Synthetic biology competition launched

An annual competition has been launched to assist companies aiming to solve world issues with synthetic biology.

Bio-start offers the winner a combination of £100k cash as well as laboratory space, professional services and a 10 week accelerator programme with mentorship valued at approximately £100k.

Dr Stephen Chambers, CEO of SynbiCITE, one of the companies involved in the founding of the competition said: “This is a first in the UK for synthetic biology and our aim is to help as many companies and entrepreneurs as we can. Once applications have been assessed up to twenty-five businesses will go through our ten-week boot-camp and mentoring programme. Up to ten will go through to the final awards evening where they’ll have a chance to pitch their ideas to an expert panel in front of an audience of investors and industry leaders.”

The UK government has labelled synthetic biology as one of the UK’s eight great technologies in addition to being a key high-growth. Synthetic biology has been touted as having the potential to address many environmental and societal challenges such as providing sustainable energy, developing drugs and alleviating food and water shortages.

The competition is being run by SynbiCITE and Rainbow Seed Fund. Oliver Sexton, investment director at Rainbow Seed Fund, said: “We’re confident about the UK’s strength in synthetic biology and believe there is potential to build world-class companies in the UK. Bio-start is an important element in our strategy of helping develop this promising sector. It will also be an opportunity for corporate sponsors to engage with promising young companies in the synthetic biology industry.”

The deadline for registration is midnight 14^th October with completed entries to be submitted by midnight on the 31^st December 2016. For more information visit http://www.bio-start.uk/.