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Under the auspices of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the US National Academies of Science and the UK Royal Society an international symposium entitled “Opportunities and Challenges in the Emerging Field of Synthetic Biology” was held in Washington DC the 9-10 of July 2009. To view the agenda. Click here for the agenda.
What is Synthetic Biology
Synthetic biology is: (1) the design and construction of new biological parts, devices, and systems, and (2) the re-design of existing, natural biological systems for useful purposes (definition from http://syntheticbiology.org/).
This emerging field is expected to impact many sectors of the economy (e.g. the chemical sector, the energy sectors) - and on a longer term basis to contribute to economic growth- as well as to provide tools of great social and environmental interest. However, achieving the rewards offered by synthetic biology will require, inter alia, addressing a range of social, economic, ethical, and legal issues as well as overcoming scientific and technical challenges.
The Symposium
This symposium brought together the different communities –scientific, engineering, policy, public, legal - involved in Synthetic Biology and explored the opportunities and challenges posed by the emerging field of synthetic biology. The symposium was organised around expert presentations and discussions treating issues such as the state of the field and its commercial and scientific potential; the scientific, educational and commercial infrastructure needs; emerging financial and business models for its commercial development; the challenges synthetic biology may raise to legal and regulatory arrangements (e.g. biosafety, biosecurity, intellectual property rights); and the ethical dimensions of this new field.
This Symposium is expected to contribute to fostering the safe and efficient development of synthetic biology by identifying issues and areas for future study, and by informing policy-makers about Synthetic Biology.
The OECD in collaboration with the United Kingdom Royal Society, will draft a summary report of the discussion at the Symposium.
Press Release
Click here to listen to the event and view presentations of the Synposium.
Transcripts of Day 1
Transcripts of Day 2
For more information please contact: Marie-Ange.Baucher@oecd.org
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