Workshop on Synthetic Biology

Workshop on Synthetic Biology took place on 10 December 2015.

Some 70 participants from all over the world attended the workshop. Speakers from academia, scientific committees, Commission services and Member States made presentations on synthetic biology.

The Ministry of Health of Luxembourg was represented by Mr Xavier Poos, ‘Conseiller de direction adjoint’. A representative of SAM (the newly created scientific advisory mechanism of DG RTD) also participated and presented the new mechanism.

The workshop provided the opportunity to review the work on synthetic biology at EU level and to discuss challenges that synthetic biology may pose.

See the workshop report

You can read the booklet with the abstracts of the lectures and watch the presentations given at the workshop.

Presentations

• What is synthetic biology? What are the fields of its application? Challenges and future developments
  Paul Freemont,
  Imperial College London

• Synthetic biology Opinion I: The definition
  Theo Vermeire,
  Chair of the SCENIHR working group on synthetic biology

• Synthetic biology Opinion II: Risk assessment methodologies and safety aspects
  Markus Schmidt,
  External expert of the SCENIHR working group on synthetic biology

• Synthetic biology Opinion III: Research Priorities
  Michelle Epstein,
  Member of the SCENIHR working group on synthetic biology

• Synthetic biology and GMOs
  Dorothée André,
  Head of Unit, Biotechnology, DG Health and Food Safety, European Commission

• Potential impacts of synthetic biology on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity
  Anne Teller,
  Policy Officer, DG Environment, European Commission

• Alternative Feedstock for the Chemical Industry – Carbon Utilization
  Achim Boenke,
  Policy Officer, DG Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, European Commission

• The European Commission's Scientific Advice Mechanism
  Sigrid Weiland,
  Policy Officer, Scientific Advice Mechanism

• Synthetic biology – viewpoint of Austrian Federal Ministry of Health
  Sanda Pasc,
  Ministry of Health, Austria

• State of discussion regarding synthetic biology in Germany
  Dagmar Friese,
  Federal Ministry of Health, Germany

• In search of synthetic biology-policy fit for purpose and future proof
  Julie Ng-A-Tham,
  Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment, The Netherlands