The future of computing is being rewritten by biology. In this landmark session, Axios Managing Editor for Science & World, Alison Snyder, sits down with Stanford professor and synthetic biology pioneer Drew Endy and Microsoft CTO Kevin Scott to explore how programming living systems will transform the architecture of innovation. From designing cells with logic and memory to harnessing biological systems for sensing, computation, and decision-making, biology is becoming a powerful substrate for information processing. Join us for a forward-looking conversation on the convergence of synthetic biology and computing—and what it means for the future of technology, medicine, and planetary health.

In terrestrial life, DNA is copied to messenger RNA, and the 64 triplet codons in messenger RNAs are decoded – in the process of translation – to synthesize proteins. Cellular protein translation provides the ultimate paradigm for the synthesis of long polymers of defined sequence and composition but is commonly limited to polymerizing the 20 canonical amino acids. I will describe our progress towards the encoded synthesis of non-canonical biopolymers. These advances may form a basis for new classes of genetically encoded polymeric materials and medicines. To realize our goals, we are re-imagining some of the most conserved features of the cell; we have created new ribosomes, new aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase/tRNA pairs, and organisms with entirely synthetic genomes in which we have re-written the genetic code.

What happens when the architect behind the Transformer turns his focus to RNA and molecular design? Jakob Uszkoreit, Co-Founder of Inceptive and co-author of Attention is All You Need, joins John Cumbers, founder and CEO of SynBioBeta, for a conversation at the intersection of AI and biology. As synthetic biology enters the age of hyperscale—powered by generative models, molecular learning, and programmable therapeutics—Jakob shares his vision for reimagining intelligence not just in machines, but in the molecules that power life. Don’t miss this rare dialogue on the future of biodesign, computation, and the growing interface between synthetic biology and deep learning.

The psychedelic renaissance is colliding with the frontiers of biotechnology, opening bold new pathways for healing, consciousness, and brain health. In this thought-provoking session, Gul Dolen, professor of behavioral and systems neuroscience at UC Berkeley, joins visionary investor Steve Jurvetson and Rick Doblin, founder of MAPS and pioneer of psychedelic-assisted therapy. Together, they’ll explore how synthetic biology, precision medicine, and neuroplasticity research are converging to unlock the therapeutic potential of psychedelics. From molecular design to regulatory breakthroughs, this conversation dives into the science, ethics, and future of reprogramming the mind.

Today’s bioeconomy requires more than incremental improvements—it demands a fundamental shift in how bioprocesses are developed and scaled. This spotlight talk presents a real-world case study in which an AI-enabled continuous fermentation platform transformed a traditional process for a high-demand product. By integrating machine learning and continuous process optimization, the team achieved a threefold increase in productivity, cut unit costs by 50%, and developed a fully optimized process in just 100 days. This rapid approach enabled the partner to move from proof-of-concept to pilot scale within 10 months, meeting ambitious commercial goals with unprecedented speed and efficiency. The session will explore how combining AI and continuous fermentation creates nimble, scalable, and data-driven workflows—offering a blueprint for the next generation of biomanufacturing.

Cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) transcends the limitations of living cells, unlocking unprecedented possibilities in biotechnology. This talk explores the potential of diverse applications of CFPS with constructive approach, including therapeutic protein production, screening, and manufacturing, and high-throughput platforms with AI/ML. This talk will foster an open dialogue across the CFPS space and showcase opportunities for this platform to drive synthetic biology innovation beyond the boundaries of life.

Biotechnologies offer immense promise to address complex problems facing society. However, as biotechnologies and the associated industry grow and evolve, so does the associated threat landscape. At times, the threat landscape is so complex and nebulous that individual companies often lack the resources to understand and mitigate threats. Public-private partnerships (PPP) offer proven models to bring companies together to address common, complex challenges. Therefore, we propose establishing a PPP—the BioEconomy Safety, Security, and Technology (BESST) Partnership—to aid industry in identifying and characterizing common threats and developing evidence-based risk mitigation strategies.

