Synbio Infrastructure and Platforms

Camille Delebecque

Even though synthetic biology is a young field, it is already a global endeavor with research and development programs in many countries. Synbio is unique in its highly multidisciplinary nature and in that it makes it easy for people who not considered professional experts in the field to contribute scientific innovations to it nonetheless. In this unique context, how can we support pre-competitive activities in biotechnology? What infrastructure is critical to collaborative efforts? What are potential organizational models? Some valuable models already exist, such as iGEM, distributed innovation through gamification, and education and access to seed funding for entrepreneurs. New organizational models are bound to revolutionize synbio, and should be done so with care in order to efficiently sprout new green bioeconomies around the world.