Abstract:

The rapid advancement of life sciences and information technology has not only propelled synthetic biology into a prominent interdisciplinary frontier but has also spurred the vigorous development of the synthetic biotechnology and biomanufacturing industry, making it a key engine driving the new wave of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation. In this context, synthetic biology competitions, serving as a critical nexus connecting education, research, and industrial translation, are increasingly playing a bridging and catalytic role. By integrating disciplinary education, innovative practice, and startup incubation, these competitions effectively promote deep integration and collaborative development among multiple stakeholders in academia, research, and industry. This review systematically reviews the evolution and current state of synthetic biology and its competition systems, with a focus on analyzing the synergistic mechanisms of competitions in talent cultivation, disciplinary development, technological innovation, and industrial application. Synthetic biology competitions not only provide a platform for interdisciplinary learning and practice for students but also facilitate the alignment of university research resources with industrial application needs, thereby promoting the translation of basic research into industrial applications. Using the participation practice of Hubei University as a case study, this paper further elucidates the specific effects of competitions in stimulating students' innovative potential, promoting the restructuring of curriculum systems, and advancing the practical application of research outcomes, demonstrating their exemplary value in constructing regional innovation ecosystems. However, the development of synthetic biology competitions currently faces several challenges. On one hand, the pathway for translating scientific research achievements into industrialization remains obstructed, with issues such as insufficient technological maturity and gaps in funding support. On the other hand, interdisciplinary collaboration still encounters institutional barriers, and deeper integration among fields such as life sciences, engineering, and computer science needs to be strengthened. Additionally, the competition systems themselves face problems including imperfect evaluation mechanisms, homogenization in track design, and a lack of biosafety and ethics education, which hinder their sustainable development. In response to the aforementioned challenges, this review proposes a series of actionable optimization strategies from five aspects: resource integration, optimization of evaluation mechanisms, diversified development of competition tracks, enhancement of biosafety education and ethical norms, and avoidance of competition homogenization. Specific measures include establishing an integrated resource platform for industry-university-research, improving an evaluation system oriented towards innovation and application potential, expanding differentiated tracks catering to various stages and needs; strengthening the integration of biosafety and ethics education, and promoting the alignment of competitions with regional industrial characteristics. In summary, as an important vehicle for promoting the integration of industry and education, the healthy development of synthetic biology competitions is of great significance for advancing technological innovation and industrial upgrading in the field of synthetic biology. Through systematic analysis and case discussion, this review aims to provide theoretical references and practical strategies for educational practices and policy formulation in related fields, thereby contributing to the construction and refinement of synthetic biology innovation ecosystem.

Key words: synthetic biology, synthetic biology competitions, talent cultivation, industry-university-research, bioeconomy

摘要：

生命科学与信息技术的迅猛发展，不仅推动合成生物学发展成为一门新兴交叉学科，也加速了合成生物技术及生物制造产业的崛起，使之成为推动产业升级与生物经济增长的核心引擎。在这一背景下，合成生物学竞赛作为连接教育、科研与产业转化的关键枢纽，通过融合学科教育、创新创业实践以及初创企业孵化，有效促进了产学研深度融合。本文系统梳理了合成生物学及其竞赛体系的发展脉络，重点探讨了竞赛在人才培养、学科建设、技术创新与产业落地等方面的协同作用；同时，结合湖北大学参赛实践作为案例，具体阐释了合成生物学竞赛对产学研融合的推动作用。针对当前面临的成果转化瓶颈、跨学科协作壁垒、合成生物学竞赛赛事优化等挑战，本文进一步从资源整合、评分机制、赛道发展、生物安全教育与伦理以及竞赛同质化这几大方面提出了可持续发展的优化路径，旨在为合成生物学领域的产教融合提供理论参考与实践策略。

关键词: 合成生物学, 合成生物学竞赛, 产学研, 人才培养, 生物经济