The 450-million-year-old horseshoe crab stands at the center of a perfect storm in 2025. As demand for injectable drugs and vaccines skyrocket—from GLP-1 inhibitors to cancer therapies—pharmaceutical companies face a pivotal choice that will determine both the future of drug safety testing and the fate of these ancient marine creatures. This May, the U.S. Pharmacopeia officially recognizes synthetic alternatives as equal to horseshoe crab blood for endotoxin testing—marking a watershed moment for the industry and the endangered horseshoe crab. Join us to discover why industry leaders like Eli Lilly and GSK are racing to adopt recombinant alternatives that prove more reliable, safe, and cost-effective than traditional methods.

What if we could design breakthrough enzymes for diagnostics, chemistry, or even therapeutics without relying on nature’s instructions? Today’s enzyme development is largely limited by a top-down approach, starting by thinking of what already exists rather than creating what’s truly needed. A bottom-up paradigm changes this. This approach allows us to engineer enzymes from first principles, starting with the reaction itself and tailoring function, manufacturability, and stability to meet real-world demands. This shift unlocks entirely new products and technologies and gets them to market faster and more reliably than ever before. Join this session to explore how rethinking enzyme design can transform the bioeconomy and accelerate innovation at an unprecedented scale.

Precision fermentation is one of the most significant technical breakthroughs for commercializing synthetic biology. Now experienced CDMOs are leveraging this technology along with advanced strain development and amino acid, nucleotide, and other feed and food ingredients production to scale diverse products across the biotech value chain. This talk will reveal the latest CDMO partner for the synbio industry. Leveraging over 70 years of experience and 11 production cites globally, this session will explore new scale-up capabilities, business cases, and how to bring innovative products to market.

Many bacteria remain genetically intractable due to poor DNA uptake and toxicity issues associated with genome editing systems like CRISPR-Cas. Even when DNA is delivered, these tools often yield mixed populations, requiring laborious screening to isolate true mutants. We've developed a new, programmable system that enables efficient genome editing in challenging species by avoiding these common pitfalls. Originally designed for bacteria, it is now being developed for use in yeast and mammalian cells, offering broad potential across biological systems. This approach opens new frontiers in synthetic biology by making previously inaccessible organisms editable with speed and precision.

The latest generation of biologics are becoming increasingly difficult and costly to produce using conventional mammalian systems. These rely on constitutive “always on” expression of the target gene, which can overwhelm cellular machinery, limiting protein yield and driving up production costs —especially for complex or toxic proteins. These obstacles can be overcome using molecular optogenetics, a technology that employs genetically encoded, light-sensitive proteins to precisely control gene expression. By decoupling growth from production, cells can first reach high density before switching to efficient protein expression. Coupling this with closed-loop control enables the ability to dynamically tune protein expression to maximize titer, improving manufacturability. This session will discuss how the development of optogenetically-enabled cell lines and bioprocessing can be used to accelerate the production of next-generation biologics.

P&G is a leading consumer products company led by consumer insights- they can tell you that today’s consumers want clean, healthy products in their homes to provide for their families' personal care needs. To meet these expectations, innovators are integrating new approaches to transform their supply chains, minimize waste streams, and drive environmentally sound solutions for a more sustainable planet. Join two senior leaders for a closer look at how synbio can positively impact consumer products and what specific challenges–both technical and societal–we need to solve to get there. Hear how corporate leaders evaluate new innovations and where they see unmet needs in the market. This session will highlight how corporates and startups can work together to achieve the functional and sustainable performance consumers demand.

Calling all founders and emerging ventures! Fuel your entrepreneurial journey with direct access to investors and mentors over a power lunch designed for meaningful connections. Gain invaluable insights while pitching your vision in this targeted networking event for the synthetic biology startup ecosystem.

A premier networking event for investors in the synthetic biology space. This lunch provides an exclusive opportunity to connect with industry leaders, explore emerging trends, and discover promising startups that are shaping the future of biotechnology.

