About Us
The UK’s national centre for the commercialisation of engineering biology
About Us
Driving innovation
Based at Imperial College London, SynbiCITE is the UK’s National Industrial Translation Centre for Engineering Biology. Since our establishment in 2013, we have been at the forefront of accelerating and promoting the commercial exploitation of engineering biology research and applications.
Our mission is to act as the nucleating point for this rapidly emerging industry, driving innovation and delivering substantial benefits to the UK economy, with a particular focus on the Bioeconomy and sustainability.
Initiatives
Our ecosystem
SynbiCITE is a collaboration bringing together the UK’s leading academic institutions, industrial partners, and supporting organisations.
It spans start-ups, SMEs, large multinational companies, investors, industrial partners, and regional governments.
Together, we advance synthetic biology by bridging the gap between academic research and industrial application, creating mutual value through innovation and commercialisation.
Funding and Milestones
Initial Funding:
- Established in 2013 with a foundational £32 million commitment from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), Innovate UK, and our industrial and academic partners.
- Additional grants and investments followed, supporting infrastructure, start-up growth, and industrial collaboration.
Our Aims
Goals and impact
Our goals
SynbiCITE is a globally recognised resource that unites academia, industry, and business to:
- Accelerate commercialisation: Drive world-class science and emerging engineering biology technologies into new products, tools, processes, and services.
- Build core skills: Cultivate a workforce capable of leading innovation in synthetic biology.
- Foster responsible innovation: Promote ethical, societal, and environmental considerations in every project we support.
Our impact
SynbiCITE is the UK’s leading synthetic biology accelerator. Our efforts focus on:
- Scaling start-ups and SMEs through access to funding, infrastructure, and expertise.
- Partnering with global organisations to foster innovation and expand market opportunities.
- Supporting the development of infrastructure like biofoundries and pilot-scale manufacturing facilities to enable scalable production.
About Us
How we work
SynbiCITE’s ecosystem integrates academic research, industrial collaboration, and policy support to create a pipeline from discovery to commercialisation.
Our Structure:
- Research and Development: Supporting groundbreaking science and engineering from leading institutions.
- Translational Support: Access to biofoundries, pilot manufacturing facilities, and industrial partnerships.
- Funding and Mentorship: Resources and guidance for start-ups and SMEs.
- Workforce Development: Education and training programmes tailored to engineering biology needs.
Our Network
Join our network
Our success is built on strong relationships with academic institutions, corporate partners, and innovative SMEs. Whether you are a researcher, entrepreneur, or investor, SynbiCITE offers unparalleled opportunities to collaborate and grow in the field of synthetic biology.
For more information about our partners and opportunities, please visit our Network page.
Case Studies
Our success stories
Interested in partnering with SynbiCITE?
Get in touch with us today