- Capability group
- Biotechnology & Health Technologies
- Domain
- Critical Technology · Hard Power
- Identifier
- factbase.org/cap/GKT52EY61S
- Reference
- Synthetic biology Wikipedia
Papers
6.8k
2020–2024
Paper growth
+5%
2020–24 on 2015–19
Patent families
135.1k
2020–2024
Filed abroad
32%
families in more than one office
What it covers
What the capability covers and what it leaves to others, and the indicators it will be measured by.
Bounds
Covers engineering biology as capacity; its manufacturing expression sits with Biomanufacturing, its therapeutic expression with the therapeutics capability, and its misuse potential with National Security's defensive capability and the governance domain's oversight.
Lineage
Carried from v0.0 (formerly Synthetic biology) with the same identifier, absorbing Genetic engineering (retired): editing and engineering biology are one writing capacity, split in v0.0 by vintage of technique.
Indicators
- research publication share in synthetic biologyResearch
- gene editing patent familiesPatents
- engineered organism approvalsPending
Who publishes it
Papers classified to the capability, by year and by the nation of their authors' institutions, 2020–2024. Read from the v0.0 research topics Synthetic biology and Genetic engineering.
Papers by year
The five leading nations, papers by year
Share of papers, 2020–2024
Of papers with a known author nation; 26% have none and are left out.
- 1China20.2%1,312 papers
- 2United States15.6%1,010 papers
- 3India10.6%691 papers
- 4Germany5.4%353 papers
- 5United Kingdom4.3%277 papers
- 6South Korea3.5%225 papers
- 7Japan2.5%161 papers
- 8Spain2.1%139 papers
- 9Canada1.9%121 papers
- 10Netherlands1.9%121 papers
Leading institutions, 2020–2024
By fractional count: each paper divided among its authors' institutions.
- 1Jiangnan University109fractional papers
- 2Chinese Academy of Sciences58fractional papers
- 3East China University of Science and Technology26fractional papers
- 4Nanjing Tech University26fractional papers
- 5University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign24fractional papers
- 6Zhejiang University of Technology23fractional papers
- 7Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences23fractional papers
- 8Zhejiang University23fractional papers
- 9Shanghai Jiao Tong University23fractional papers
- 10Wageningen University & Research22fractional papers
Who patents it
Patent families by the nation of origin of their applicants and their earliest priority year, from the CPC and IPC classes the capability is read from. 2025 onwards is incomplete: families are published 18 months after priority.
Families by priority year
The five leading origins, families by year
50,696 applicants filed here in 2015–2024; the five largest held 2% of families (HHI 4 of 10,000: unconcentrated).
Share of families by origin, 2020–2024
- 1China70.3%95,048 families
- 2United States14.7%19,840 families
- 3South Korea3.6%4,864 families
- 4Japan3.5%4,706 families
- 5Germany1.0%1,380 families
- 6United Kingdom0.9%1,236 families
- 7Switzerland0.6%878 families
- 8France0.6%868 families
- 9Canada0.5%731 families
- 10Netherlands0.4%557 families
Applicants filing most internationally, 2015–2024
Families filed in more than one office, by applicant as the offices name them.
- 1UNIV CALIFORNIA1,314international families
- 2PIONEER HI BRED INT733international families
- 3INST NAT SANTE RECH MED607international families
- 4HOFFMANN LA ROCHE567international families
- 5HARVARD COLLEGE528international families
- 6UNIV LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR512international families
- 7UNIV TEXAS511international families
- 8MASSACHUSETTS INST TECHNOLOGY497international families
- 9CJ CHEILJEDANG CORP468international families
- 10UNIV PENNSYLVANIA461international families
Classification read
- C12N15/00 Genetic engineering: recombinant DNA, vectors, gene editing · 1.9m documents
- C12N9/22 Nucleases, including gene-editing enzymes · 110.3k documents
- C12N2310/20 CRISPR nucleic acids · 56.3k documents
- C12N5/10 Genetically modified cells · 46.7k documents
- A01K67/0275 Genetically modified animals · 56.9k documents
Shares inventions with
Capabilities whose classes the same families also fall in, by overlap (Jaccard).
- Advanced Therapeutics, Vaccines & Medical Countermeasures40,220 families · 0.364
- Biomanufacturing31,960 families · 0.282
- Genomics & Biological Data14,676 families · 0.147
- Nuclear Medicine & Radioisotope Technologies965 families · 0.011
Who makes it
The companies that research, design, make, supply and operate the technology, the global leaders and the leading firms of every region.
50 companies in this capability, from 18 nations across 8 regions. Sorted by how experts see each company's global relevance in the field, from very high to very low.
