology for Disruptive Innovation in the Big Health Era." Chen Jian gave a speech on "Future Foods and Synthetic Biology." Yuguo Zheng focused on "Driving Innovation and Development in the Vitamin Industry with Synthetic Biology Technologies." Dr. Sheng Yang, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences Synthetic Biology Key Laboratory, introduced "Exploring, Deploying, and Applying CRISPR Transposases for Multi-Gene Editing." Dr. Jibin Sun, Associate Director and Researcher at Tianjin Industrial Biotechnology Research Institute, delivered a talk on "Opportunities and Challenges in the Biomanufacturing Industry." Qunjie Wang, Founder and CEO of Aijie Boya and Boyun Bio, presented a keynote on "Purification Strategies for High-Purity Biomanufacturing Products." Dr. Li Wu, Senior Partner at Lifo Law Firm, spoke about "Synthetic Biology and its Future from an IP Perspective." Professor Ting Ma, Deputy Dean of the School of Life Sciences at Nankai University, gave a lecture on "Microbial Polysaccharides and Synthetic Biology for Custom Polysaccharides." Yan Li, the R&D Manager at Meihua Group, discussed "From Gene Editing to Product Implementation – Meihua's Full-Chain Development in Synthetic Biology." Wei Liu, Chief Analyst at Haitong International Securities, delivered a keynote on "The Applications and Prospects of Synthetic Biology in the Chemical Industry."

During the roundtable discussion, representatives from academia, industry, and the investment sector engaged in lively discussions, sharing insights and exploring the transformative impacts and challenges posed by synthetic biology. The forum concluded with a summary speech by Jie Wang, Vice President and Secretary-General of the China Fermentation Industry Association.

This forum highlighted the vital role of synthetic biology in advancing the bio-fermentation industry and fostering innovation in the bioeconomy, providing a platform for collaboration and knowledge exchange across various sectors.