Solvay has agreed a multi-year strategic collaboration with US firm Ginkgo Bioworks, which was formerly Zymergen. Under this, Solvay said, they will join forces “to unlock the power of synthetic biology as an enabler of more sustainable chemicals and materials, contributing to the transition towards more environmentally friendly solutions”.

Three major US synthetic biology companies - Antheia, Genomatica and Ginkgo Bioworks – have launched the Synthetic Biology (SynBio) Coalition. Its stated aim is to promote investment in and support for the industry in the US, in partnership with the federal government.

“The coalition believes that continued investment in synthetic biology, research infrastructure and manufacturing capacity is critical to realising the full potential of this industry and maintaining American global leadership,” the firms stated.

Shortly after handing over responsibility for biorational-related business to its Valent BioSciences (VBC) subsidiary in Illinois, Sumitomo Chemical has announced plans to establish SynBio Hub within its Biorational Research Centre. This is all part of the firm’s plans to build technologies using synthetic biology.