- Very high5 companies
- 1Very highProfessional & data servicesBostonUnited States2008–DNA
Largest horizontal cell-programming platform, running automated foundries that design and engineer organisms for pharma, agriculture and industrial customers.
Very high relevance · Professional & data services · United States, Boston · founded 2008
- 2Very highChemicals & gasesSouth San FranciscoUnited States2013–TWST
Leading high-throughput silicon-based DNA synthesis provider supplying synthetic genes, oligo pools and libraries to synthetic biologists.
Very high relevance · Chemicals & gases · United States, South San Francisco · founded 2013
- 3Very highChemicals & gasesBagsværdDenmark2024–NSIS B
World's largest industrial enzyme and microbial solutions company (merger of Novozymes and Chr. Hansen), engineering production strains and enzymes at global scale.
Very high relevance · Chemicals & gases · Denmark, Bagsværd · founded 2024
- 4Very highResearch & IPZugSwitzerland2013–CRSP
Co-developer with Vertex of Casgevy, the first approved CRISPR-based gene-editing medicine (2023).
Very high relevance · Research & IP · Switzerland, Zug · founded 2013
- 5Very highMedicines & vaccinesLeverkusenGermany1863–BAYN
Global leader in genetically engineered crop traits (ex-Monsanto) now pursuing gene-edited crops, and co-founder of the Joyn Bio microbial engineering venture with Ginkgo.
Very high relevance · Medicines & vaccines · Germany, Leverkusen · founded 1863
- High12 companies
- 6HighEquipment & machineryWalthamUnited States1956125kTMO
Dominant supplier of gene-editing reagents (TrueCut Cas9, GeneArt gene synthesis), cloning kits and lab instruments used across engineering biology.
High relevance · Equipment & machinery · United States, Waltham · founded 1956 · 125k staff
- 7HighEquipment & machineryWashington, D.C.United States196963kDHR
Owns Integrated DNA Technologies (IDT), a top supplier of custom oligos, gBlocks and Alt-R CRISPR reagents, plus Aldevron for engineered nucleic acids and enzymes.
High relevance · Equipment & machinery · United States, Washington, D.C. · founded 1969 · 63k staff
- 8HighChemicals & gasesIndianapolisUnited States201922kCTVA
Parent of Pioneer Hi-Bred (a top patent applicant in this capability) and a major CRISPR-Cas9 licensor for gene-edited crops in partnership with the Broad Institute.
High relevance · Chemicals & gases · United States, Indianapolis · founded 2019 · 22k staff
- 9HighResearch & IPCambridge, MassachusettsUnited States2014–NTLA
Pioneer of in vivo CRISPR editing delivered by lipid nanoparticles, co-founded by Jennifer Doudna.
High relevance · Research & IP · United States, Cambridge, Massachusetts · founded 2014
- 10HighProfessional & data servicesShenzhenChina1999–Private
China's largest genomics group, operating sequencing (via listed MGI Tech and BGI Genomics), China National GeneBank and synthetic genome projects such as the synthetic yeast Sc2.0 chromosomes.
High relevance · Professional & data services · China, Shenzhen · founded 1999
- 11HighProfessional & data servicesNanjingChina2002–1548
One of the world's largest gene-synthesis and molecular-biology CROs, and parent of Bestzyme industrial synthetic biology.
High relevance · Professional & data services · China, Nanjing · founded 2002
- 12HighResearch & IPCambridge, MassachusettsUnited States2017–BEAM
Leader in base editing, a precision gene-editing technology that changes single DNA letters without double-strand breaks.
High relevance · Research & IP · United States, Cambridge, Massachusetts · founded 2017
- 13HighChemicals & gasesKaiseraugstSwitzerland2023–DSFIR
Major producer of fermentation-derived vitamins, enzymes, cultures and engineered-yeast ingredients, with long-running strain engineering programmes.
High relevance · Chemicals & gases · Switzerland, Kaiseraugst · founded 2023
- 14HighChemicals & gasesDarmstadtGermany166863kMRK
Holds a large CRISPR patent portfolio (including proxy-CRISPR) and supplies genome-editing and synthetic-biology reagents through its MilliporeSigma life-science business.
High relevance · Chemicals & gases · Germany, Darmstadt · founded 1668 · 63k staff
- 15HighChemicals & gasesSeoulSouth Korea1953–097950
World-leading producer of fermentation amino acids and PHA bioplastics from engineered microbial strains, and a top international patent applicant in this capability.
High relevance · Chemicals & gases · South Korea, Seoul · founded 1953
- 16HighChemicals & gasesTokyoJapan1909–2802
Pioneer and global leader in microbial fermentation of amino acids using engineered Corynebacterium strains, with a growing bio-pharma CDMO business.
