4th SynBio Challenges Unite Global Youth for Sustainable Solutions in Shenzhen

The fourth SynBio Challenges (SC) taking place in Shenzhen, China, from August 6-9, drew over 265 university teams and nearly 1,900 young talents from across Asia.

The competition featured seven major tracks: Synthetic Cell, Bacterial Gladiator, Protein Design, Biomedicine, Agriculture & Environment, Biochemical Engineering, and Responsible Innovation. Participants explored how synthetic biology drives innovation across diverse fields while pursuing their scientific passions.

Members of competing teams at SynBio Challenges pose for a photo in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, August 7, 2025. /SIAT

Contestants from Wuhan University give a presentation at the SynBio Challenges in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, August 7, 2025. /SIAT

"I represent IGNITE UKM team 2025, we participated in both the AI-Driven Protein Design and Synthetic Cell tracks," said Anisza, a PhD student from University Kebangsaan Malaysia, "Synthetic biology is deeply connected to our daily lives, it's very fascinating and thrilling new paradigm."

Three teams from Thailand's Suranaree University of Technology shared their mission. "Our goal is to design more stable proteins for disease tracking and antibacterial assays," a member of the multidisciplinary teams said. "Most of us majored in molecular biology but synthetic biology's rapid growth captivates us. We are so interested and enjoy working together getting new knowledge every day."

Contestants held discussions with the judging panel at SynBio Challenges in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, August 7, 2025. /SIAT

LIU Chenli, vice chair of SynBio Challenges and the president of Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology (SIAT) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, emphasized three facts about synthetic biology in his speech. "We are not merely studying DNA, but redefining biology itself. This competition transcends practice to become real-world execution. And here in Shenzhen – a city thriving on technological advancement – these cutting-edge facilities empower us to turn ideas into real-world solutions."

"The SynBio Challenges 2025 ignites young innovators," said ZHANG Xian'en, vice president of the Chinese Society of Biotechnology, dean of the Faculty of Synthetic Biology at Shenzhen University of Advanced Technology, and chairman of SynBio Challenges. "This platform empowers students to strive for excellence, demonstrate their talents and forge lasting international friendship."

Experts sit for a roundtable discussion at SynBio Challenges in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, August 7, 2025. /SIAT

The SynBio Challenges focuses on the field of synthetic biology and brings together leading experts and scholars from around the world. Aimed at undergraduates and master's students with a passion for synthetic biology, it offers young participants a platform to engage face-to-face with top researchers, learn from them, and showcase their own creativity and innovative potential. Embracing synthetic biology's ethos of "build to learn, build to use," the SynBio Challenges encourages students to pursue their interests, explore innovations and applications of synthetic biology across diverse domains, and helps cultivate the next generation of talent for synthetic biology, the life sciences, and interdisciplinary fields.

The competition leveraged the enabling capacity of Shenzhen Synthetic Biology Infrastructure. Building on synthetic biology's leading-edge position in future industries, it actively advanced the holistic integration of education, technology and talent development.

SynBio Challenges is supported by the Chinese Society of Biotechnology and co-hosted by SIAT, Shenzhen Institutes of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Synthetic Biology Association and the National Industrial Innovation Center for Bio-manufacturing.

Launched in 2022, this annual initiative empowers youth to address global challenges through synthetic biology innovation while fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and sustainable solutions.