The inaugural International Conference on Synthetic Cells took place in Shenzhen from October 23 to 25, bringing together leading scientists from 37 universities and research institutions across 15 countries and five continents. The conference focused on strategic discussions regarding technological advancements and international collaboration in the field of synthetic cells. Among the prominent speakers was David Baker, the 2024 Nobel Prize laureate in Chemistry, who shared insights on the current state of synthetic cell research, emerging scientific questions, and innovations in technology while exploring potential avenues for international cooperation.
The conference was co-chaired by several renowned scientists in synthetic biology, including George Church, a pioneer in the field from Harvard University; Jay Keasling from UC Berkeley; Cees Dekker of Delft University of Technology; Petra Schwille from the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry in Germany; Ariel Lindner from the French National Institute for Health and Medical Research; Matthew Chang from the National University of Singapore; and Liu Chenli from the Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Synthetic biology, an emerging interdisciplinary field, aims to rationally design and construct biological systems with novel functions, and synthetic cells are considered one of the most challenging aspects of this discipline. During the conference, Liu Chenli posed a thought-provoking question to George Church: “What do you see as the biggest challenge in creating artificial synthetic systems that transition from non-life to life?” In response, Church acknowledged that while artificial synthetic cell systems currently exhibit certain biological functions, significant hurdles remain in replicating the precise regulatory mechanisms of biological macromolecule concentrations found in real living cells.
David Baker emphasized that engineered proteins represent a key direction in synthetic cell development. He explained that biological macromolecules have evolved into incredibly complex structures over billions of years. To achieve similar biological functions, one effective approach is to first understand how these systems work, followed by using artificial intelligence to simplify the design process. Another approach involves AI-driven de novo design based on target functionalities. Baker noted that both strategies have their advantages and need to be employed in parallel, utilizing bi-directional iteration to innovate complex biomolecular designs with specific biological functions.
The attending scientists unanimously agreed on the importance of collaboratively building a global network focused on bottom-up “synthetic cells.” They see it as not just a new opportunity for knowledge sharing, technical exchange, and talent development, but also as a landmark for promoting deep technological interaction and sustainable progress worldwide.
Looking ahead, the International Conference on Synthetic Cells is set to be held on various continents in a rotational manner to foster future international collaborations and exchanges. The second edition of the conference will be hosted at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands in May 2026.
