# The Japan-UK Synthetic Biology Conference, Spring 2025: Strengthening Global Links to Engineer Biology

## TL;DR

This paper summarizes a conference that aimed to strengthen international collaboration in synthetic biology between Japan and the UK.

## Contribution

The paper highlights emerging trends and challenges in synthetic biology and suggests ways for international cooperation to overcome them.

## Key findings

- The conference covered core scientific topics and emerging trends in synthetic biology.
- International collaboration is seen as key to addressing challenges in the field.
- Shared expertise and aligned funding can help advance synthetic biology research.

## Abstract

Both Japan and the UK have recognized the growing importance
of
synthetic and engineering biology for transforming life science research
and transitioning toward a sustainable biobased economy. Such a shift
will require extensive international cooperation and collaboration.
In this viewpoint, we provide a summary of the recent “Japan-UK
Synthetic Biology Conference, Spring 2025” that aimed to facilitate
new links between researchers across the broad field of synthetic
biology. We cover the core scientific topics discussed, distill some
of the emerging trends, and outline the remaining challenges that
are hampering progress. We end by highlighting some of the ways in
which international collaborations may help address these issues through
a combination of sharing expertise, national infrastructures, and
aligned funding.