Engineering Biology Metrics and Technical Standards for the Global Bioeconomy: A Catalyst for the Global Bioeconomy
Nestled in the heart of Brussels, the Grand Place is UNESCO’s World Heritage Site with renowned architecture. This historically significant place was chosen for a leading-edge workshop titled ‘Engineering Biology Metrics and Technical Standards for the Global Bioeconomy’ (25-27th of September 2023). The workshop was organized by the Global Standards for the Bioeconomy project, bringing together academics, leaders of large biotech corporations, European Commission officials, small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and policy experts.
The workshop’s main aim was to address the critical need for technical standards and standardized metrics in the field of engineering biology. Biotechnological advances are advancing rapidly, affecting industries and economies, therefore it is crucial to ensure safety and sustainability.
During the workshop, diverse range of sessions were held, including presentations, panel discussion and interactive sessions. Our colleague Natalio Krasnogor was a panellist on ‘Biosafety Standards and Metrics, representing Newcastle University and our spin out company GitLife Biotech Ltd.. In this session, the topic of biosafety, biosecurity and traceability of genetically modified organisms were discussed in connection with technical standards.
As a result of this workshop, there are several key outcomes:
- Workshop participants discussed and identified regional priorities and defined strategy that will help establishing roadmap for developing global standards and metrics for engineering biology.
- Attendees were able to gain connections that will lead to future collaborations.
- Policy experts shared recommendations that will inform future regulatory approaches in the field.
- Attendees were able to foster deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities within bioeconomy.
For more information about the workshop, visit the official website of the Engineering Biology Research Consortium
