Funded by the related program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology (TIB), CAS, hosted the Fifth International Training Course on Industrial Synthetic Biotechnology (ITC-ISB) in Tianjin from October 10 to 24, 2025.

The fifth ITC-ISB was organized by the COMSATS Joint Center for Industrial Biotechnology (CCIB), with supports from the Alliance of National and International Science Organizations for the Belt and Road Regions (ANSO) and the Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS). It was also endorsed as an activity of the International Decades of Sciences for Sustainable Development (IDSSD) by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

A total of 23 experts and scholars in biotechnology from 13 Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) partner countries, including Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Thailand, Egypt, and Pakistan, participated in the training course. Prof. XIANG Hua, Director-General of TIB, awarded graduation certificates for the trainees. Prof. SUN Jibin, Director of CCIB and Chair of the organizing committee, presided over both the opening and closing ceremonies.

At the opening ceremony, Prof. TIAN Chaoguang, Deputy Director-General of TIB, delivered a welcome address. He expressed his hope that the training would foster scientific and technological exchange and cooperation in biotechnology among participants’ countries. Prof. Ahmed Eid from Egypt’s National Research Centre and Prof. BAI Wenqin from TIB spoke on behalf of the trainees and lecturers, respectively. Ms. WANG Zhongxiu, Head of the Division of Membership and Capacity Building at the ANSO Secretariat, attended online and introduced ANSO’s background, as well as its joint research and talent funding programs.

The Fifth ITC-ISB focused on the theory, practice and application of the Industrial Synthetic Biotechnology. In the keynote lecture, Prof. SUN Jibin systematically introduced the core concepts, related enabling technologies, and industrial applications of industrial synthetic biotechnology, highlighting its role in promoting sustainable socioeconomic development. He also shared CCIB’s latest efforts in advancing South-South cooperation.

More than ten scholars from the University of Michigan (USA), Leiden University (Netherlands), Aarhus University (Denmark), the Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chongqing University, the Institute of Microbiology, CAS, Beijing University of Chemical Technology and TIB introduced the frontier technology on biomedicine, bio-chemicals, bio-agriculture, bio-based materials, bioenergy, and future foods.

In addition, nearly ten engineering technical staff from TIB demonstrated the enabling technologies on genome-scale metabolic network modeling, DNA synthesis, high-throughput automated genome editing and screening, X-ray protein crystal structure determination, systems biology in biomanufacturing, and intelligent fermentation.

Prof. JIANG Zhida from the China Institute of International Studies was invited to deliver a lecture on the traditional Chinese cultural wisdom and new opportunities for technological cooperation and innovation under the BRI. Trainees also arranged to visit Qinhuangdao Huaheng Bioengineering Co., Ltd. and Bloomage Biotech (Tianjin) Co., Ltd., gaining practical insight into the industrialization of synthetic biology research. Self-introduction sessions and panel discussions were also organized to enhance mutual understanding and explore potential collaborations.

Since 2019, TIB has successfully hosted five sessions of the ITC-ISB, training a total of 194 young scientists and technologists from 32 countries. The training course has become an important platform promoting global exchange in industrial synthetic biotechnology, contributing significantly to innovation capacity building and international cooperation among developing countries.

Welcome Address by Prof. TIAN Chaoguang

Address by the Representative of Trainees

Address by the Representative of Lecturers

ANSO Invited Speech

Keynote Lecture by Prof. SUN Jibin

Cultural Lecture

Technical Courses

Experimental Courses

Site Visits

Group Photo