As industries seek more sustainable ways to produce ingredients, chemicals and materials, synthetic biology is opening up new routes to make useful compounds by engineering biological systems such as microbes and enzymes. The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and the National University of Singapore (NUS) have launched a joint laboratory to help turn these research advances into commercially viable products.
The launch comes as global demand for such bio-based alternatives accelerates. The bioeconomy is projected to contribute up to US$4 trillion annually within the next decade, driven by a broad shift away from petrochemical-based production[1].
The new A*STAR SIFBI-NUS Synthetic Biology Joint Lab is established by the A*STAR Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation (A*STAR SIFBI) and the NUS Synthetic Biology for Clinical and Technological innovation (NUS SynCTI). It will support efforts to strengthen translation in emerging technologies and grow the bioeconomy.
The joint laboratory brings together A*STAR SIFBI's capabilities in bioprocess development and scale-up, and NUS' strengths in fundamental science, interdisciplinary research and talent development. Its initial focus will be on nutrition and consumer care, with broader applications spanning advanced materials and health. It will support companies in co-developing testing and validating sustainable, synthetic alternatives to conventional chemical manufacturing.
A*STAR Chief Executive Officer, Mr Beh Kian Teik, said, "For Singapore to capture opportunities in the bioeconomy, we need to move strong science closer to market. This joint lab is one way A*STAR and NUS are closing that gap, by working with industry to develop bio-based solutions that can be scaled into products, including for ingredients, chemicals and materials."
Led by Professor Jay Keasling, a pioneer in synthetic biology, the joint lab will focus on three areas to accelerate industry translation:
Faster design: AI-guided enzyme and pathway engineering to shorten development timelines
Scalable production: Industrially deployable microbial platforms to produce complex molecules at scale
New molecules: Access to novel bio-based compounds for ingredients and functional applications