In a time marked by market volatility, capital constraints, and shifting global priorities, what strategies are biotech and deep tech CEOs adopting to survive—and thrive? Join a candid, invite-only conversation with leading venture capitalists and investment bankers as they share their perspectives on the current economic landscape, investor expectations, and how companies can position themselves for resilience and growth. This luncheon offers a unique opportunity for peer connection, grounded insights, and actionable guidance on navigating today’s toughest financial headwinds.

Contract Development and Manufacturing Organizations (CDMOs) are at the forefront of fermentation. Rather than waste money building fermentation capacity from scratch, companies can transform their biomanufacturing processes with external experts. By leveraging their collective experience and economies of scale, CDMOs can harness the power of engineered organisms to drive innovation and efficiency across diverse industries. By seamlessly integrating fermentation with cutting-edge synthetic biology techniques, these global facilities not only boost productivity but also promote environmental sustainability. Through decades of in-house knowledge, strategic industry collaborations, and an unwavering commitment to shaping the future of biotechnology, our leading team isn’t merely anticipating trends; we are actively creating them.

The Bristol BioDesign Institute and Science Creates are at the heart of a rapidly growing ecosystem at the intersection of deep tech and synthetic biology. From engineered red blood cells revolutionizing targeted therapeutics to next-gen bacterial sensing for rapid, precise infection detection, the ecosystem is driving critical solutions to address our greatest global health challenges. Join this exclusive session to connect with the pioneers pushing the boundaries of synthetic biology innovation and explore opportunities for collaboration and partnering.

An essential gathering for media professionals covering SynBioBeta 2025. This press conference will provide key updates, highlight groundbreaking innovations, and offer exclusive interviews with top industry executives, all while enjoying a networking lunch.

The stuff of science fiction is becoming reality! These scientist and entrepreneurs are tackling the next generation of brain connectomics, advanced brain-computer interfaces, neuromodulation, and stem cell replacement. These technologies aim to treat specific disorders today, but will enable a path for us to become cyborgs and live longer.

Designer proteins aren't just molecules—they're the building blocks for a cleaner, greener future. In a world increasingly challenged by environmental concerns, engineered proteins offer revolutionary solutions, from biodegradable clothing that gracefully returns to the earth to next-generation laundry detergents designed for efficiency without ecological compromise. These protein innovations also promise to transform food production, enabling sustainable methods to feed our growing global population. By harnessing nature's blueprint, humanity has the chance not only to reimagine everyday products but to redefine our relationship with the planet. Join Alexandre Zanghellini, CEO of Arzeda, in envisioning how proteins can power sustainable living and build the foundation for tomorrow's environmentally conscious economy.

Scaling commercial biomanufacturing is a complex dance of science, strategy, and infrastructure. As demand for bioproducts surges, industry leaders are grappling with significant challenges in growing their operations and capacity without compromising quality, efficiency—and most importantly—cost. Now, key innovations are enabling large-scale enterprises to adopt biomanufacutring practices without compromise. This talk will address the unmet needs of the biomanufacturing sector through the use of drop-in replacement ingredients for everyday items and demonstrate actionable biostrategies for innovation at commercial scale.

This session explores how pharma companies approach and build effective partnerships with computational drug discovery firms. Industry experts will share insights on best practices for data sharing, strategies for navigating cultural challenges with biotech and startups, and the role of explainable AI in fostering trust. The discussion will also cover common mistakes companies make when approaching pharma and the considerations around using proprietary algorithms versus open-source models to advance drug discovery.

Inadequate DNA synthesis technologies are stalling scientific advancements and cannot meet the increasing demand for high-complexity, sequence-perfect molecules. Now, algorithm-driven technology is redefining scientific possibility by delivering pristine synthetic DNA molecules towards transformative solutions for the health of people and the planet. By combining intelligent algorithms, proprietary enzymatic assembly, adaptive automation, and end-to-end traceability from sequence to molecule, we can overcome the inefficiencies of traditional methods to produce highly accurate, long, and complex DNA ready for immediate use. These solutions are now commercially available, enabling researchers to unlock innovations in advanced therapeutics, vaccines, synthetic biology, and accelerate progress across the industry.

