Jul 21

Jul 21 iGEM expands its SynBio industry reach with the inaugural edition of the BioInnovation Summit

For more than two decades, iGEM has been renowned for its student competition. All the while, a thriving international network powered by alumni and partners grew, spanning industry, startups, policy, security and investment.

Now, iGEM is reinforcing its SynBio industry role with the inaugural BioInnovation Summit, taking place on October 30, 2025, at the Paris Convention Centre, as part of the iGEM Grand Jamboree (October 28-31). This Summit will bring together the best of biotech including industry leaders, ambitious startups, investors and alumni. The goal? To turn bold science into scalable, commercial impact.

To preview what we can expect, and to understand the thought process behind the creation of the BioInnovation Summit, we spoke with Nemanja Stijepovic (President of the iGEM Foundation), Dorothy Zhang (Executive Vice President of iGEM) and Nadine Bongaerts (iGEM alumna, and curator of the BioInnovation Summit).

Q: What sparked the idea for the BioInnovation Summit?

Nemanja: Since the early 2000s, iGEM has always asked bold questions like “Can we engineer biology?” Now, that’s no longer theoretical. From AI-designed enzymes to climate-resilient crops, we’re living the answer! The BioInnovation Summit was born to accelerate the timeline for these innovations, so that real-world impact can be created faster, smarter and at scale.

Nadine: When I competed in iGEM in 2010, most projects stopped after the competition. Now, many iGEMers are running companies, investing in biotech startups or shaping policy. This Summit is about capturing the evolution of where SynBio meets business, and asking: “What kind of bioeconomy do we want to build… together?”

Dorothy: Yes, at the iGEM Grand Jamboree, we’re bringing together all the people involved in bringing SynBio innovations to the market in one room. This includes developers, regulators, funders, and those who can scale synthetic biology innovations.

Q: What makes the BioInnovation Summit different from other biotech events?

Nadine: Rather than being a showcase, this will be a strategic session. No hype, no “startup theater”. Speakers will be invited to share what worked, what didn’t work, what they learned, and what they’d do differently. Attendees will leave with insight, not just inspiration. And a big differentiator is that this summit will be hosted within the bigger context of the iGEM Grand Jamboree, which brings together over 5000 members of our highly interdisciplinary and international synthetic biology community.

Dorothy: The iGEM Grand Jamboree is where 400+ teams present cutting-edge synthetic biology, often before anyone else sees it. The BioInnovation Summit will layer on top of that: It’s where current industry leaders will meet the next generation of biotech innovators, co-create insights and build synergies.

Q: The BioInnovation Summit program covers everything from biomanufacturing to AI-powered drug discovery. What drives your topic selection?

Nemanja: The program covers the full innovation chain, from AI and automation, to IP strategy, policy and scale-up. The goal is to provide a 360° view with a focused, high-level group of SynBio industry insiders.

Nadine: We chose themes that matter right now: How is AI transforming the design process? And how is regulation shaping deployment? What about climate, health, and biosecurity? These are global imperatives we need to address.

Q:Who should attend and how can they get involved?

Dorothy: We welcome individual participants and organizations of all kinds. Startups, corporates, NGOs, research institutes, incubators; all can participate through sponsoring, speaking, hosting sessions, or attending as part of the audience.

There’s also space for exhibitions and tailored networking. Whether you're recruiting talent, exploring partnerships, or scouting investment opportunities, this is the place to be!

Nemanja: This is more than just an event. It’s the start of a longer journey to build a global community for bioinnovation. If your organization believes in the power of engineering biology to solve real-world problems, we want you to be part of it!

Join us as we explore this pivotal moment for the synthetic biology community. This Summit is a “can’t miss” opportunity for anyone eager to shape the future of biotechnology!