The future of synthetic biology shines bright at the iGEM 2024 Grand Jamboree
The 2024 iGEM Grand Jamboree revealed a bright future for synthetic biology. With more than 4,500 attendees, including synthetic biology researchers, industry reps, startup founders, investors, journalists, experts in governance and policy, and the general public, the Grand Jamboree was the largest synbio gathering to date.
Held for the third time at the Paris Porte de Versailles Expo, the 2024 iGEM Grand Jamboree featured:
Over 400 multidisciplinary iGEM teams from all over the world who showcased their synthetic biology innovations in the areas of the environment, healthcare, and advancements;
The iGEM Responsibility Conference, held again this year in collaboration with the OECD;
The iGEM BioInnovation Fair and Startup Showcase, featuring the top 15 startup companies from the world's most successful synbio pre-accelerator;
The iGEM Hackathon, an exciting community of programmers, designers, and tech enthusiasts that work together to impact the iGEM Software;
More than 40 exhibiting companies, including partner sponsors Asimov, IDT, Ginkgo Bioworks, Twist Bioscience and GenScript; and
Prestigious speakers, business leaders and biotechnology specialists, including Emily Leproust (Twist Biosciences); Patrick Boyle (Ginkgo Bioworks); Adam Clore (IDT); Amy Congdon (Biofabricate); Xavier Duportet (Eligo Bioscience); Traci Haddock (Asimov); Patrick Torbey (Neoplants); Ron Weiss (MIT); Orr Yarkoni (Colorifix).
Finalists and Winners of the 2024 iGEM Competition
The Grand Jamboree is the culminating event of iGEM's annual synthetic biology innovation competition for collegiate and high school students. An international panel of over 500 judges cast their votes to select the winning teams, and the results were impressive – with 209 teams earning gold medals, 138 teams earning silver, and 26 teams earning bronze. Some of the top teams and projects include:
UNDERGRADUATE
Grand Prize Winner
Heidelberg (Germany) advanced the field of synthetic biology with their project “PICasSO”, a pioneering, well-characterized toolbox, designed to rearrange genome 3D architecture with unprecedented spatial precision.
1st Runner-Up
JU-Krakow (Poland) aimed to protect and preserve the beautiful aquatic ecosystems in Poland and beyond with their project “PrymDetect”, a fast and effective method for early detection of algal blooms.
2nd Runner-Up
Sydney-Australia (Australia) sought to improve drug potency and minimize off-target toxicity with their project “Rebolutionaries”, a novel modular system capable of delivering diverse drug loads into diverse cell types.
OVERGRADUATE
Grand Prize Winner
Marburg (Germany) laid the foundations for engineering the dandelion, a plant with inherent rubber-producing capabilities, to create a sustainable alternative for rubber production.
1st Runner-Up
Aachen (Germany) introduced an innovative approach to precision oncology by targeting specific microorganisms to deliver chemotherapeutic agents directly in the tumor microenvironment.
HIGH SCHOOL
Grand Prize Winner
GEMS-Taiwan (Taiwan) engineered a novel synergistic solution with recombinant biolarvicidal toxins, beetroot peel attractant, and Taiwan's first sticky ovitrap to break the mosquito’s life cycle and reduce dengue transmission.
1st Runner-Up
GreatBay-SCIE (China) developed a powerful biopesticide that could provide a safer, more efficient means for eliminating spider mites while boosting plant immunity and promoting plant growth.
Finalists and winners of the 2024 Startup Showcase
Winner
ClearMark Biosciences
We’re thrilled to announce ClearMark Biosciences as the winner of the 2024 Startup Showcase! Founded by former classmates and iGEMers from UOregon 2022, Oliver Loreto and Keane Deas, ClearMark is creating a groundbreaking concussion diagnostic platform that’s rapid, accessible, and much-needed.
Runners-Up
Chloropept
Chloropept is developing a novel animal feed designed to treat bacterial infections in livestock while minimizing the risks associated with antimicrobial resistance.
Nitroduck
Nitroduck is tackling agricultural waste by converting it into a sustainable, cost-effective, protein-rich feedstock for livestock.
We congratulate all the winners, nominees, and participants of the 2024 iGEM Competition, and urge you to continue your journey with iGEM Community, or iGEM Startups, or by becoming an iGEM Judge, Mentor, or Volunteer.
And thank you to the 4500+ attendees who joined us in making iGEM History at this year’s Jamboree in Paris. We look forward to seeing you all again in 2025!
The iGEM Foundation inspires future research leaders, serves as a driving force for hundreds of synthetic biology startups, and develops ecosystems in emerging bioeconomies. We invite you to Invest in the future by partnering with iGEM, exhibiting at future iGEM Grand Jamborees, or sponsoring iGEM teams. Contact: sponsor [AT] igem [DOT] org.