In biotech, we have the opportunity to leverage quality for more than just meeting regulations—we can use quality testing and controls to build trust, credibility, and a lasting competitive edge. Holding GMO products to the highest standards and communicating those standards can shift public perception, drive consumer confidence, and create new opportunities for innovation. With rigorous testing and a clear communication plan, prioritizing quality transforms not just our products, but the industry as a whole.

The bioeconomy cannot succeed without the feedstocks that fuel all our fermentors. From agricultural side-streams to algae to carbon pollution, synbio companies need to ensure they utilize renewable feedstocks instead of purpose-grown inputs that take essential land and, at scale, may drive deforestation. How can we address this critical issue as a community? What role do other innovations such as AI, sensors, and continuous fermentation play in accelerating sustainable scaling and what changes do we need to make today for the bioeconomy of tomorrow?

Protein engineering is the most active frontier for AI in biotech. We are seeing the emergence of models that can make "zero shot" predictions of antibodies, and new variants of enzymes that would take millions of years for Evolution to produce. How should we be evaluating these models and their designs? What can we expect from the field of AI protein design moving forward?

Join leading scientists as they share how increased reliability in DNA synthesis services is transforming the way they work—empowering them to confidently expand their design space, accelerate project timelines, and drive innovation in vaccine development and cell and gene therapies. Scientists will talk about their experiences with vector onboarding, synthesis of long and complex sequences, and chromosomal and genome engineering.

The bioeconomy is at a pivotal moment and has the potential to drive innovation that addresses global challenges. Yet, as the industry grows, so does its risk landscape. This panel explores how collaboration, competition, coordination, and cooperation can collectively safeguard the bioeconomy while fostering innovation. Industry leaders will discuss strategies to build trust, mitigate risks, and establish shared frameworks for safety and security. Join us to discuss how unified action can ensure the bioeconomy’s transformative potential is realized in a way that upholds safety, security, and efficiency.

As automation biology, hardware, and AI intersect, the vision of fully autonomous, self-driving labs is moving from science fiction to reality. This session explores the cutting-edge convergence of artificial intelligence, robotics, and synthetic biology—unlocking a future where biological workflows are continuously developed, executed, and optimized without human intervention. Join leading voices at the forefront of lab automation and AI-driven experimentation as they discuss the infrastructure, algorithms, and design principles required to build self-driving laboratories.

The potential to revolutionize consumer products with biotechnology is inevitable. However, the path from lab innovation to widespread consumer adoption requires education and communication. This panel explores the critical gap between cutting-edge biotech developments and consumer acceptance, focusing on strategies to build trust, address concerns, and effectively communicate the benefits of bio-based products. In 2030, what will we say we spoke about in 2025?

Shake flasks are the most commonly used small-scale cultivation vessel for microbial fermentation and cell culture. Their ease-of use and low cost per experiment provide an ideal set-up for strain selection, yield optimization, and overall bioprocess characterization. Traditionally, shake flasks are black boxes. Available manual sampling methods rarely provide enough information to understand one’s bioprocess fully, are time-consuming, and come with additional risks. New, modern sensor technologies allow scientists to study key parameters in shake flasks non-invasively, automatically, and in real time, enabling bioreactor-like capabilities at the shake flask level.

The world is addicted to the caffeine highs of chocolate and coffee- yet both crops are at major risk from climate change. Synbio innovation means we don't have to give up two of the world's favorite foods. This panel will showcase the tech stack of the companies climate-proofing cacao and arabica beans.

