"Synthetic Biology Promotion Act Enforced: Legal Foundation Set for Leap in Bioeconomy"

Full-Cycle Support System for R&D, Infrastructure, Data, and Safety Management Now in Full Operation

The Ministry of Science and ICT is officially activating the legal and institutional framework to systematically foster synthetic biology as a national strategic technology. The key point is that, for the first time, a policy system has been established to comprehensively cover the entire cycle—from research and development (R&D) support and infrastructure building to data utilization and safety management.

The Ministry of Science and ICT announced that the "Synthetic Biology Promotion Act" will be enforced starting on the 23rd. Synthetic biology refers to technologies that engineer, design, produce, and utilize the components of living organisms. It is considered a core technology underpinning innovation across diverse industries, including biomanufacturing, healthcare, chemicals and materials, energy, environment, and agri-food. In particular, as artificial intelligence (AI) and automation technologies become integrated, synthetic biology is drawing attention as a field leading the paradigm shift in biotechnology research.

Reference photo to aid understanding of the article. The Asia Business Daily DB

After designating synthetic biology as a national strategic technology in December 2023, the government passed the relevant bill in the National Assembly in April last year. Following subsequent procedures such as the enactment of enforcement ordinances, the law is now in full effect.

Five-Year Plan, Hub Institutions, Biofoundries... Building the Ecosystem

With the enforcement of this law, the government will establish a "Basic Plan for Synthetic Biology Promotion" every five years and will specify its policies through annual implementation plans. To coordinate policies across ministries, a "Synthetic Biology Working Committee" will also be established under the Biotechnology Comprehensive Policy Deliberation Council.

In addition, to promote R&D innovation and industrial expansion, the government plans to designate hub institutions for synthetic biology R&D and have them perform functions such as technology transfer, business commercialization, and startup support. The system will also institutionally support a collaborative structure linking industry, academia, and research organizations.

One of the most significant changes is the legal foundation provided for the establishment and operation of "biofoundries," which are AI- and automation-based biotechnology research facilities. Through public biofoundries, the government will standardize and accelerate the entire research process. In national emergencies such as infectious disease outbreaks or supply chain crises, special provisions will allow for priority adjustments in access or fee waivers.

The "Synthetic Biology Promotion Act" for building a synthetic biology nurturing ecosystem was enacted on the 23rd. Provided by the Ministry of Science and ICT

Furthermore, a legal framework has been established to enable joint utilization of data accumulated during synthetic biology research. By clarifying the registration, storage, and sharing system for research data, the aim is to activate a data-driven research ecosystem.

In this way, a policy system has been detailed to foster synthetic biology as a national strategic field that connects not only R&D but also industry, data, and infrastructure.

From Safety Management to Ethics: Emphasizing "Responsible Technology Development"

The law also includes a safety management system to address the potential risks of synthetic biology. The Ministry of Science and ICT plans to establish R&D guidelines to preemptively manage biological risks, environmental impacts, and ethical issues, and will operate a monitoring system for research institutions.

In addition, through the private-sector-led "Synthetic Biology Advancement Council," the government will promote collaboration and information exchange among industry, academia, and research organizations, while also pursuing policies for standardization, workforce training, and international cooperation in parallel.

Koo Hyeok-chae, First Vice Minister of Science and ICT, stated, "With the enforcement of the Synthetic Biology Promotion Act, we have established a strategic foundation for national-level development," adding, "We will work to build a support system that is felt both at research sites and in industry without any setbacks."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.