iGEM 2023 Grand Jamboree: The World Expo of Synthetic Biology

Tomorrow (November 2), the doors to the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles will open to celebrate the 20th year of iGEM at the 2023 Grand Jamboree! This momentous event will be the largest to date, with over 400 multidisciplinary teams from around the world featuring their synthetic biology innovations, ideas and initiatives for humanity's most pressing problems. As the heart of synthetic biology, iGEM will be welcoming more than 5,000 people, including synthetic biology researchers, industry reps, startup founders, investors, journalists, experts in governance and policy, and the general public, to glimpse the future of synthetic biology.

This year, the Grand Jamboree has expanded to include a multitude of presentations, panel discussions, workshops, and satellite events designed to bring together all facets of the growing field of synthetic biology. Here are some of the highlights:

KEYNOTES

iGEM: The Past, Present, and Future of Synthetic Biology
Austin Che, Founder & Head of Strategy, Ginkgo Bioworks
Friday, November 3, 11:45 - 12:05 CET

A Decade of Partnership: iGEM & IDT Look Towards the Future
Sandy Ottensmann, VP of Gene Writing and Editing at IDT
Friday, November 3, 16:10 - 16:30 CET

Democratizing Tools for Synthetic Biology
Alec Nielsen, Co-founder & CEO, Asimov
Saturday, November 4, 15:45 - 16:05 CET

The Future is (already) being Written in DNA: Inspiring the next 20 years of discovery in Synthetic Biology
Emily Leproust, CEO & Co-Founder, Twist Bioscience
Saturday, November 4, 16:10 - 16:30 CET

PLAZA PRESENTATIONS

Visit the Village Plazas to hear presentations by the 2023 teams, exhibitors, and members of the iGEM community, including:

Technology

• iGEM Distribution Kits: How to Make DNA at Scale
  Traci Haddock and David Lei, Asimov
  Thursday November 2nd, 12:00 - 12:15 CET, Plaza-2

• Finding Your Role in the Biofoundry Roadmap
  Kennedy McDaniel Bae, Opentrons; Nate Tedford, Ginkgo Bioworks; Stéphane Lemaire, Sorbonne University, CNRS; and Xiao Yi, SIAT
  Friday November 3rd, 14:45 - 15:15 CET, Plaza-4

• From Frustration to Innovation: Engineering Solutions to Empower Research with Non-Model Microbes
  Charlie, Gilbert, Henry Le, and Stephanie Brumwell, Cultivarium
  Saturday November 4th, 09:45 - 10:00 CET, Plaza-4

• Building an Open, Sustainable and Equitable Bioeconomy: From Parts to Partnerships
  Jenny Molloy, ICGEB
  Saturday November 4th, 12:45 - 13:00 CET, Plaza-6

Community

• SynBio 101: Unlocking Accessibility in Synthetic Biology Education
  Sakti Subramanian and Omnya Mohamed Izzeldin, iGEM Community
  Thursday November 2nd, 13:45 - 14:00 CET, Plaza-7

• SynBio Communities Around the World (Parts I & 2)
  Thursday November 2nd, 13:15 - 13:45 CET, Plaza-5
  Friday November 3rd, 16:45 - 17:15 CET, Plaza-5

• Empowering the Synthetic Biology Ecosystem: A Resource Hub for the Global Community
  Friday November 3rd, 13:15-13:45 CET, Plaza-6

Responsibility

• Crossroads of Biosecurity: A Multinational Perspective
  Saturday November 4th, 10:30 -11:00 CET, Plaza-4

• The DNA Frontier: Implications & Applications of Screening and Synthesis
  Saturday November 4th, 14:00 - 14:45 CET, Plaza-4

• Youth Voices in Global Security: A Dialogue on Biosafety, Biosecurity, Disarmament, & Policy
  Saturday November 4th, 16:00 - 16:30 CET, Plaza-5

Leagues

• iGEM Design League: Empowering Ibero-America to #DesignWithBiology
  Thursday November 2nd, 14:30-14:45 CET, Plaza-6
  Friday November 3rd, 16:30-16:45 CET, Plaza-4

• The Pathway to Build a Synthetic Biology Ecosystem in the MENA Region: iGEM MENA League
  Saturday November 4th, 10:45-11:00 CET, Plaza-3

• From Savang to Merauke: A Journey Through the Indonesian League!
  Saturday November 4th, 16:30-16:45 CET, Plaza-2

SATELLITE EVENTS

All Grand Jamboree participants are invited to explore and engage in our featured satellite events, including: 

Responsibility Conference 2.0

Come to the second edition of the Responsibility Conference, which offers a platform for multi-stakeholder engagement to deliberate ongoing initiatives and emerging concerns in the realms of biorisk, biosecurity, and biosafety. Here are the details.

BioInnovation Fair, including Startup Showcase

Join us at this thrilling event where you’ll come together with synbio industries, media, startups, incubators, investors, and other stakeholders to connect, network, and forge game-changing deals. Here are the details.

iGEM 2023 Hackathon

Be part of an exciting community of programmers, designers, and tech enthusiasts working together to make a lasting impact on iGEM’s future. Here are the details.

Whether you are attending in person or remotely, you are certain to come away from the 2023 Grand Jamboree with renewed energy and a fresh, enlightened vision for the future of synthetic biology. See you there!