The potential of engineering biology to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges across five different sectors has been set out in a new report published by the UK's Government Office for Science.
The Foresight report: Engineering Biology Aspirations, highlights the potential applications of engineering biology across a range of settings through five expert-authored ‘aspiration papers’. The papers are intended to provide an “optimistic overview” of what the future of engineering biology might look like, and how it could help to transform multiple industry sectors over the coming years. The papers cover the use of the technology in: biosynthetic fuels, nitrogen fixing cereals, future fashion, lab-grown blood, and 'microbial metal factories'.
Engineering biology – or EngBio – aims to use engineering principles to design biological systems and processes, combining elements of biosciences, engineering, and physical sciences, and synthetic biology which involves building biological components, systems, and materials which can be used in new and useful ways.
Each of the sections opens with an aspirational statement describing the goals of engineering biology and the role it might play by 2035. The papers then outline the problem that EngBio could solve and the steps needed to achieve the goal – and any potential challenges.
For example, the section on microbial metal factories presents as world of the future where “Engineered microbes work tirelessly to extract and recycle metals from electronic waste, so that we no longer rely on harmful mining practices. A secure, domestic supply of biorecovered metals has reduced our dependence on imports, particularly from conflict-affected areas.” The section on ‘lab-grown blood’ envisages a future where, thanks to engineering biology, blood is engineered to be more universally compatible with a range of blood groups, free of disease transmission risks, and is easier to store.
“Advances in regenerative medicine, biomanufacturing, and synthetic biology are converging to drive an engineering biology revolution in [red blood cell] production,” the paper notes.
The report is not a statement of government policy and does not make specific policy recommendations but the idea is that the report will “inspire senior officials and policymakers and help them to understand and communicate the future potential of engineering biology.”
Among the report’s main conclusions, it says; “By addressing key challenges such as public acceptance, regulatory frameworks, and skills development, we can harness the power of engineering biology to create innovative solutions that benefit society and the environment. The UK's commitment to this field, through strategic funding and international collaboration, positions us to lead in this transformative area.”
Commenting on the report, Science Minister, Lord Vallance said: “Our commitment to the UK’s burgeoning engineering biology sector is clear: from £100 million investment in the Engineering Biology Mission Hubs and Awards, to efforts to improve the regulation of this critical technology, including through the new Regulatory Innovation Office.” Vallance added that the technology was already delivering innovations from healthcare to clean energy.
This latest report comes after a warning from the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee which said, at the start of 2025, that urgent action was needed if the UK is to reap the benefits of engineering biology.
Setting out its concerns in a report: Don’t fail to scale: seizing the opportunity of engineering biology, the committee warned that companies in the area of engineering biology are being created in the UK but moving elsewhere as they begin to grow. This, the report says, reflects a wider issue for the UK’s economic growth.
Further reading:
• Engineering biology projects get funding boost to drive growth
• Engineering biology doing "incredibly well" but more help needed
• UK government backs engineering biology
Visit Blog