High relevance · Chemicals & gases · Japan, Tokyo · founded 1909
- 17HighSoftware & platformsSan FranciscoUnited States2012–Private
Leading cloud R&D software for designing DNA constructs and managing biological engineering data in biotech companies.
High relevance · Software & platforms · United States, San Francisco · founded 2012
- Moderate16 companies
- 18ModerateEquipment & machinerySan DiegoUnited States19988,970ILMN
Dominant DNA sequencing platform supplier, providing the read-out step of the design-build-test cycle in engineering biology.
Moderate relevance · Equipment & machinery · United States, San Diego · founded 1998 · 8,970 staff
- 19ModerateChemicals & gasesShanghaiChina1997–688065
Leading Chinese synthetic-biology manufacturer producing bio-based long-chain dicarboxylic acids and bio-pentanediamine with engineered microbes.
Moderate relevance · Chemicals & gases · China, Shanghai · founded 1997
- 20ModerateResearch & IPCambridge, MassachusettsUnited States2013–EDIT
Early CRISPR gene-editing company holding exclusive licences to Broad Institute Cas9 and Cas12a patents, now focused on in vivo editing.
Moderate relevance · Research & IP · United States, Cambridge, Massachusetts · founded 2013
- 21ModerateResearch & IPRedwood CityUnited States2002–CDXS
Protein engineering company whose CodeEvolver directed-evolution platform designs enzymes for pharmaceutical manufacturing and enzymatic RNA synthesis.
Moderate relevance · Research & IP · United States, Redwood City · founded 2002
- 22ModerateResearch & IPSkokieUnited States2005–LNZA
Engineers gas-fermenting Clostridium strains that convert industrial off-gases into ethanol and chemicals at commercial plants in China, Europe and India.
Moderate relevance · Research & IP · United States, Skokie · founded 2005
- 23ModerateResearch & IPBerkeleyUnited States2011–CRBU
Doudna-co-founded CRISPR company holding foundational UC Berkeley Cas9 licences and developing chRDNA-edited allogeneic cell therapies.
Moderate relevance · Research & IP · United States, Berkeley · founded 2011
- 24ModerateResearch & IPBrisbane, CaliforniaUnited States2017––
Discovers and engineers ultracompact CRISPR systems (Cas14, CasPhi) for in vivo gene editing.
Moderate relevance · Research & IP · United States, Brisbane, California · founded 2017
- 25ModerateResearch & IPParisFrance1999–CLLS
Gene-editing pioneer using TALEN technology for allogeneic CAR-T cells; also listed on Euronext Growth Paris (ALCLS).
Moderate relevance · Research & IP · France, Paris · founded 1999
- 26ModerateChemicals & gasesKusatsuJapan2002–4974
Major supplier of PCR enzymes, cloning (In-Fusion) and genome-editing reagents, plus gene and cell therapy CDMO services.
Moderate relevance · Chemicals & gases · Japan, Kusatsu · founded 2002
- 27ModerateEquipment & machineryLe Kremlin-BicêtreFrance2014––
Developer of enzymatic DNA synthesis and the SYNTAX benchtop DNA printer.
Moderate relevance · Equipment & machinery · France, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre · founded 2014
- 28ModerateChemicals & gasesBerkeleyUnited States2011–Private
Engineers nitrogen-fixing soil microbes (PROVEN 40) applied on millions of US crop acres as a fertiliser replacement.
Moderate relevance · Chemicals & gases · United States, Berkeley · founded 2011
- 29ModerateResearch & IPAbingdonUnited Kingdom2002–Private
Develops and releases genetically engineered self-limiting insects (Friendly Aedes mosquitoes) commercially in Brazil and in EPA-approved US trials.
Moderate relevance · Research & IP · United Kingdom, Abingdon · founded 2002
- 30ModerateResearch & IPDallasUnited States2021––
Multiplex genome-engineering company pursuing de-extinction (woolly mammoth, dire wolf traits) and spinning out editing tools.
Moderate relevance · Research & IP · United States, Dallas · founded 2021
- 31ModerateChemicals & gasesJinanChina2000–688363
World's largest producer of microbially fermented hyaluronic acid, expanding into synthetic-biology ingredients.
Moderate relevance · Chemicals & gases · China, Jinan · founded 2000
- 32ModerateResearch & IPBrasíliaBrazil1973–State-owned
Brazil's state agricultural research corporation, developer of GM and CRISPR-edited crop varieties and Latin America's leading public agbiotech actor.
Moderate relevance · Research & IP · Brazil, Brasília · founded 1973
- 33ModerateChemicals & gasesRosarioArgentina2001–BIOX
Developer of HB4 drought-tolerant wheat and soybean, the first GM wheat approved for commercial cultivation (Argentina, later the US).