Join us for an in-depth look at how biotechnology leaders are harnessing machine learning and data-driven approaches to engineer novel human therapeutics right now—well beyond the “someday” promises of AI. In this session, experts from pioneering organizations will share real-world insights into using big data and advanced analytics to accelerate everything from target discovery to clinical development. Discover how these teams are unlocking fresh possibilities for personalized treatments, improving success rates, and shaping the future of human health through powerful, actionable applications of ML and AI.

The convergence of AI, synthetic biology, and digital technologies is set to revolutionize consumer products. How will these exponential advances, coupled with biohacker innovations and the imperatives of sustainability and climate change, transform the personal care landscape by 2035? Discover how to harness these trends and actively shape the future of personal care. Leave inspired, informed, and ready to drive innovation in your organization.

The PURE (Protein synthesis Using Recombinant Elements) system is a reconstituted cell-free protein synthesis system invented by Prof. Ueda in 2001. This session will reflect on 25 years of this groundbreaking platform, trace its evolution and explore its core principles and advantages in today's synthetic biology landscape. Learn how this critical system works synergistically with other technologies including microfluidics, high-throughput screening platforms, in vitro display, AI/ML-approach to advance applications in basic research, protein engineering, and biologics R&D. Join the original developers of this technology to explore future directions and potential novel uses of PURE system technology to revolutionize fields such as personalized medicine, biomanufacturing, and artificial cells.

The rise of synthetic biology and its various offshoot applications in climate tech, biotech, medtech, foodtech and allied technologies such as DNA data storage presents unprecedented opportunities for innovation and societal benefits, while also creating new challenges in biosecurity. This session will explore strategies to secure the synbio supply chain, opportunities and challenges in scalable containment technologies, traceability systems such as genomic barcoding, deployment of AI solutions for biosecurity, and frameworks for managing the intellectual property (IP) rights of engineered biological assets in a rapidly complexifying supply chain. Our expert panel will discuss the role of emerging technologies in enhancing supply chain transparency, safeguarding against misuse, and ensuring compliance with evolving regulatory landscapes. Join us to gain valuable perspectives on how collaborative public-private efforts, innovative digital and molecular tools, and adaptable regulatory practices can maintain security, foster ethical growth, and protect public trust across the engineering biology ecosystem.

This innovative approach leverages nucleic acid development from Telesis Bio and protein production from the Illinois Biological Foundry for Advanced Biomanufacturing. These thought leaders will discuss the streamlined and enhanced efficiency of producing complex biological molecules when integrating their advanced technologies, transforming the landscape of synthetic biology.

One of the biggest challenges faced by the regenerative medicine field today is the ability to efficiently and scalably generate therapeutic cells. This session explores cutting-edge transcription factor-based approaches for rapid and efficient differentiation of stem cells into therapeutic cell types. We will examine how synthetic biology techniques are revolutionizing cell therapy by enabling faster production of clinically relevant cells. Speakers will discuss recent advances, challenges, and future directions in harnessing transcription factors for directed differentiation, with a focus on applications in regenerative medicine and drug discovery.

Bio/acc and Biohacking have both become popular movements on Twitter of late. This session brings together people who 'hype' them up and people who temper these sectors with science and point out flawed approaches. Get ready for a spicy conversation.

Achieving consistent and reproducible results in synthetic biology workflows necessitates advanced data analysis. This session explores how AI-integrated IoT systems can address the complexities of identifying and mitigating variables that impact experimental outcomes, including equipment performance, environmental conditions, and reagent management. We will examine how AI facilitates: • AI-Driven Consistency Optimization: Employing machine learning to identify subtle variations and predict factors influencing experimental reproducibility. • Rapid AI-Enabled Root Cause Analysis: Streamlining the pinpointing of causative variables affecting experimental outcomes through intelligent data interpretation. • Advanced Equipment Utilization Analysis: Utilizing AI to extract actionable insights from operational patterns, optimizing performance and informing predictive maintenance. • Practical AI Applications: Reviewing case studies demonstrating the tangible impact of AI-driven data analytics on lab reliability and scientific consistency. This session will focus on the application of AI and data science to significantly enhance experimental consistency and operational efficiency in modern, automated synthetic biology laboratories.

