We successfully presented our work through a hybrid two-day event revealing the central role of Synthetic Biology in research, education, industry and the bioeconomy.
On April 14 and 15, 2022, our coordinating committee and the academic partners met at the Campus of Zografou of the National Technical University of Athens, and through a hybrid two-day event, open to the public, shared the results of the project as well as the latest updates from the world of Synthetic Biology.
Our academic partners presented the role of Synthetic Biology both in the production of high value-added products and in nutrition and sustainable development. Greek iGEM teams shared their innovative research projects initiating a dialogue on the role of education in engaging with the principles of Synthetic Biology.
In his address, the Rector of the University of Thessaly, Mr. Zisis Mamouris, thanked the coordinating committee from the Department of Biochemistry & Biotechnology as well as the partners from the seven collaborating academic institutions for their excellent cooperation, while stating that:
Synthetic Biology is rapidly evolving into a wonderful toolbox enabling the expansion of biological plasticity, overcoming biological limitations, and at the same time redefining the basis of bioeconomy. OMIC-Engine contributes to this revolutionary shift by asking questions, participating in the global debate, communicating the possibilities of synthetic biology in the industry sector, educating young researchers, co-creating solutions and tools with end-users whilst placing Greece on the world map of synthetic biology.
In parallel, guest speakers from the United Kingdom and Spain highlighted the international perspectives on Synthetic Biology research. Mr. Rennos Frangoudis, Director of the Edinburgh Genome Foundry at the University of Edinburgh, presented the contribution of automation to the evolution of Biology, while Mr. Manuel Porcar, from the University of Valencia, Spain, presented the role of standardization in Synthetic Biology.
On the last day of the two-day event, an enlightening round table with the participation of Mr. Michalis Dritsas from the Greek Ministry of Development & Investment, George Sakellaris from the Academy of Sciences Czech Republic and member of the Bioeconomy Hub, Rennos Frangoudis from the University of Edinburgh, Konstantinos Mathiopoulos, Frangiskos Kolisis and Charalambos Stamatis, research coordinators of OMIC-Engine, stressed the role of Synthetic Biology in the national map of bioeconomy in our country, Greece.
Access our report on Synthetic Biology and bioeconomy here.
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