Moderate relevance · Chemicals & gases · Argentina, Rosario · founded 2001
- Low9 companies
- 34LowResearch & IPSeoulSouth Korea1999–199800
Korean genome-editing firm (KOSDAQ-listed) holding one of the contested foundational CRISPR-Cas9 patent families.
Low relevance · Research & IP · South Korea, Seoul · founded 1999
- 35LowChemicals & gasesBeijingChina2016––
Tsinghua spin-out engineering microbes for PHA biodegradable plastics and other bio-materials at industrial scale.
Low relevance · Chemicals & gases · China, Beijing · founded 2016
- 36LowAdvanced materialsTsuruokaJapan2007––
Designs and ferments Brewed Protein engineered structural proteins for textiles, operating a production plant in Thailand.
Low relevance · Advanced materials · Japan, Tsuruoka · founded 2007
- 37LowResearch & IPRehovotIsrael2002–EVGN
Computational biology company using AI tech engines to design crop traits, microbes and small molecules; also listed on TASE.
Low relevance · Research & IP · Israel, Rehovot · founded 2002
- 38LowResearch & IPSan DiegoUnited States2001–CBUS
Developer of the Rapid Trait Development System for gene-edited crop traits such as pod-shatter-resistant canola and herbicide-tolerant rice.
Low relevance · Research & IP · United States, San Diego · founded 2001
- 39LowEquipment & machineryCambridgeUnited Kingdom2015––
Develops a semiconductor-chip benchtop platform for high-fidelity gene-length DNA synthesis.
Low relevance · Equipment & machinery · United Kingdom, Cambridge · founded 2015
- 40LowChemicals & gasesRehovotIsrael2019––
Precision-fermentation company producing animal-free beta-lactoglobulin milk protein from engineered yeast.
Low relevance · Chemicals & gases · Israel, Rehovot · founded 2019
- 41LowResearch & IPPiracicabaBrazil1969–Private
CTC – Centro de Tecnologia CanavieiraDeveloped the world's first approved GM (Bt) sugarcane varieties and is working on gene-edited cane.
Low relevance · Research & IP · Brazil, Piracicaba · founded 1969
- 42LowSystems integrationPuneIndia1983–PRAJIND
India's leading bio-process engineering firm, building fermentation plants for biofuels and bio-based chemicals and running a renewable-chemicals demo plant.
Low relevance · Systems integration · India, Pune · founded 1983
- Very low8 companies
- 43Very lowChemicals & gasesBengaluruIndia2013––
Engineers methanotrophic microbes to convert methane into protein and biochemicals.
Very low relevance · Chemicals & gases · India, Bengaluru · founded 2013
- 44Very lowProfessional & data servicesAbu DhabiUnited Arab Emirates202220kPrivate
Mubadala-G42 health-tech group that runs the Emirati Genome Programme and the Omics Centre of Excellence, the Gulf's largest genomics infrastructure.
Very low relevance · Professional & data services · United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi · founded 2022 · 20k staff
- 45Very lowResearch & IPSingaporeSingapore2019––
Microfluidic enzyme-engineering platform that screens and evolves enzymes for synthetic-biology production pathways.
Very low relevance · Research & IP · Singapore, Singapore · founded 2019
- 46Very lowChemicals & gasesVilniusLithuania2017––
Vilnius University spin-out (from Virginijus Šikšnys's CRISPR work) supplying novel Cas nucleases and CRISPR tools.
Very low relevance · Chemicals & gases · Lithuania, Vilnius · founded 2017
- 47Very lowResearch & IPRosarioArgentina2016––
Gene-editing agbiotech that designs herbicide-tolerance mutations (Heurik platform) and introduces them non-transgenically, with CONABIA-cleared products and partnerships with GDM and Gensus.
Very low relevance · Research & IP · Argentina, Rosario · founded 2016
- 48Very lowContract manufacturingSydneyAustralia–––
Australian continuous precision-fermentation company scaling production of engineered-microbe proteins and ingredients for partners.
Very low relevance · Contract manufacturing · Australia, Sydney
- 49Very lowChemicals & gasesPretoriaSouth Africa–––
South African maker of recombinant reagent enzymes, DNA/RNA, primer and probe synthesis and AI-driven enzyme discovery from African microbiomes; it co-developed a SAHPRA-approved COVID-19 PCR kit with the CSIR.
Very low relevance · Chemicals & gases · South Africa, Pretoria
- 50Very lowProfessional & data servicesPretoriaSouth Africa2002–Private
One of Africa's largest commercial genomics service providers, offering DNA sequencing, oligo synthesis and genotyping across the continent.
Very low relevance · Professional & data services · South Africa, Pretoria · founded 2002
