Synthetic biology, hailed as the “third biotechnology revolution,” has become a new “golden track.” The “Several Provisions of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone on Promoting the Innovative Development of the Synthetic Biology Industry” were passed by the Standing Committee of the Municipal People’s Congress on August 29 and are set to take effect on October 1. This represents another legislative exploration by Shenzhen in the field of emerging industries, using “small-scope” legislation to support the major development of this future industry.
First-time “small-scope” legislation to promote industrial development
What is synthetic biology? A vivid analogy compares it to assembling a car—researchers organically combine genetic fragments, proteins, and other “components” to design new substances and life forms.
This disruptive cutting-edge technology has become a strategic high ground pursued by countries worldwide. Over 50 countries and regions have released strategic deployments and support plans related to synthetic biology. Shenzhen has proactively planned and scientifically laid out its synthetic biology industry, initially building a full-chain innovation ecosystem encompassing “basic research + technological breakthroughs + achievement transformation + sci-tech finance + talent support.”
The “Several Provisions” consist of 32 articles without chapters. This is the first time the city has adopted a “small-scope” approach for industrial promotion legislation. The innovative legislation not only implements the central government’s decisions on cultivating new productive forces and accelerating the construction of a modern industrial system but also provides legal safeguards to address bottlenecks in Shenzhen’s synthetic biology industry and sustain its competitive edge.
Establishing a full-chain service support system
Statistics show that 40% of newly established synthetic biology enterprises in China over the past three years are concentrated in Shenzhen. Promoting technological achievement transformation through source innovation is a key factor behind the rapid development of Shenzhen’s synthetic biology industry. The “Several Provisions” further solidify this practice into regulation, explicitly stipulating continued promotion of national key R&D programs for “synthetic biology” through city-department coordination, and supporting research institutions, universities, and enterprises in undertaking national strategic sci-tech tasks. Municipal sci-tech innovation departments are required to provide special support and organize basic research and technological攻关 layouts for key common technologies, cutting-edge引领 technologies, modern engineering technologies, and disruptive technologies.
The “Several Provisions” also propose establishing a full-chain service support system for the synthetic biology industry, offering comprehensive services including technology research, achievement transformation, and industrial落地 for synthetic biology enterprises. It specifies that municipal development and reform, sci-tech innovation, and industry and information technology departments should provide subsidies for R&D resource sharing services purchased by synthetic biology enterprises according to their duties and requirements. It also stipulates that local inspection and testing institutions should offer discounts on product inspection and testing fees for synthetic biology enterprises.
Shortening product market entry cycles
Long product evaluation and approval cycles and relatively slow application推广 have long been pain points hindering the development of the synthetic biology industry. To address this, the “Several Provisions” introduce multiple measures to shorten the market entry cycles of synthetic biology products and broaden their application scenarios and promotion channels.
On one hand, it explores new models for cultivating evaluation agencies and technical institutions. It strengthens central-local coordination in areas such as “novel foods” and new cosmetic ingredients, building cooperative platforms in conjunction with national and provincial departments to jointly cultivate qualified technical evaluation agencies. In fields like new raw materials for health foods, agricultural genetically modified organisms, and agricultural gene-edited organisms, it promotes capable technical institutions to accept commissions from national departments to participate in testing, analysis, and other work, providing more efficient and convenient evaluation and technical testing services for synthetic biology enterprises.
On the other hand, it promotes the推广 of synthetic biology products. It明确 requires municipal industry and information technology departments, together with sci-tech innovation departments, to compile a first-purchase catalog for innovative synthetic biology products. Municipal finance departments are to facilitate the convenient procurement of related products in accordance with the law. It also stipulates that municipal industry and information technology and sci-tech innovation departments can compile promotion catalogs and typical application scenario lists to boost market demand for synthetic biology products.
Ensuring industrial space and increasing financial support
The “Several Provisions” further strengthen要素保障 support for industrial development. They require relevant departments to prioritize meeting the industrial space needs of synthetic biology enterprises that have achieved industrial-scale production when formulating construction land supply plans. They emphasize leveraging the guiding role of government investment funds to incentivize financial institutions and social capital to increase financing support for synthetic biology startups and reduce their financing costs.
The “Several Provisions” also明确 state that the municipal government will advance approval system reforms in the synthetic biology field, promote the separation of technical reviews and administrative approvals, and continuously optimize approval conditions and processes. They