Commercial solutions providing synthetic DNA molecules have overcome some of the most challenging manufacturing hurdles, now providing molecules of varying and exceeding length, complexity, and accuracy. These advancements are enabling new possibilities and unlocking vast potential for a range of applications. In this interactive panel, we will bring together leading experts to discuss latest market advancements, innovative approaches utilizing synthetic DNA, and the transformative potential of these solutions.Join us for this discussion as we explore the potential of synthetic DNA and how it can unlock innovations for better health of people and planet.

Innovative materials hold the key to accelerating the transition away from fossil fuel dependence and into a thriving low-carbon future. This session will explore how novel approaches to manufacturing—from cutting-edge biotechnologies to scalable production techniques—are transforming the way we create everyday products. Attendees will learn how these next-generation materials can be scaled effectively, the latest insights on cost-competitive climate technologies, and the milestones needed to ensure they rapidly penetrate global markets. By highlighting diverse strategies and tangible success stories, this discussion will illuminate a clear path toward a defossilized economy—one where carbon footprints shrink and circularity becomes the new standard.

Thought leadership opportunity to discuss the state of the U.S. bioeconomy, what we've learned over the last 2 years, and where we could possibly go in the future.

Epigenetic reprogramming has rapidly become the hottest area in longevity biotech, attracting unprecedented attention and billions in investment in just the last two years. Building on Shinya Yamanaka's Nobel Prize winning iPSC reprogramming, a new wave of biotech startups are now racing to extend the concept to therapeutically rejuvenate the cells in our bodies. This panel brings together the leading researchers and entrepreneurs of this field to explore the science and recent breakthroughs driving the excitement, the challenges of bringing these therapies to market, and the future of a field that could redefine what it means to age.

This session explores how microfluidics and automated cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) are transforming biological research by enabling rapid, high-throughput workflows in compact, accessible formats. Panelists will discuss how these technologies are minimizing infrastructure needs, making advanced molecular biology and biochemistry accessible in resource-limited or extreme environments—from rural clinics and pharmaceutical labs to low Earth orbit. Applications span early-stage drug discovery, accelerating protein discovery, biosurveillance, and decentralized response systems for global health preparedness.

As synthetic biology and AI capabilities continue to expand and combine, biosecurity threats are becoming both more widespread and more difficult to mitigate. This panel will discuss these challenges in the context of a recent positive case study, in which multiple organizations collaborated to address an AI-based biological "zero day" threat using practices adapted from cybersecurity. We will further discuss how this collaboration has since matured into a larger effort to develop international standards for nucleic acid biosecurity screening, and close with remarks on emerging challenges in biosecurity.

Biotech is accelerating—and cloud infrastructure is the catalyst. This session explores how scalable compute, AI-native architectures, and real-time data integration are transforming the way biology is engineered. From protein design to genome editing, discover how innovators are leveraging cloud-native platforms to run complex simulations, automate workflows, and shorten the cycle from hypothesis to insight. Hear from leaders building the tools that are making biology programmable, iterative, and as fast as software development.

Unwind as you explore cutting-edge technologies from leading exhibitors in a relaxed atmosphere. Forge valuable connections with industry pioneers while experiencing the innovation showcase in our vibrant expo environment.

Kick off your SynBioBeta experience with our signature celebration featuring local cuisine, cocktails, and hundreds of forward-thinking attendees. Set the tone for an unforgettable conference as you connect with the global synthetic biology community in a festive atmosphere.

Elevate your conference experience with exclusive access to our curated VIP gathering of industry luminaries and thought leaders. Enjoy premium hospitality in an intimate setting designed for high-level networking and partnership development.

An ultra-exclusive gathering reserved for C-suite executives, keynote speakers, and special guests in an extraordinary setting. Experience unparalleled networking opportunities with synthetic biology's most influential leaders in this invitation-only premium event.