BOSTON, Oct. 23, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- What: iGEM, the pioneering organization of the synthetic biology industry, will host its 15th annual Jamboree on October 24 - 28, 2018. The Jamboree is the synthetic biology industry's largest innovation event and the culmination of the iGEM competition. More than 340teams of student engineers from more than 40 countries will showcase boundary-pushing synthetic biology projects aimed at solving local problems around the world.In partnership with iGEM, Ginkgo Bioworks – whose founding team participated in the first-ever iGEM competition in 2003 – will host its first-ever investor day, Ginkgo Ferment, at the Jamboree. Ferment will offer investors, executives and influencers a sneak peek at the people and ideas driving the future of the synthetic biology industry.Why: iGEM and the Jamboree sit at the center of the $40 billion synthetic biology industry, which is changing the way we make things, solve global problems and treat human health by engineering biology. iGEM is the engine of the synthetic biology industry, serving as a launchpad for students, advising companies on the power of synthetic biology, building a culture of responsibility, ethics, safety and security, and connecting future leaders, investors, influencers and policymakers to build a stronger synthetic biology network.Companies that have come out of the iGEM competition include:

• Ginkgo Bioworks: The organism design company helping businesses across industries tap into the power of synthetic biology through genetic engineering automation.
• PvP Biologics: A synthetic biology company working to reduce the burden of living with celiac disease; the company currently has an enzyme – KumaMax – in clinical trials to combat gluten intolerance.
• CustoMem: A UK-based company protecting global environmental and human health by utilizing biomechanical manufacturing for waste-water filtering.
• Bluepha: The first synthetic biology startup to come from the Chinese iGEM community, engineering bacteria to mine raw materials for plastic manufacturing from polluted water.

Who: 3,200+ attendees including student competitors (ranging from high school to graduate), as well as professors, industry leaders, executives and investorsWhere: Hynes Convention Center, 900 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02115When: October 24 - 28, 2018Breakdown of Events:

• Thursday, October 25:
• iGEM Jamboree Opening Ceremony
• Team Project Presentations
• Team Poster Sessions
• Ginkgo Ferment: Partner and investor session topics include extinct flower perfume, government biosecurity, cultured cannabinoids and the future of food.
• Friday, October 26 - Saturday, October 27: Project presentations, poster sessions and workshops continue, followed by deliberation by a panel of 170 judges.
• Sunday, October 28:
• Finalist Presentations
• Keynote Speakers: Jason Kelly, CEO and co-founder of Ginkgo Bioworks, Ingrid Swanson-Pultz, CSO and co-founder of PVP Biologics, and George Church, professor at MIT and Harvard.
• Award Ceremony and Celebration Social

Additional Resources:

• For media interested in attending the iGEM Jamboree, please contact igem@bateman-group.com
• For a more detailed breakdown of the Jamboree schedule, visit here and to learn more about and RSVP to Ginkgo Ferment, visit here.

About iGEM
iGEM (International Genetically Engineered Machine) Foundation is an independent, non-profit organization that pioneered the synthetic biology industry and continues to advance the field through education, competition and industry collaboration. iGEM's annual student competition is the largest synthetic biology innovation program and a launchpad for the industry's most successful leaders and companies. The competition empowers thousands of local people to solve local problems around the world by engineering biology for safe and responsible solutions.The After iGEM program supports the competition's 35,000+ participants in their future endeavors to continue leading and setting the standards for synthetic biology on an international level. iGEM's community is comprised of students, leaders, investors, influencers and policymakers who continue to work toward a strong, responsible and visionary synthetic biology industry. For more information, visit www.igem.org.About Ginkgo Bioworks
Headquartered in Boston, Ginkgo Bioworks uses the most advanced technology on the planet—biology—to grow products instead of manufacture them. The company's technology platform is bringing biotechnology into a wide range of new markets, enabling fragrance, beauty, food and health companies to make better products. For more information, visit www.ginkgobioworks.com.Media Contact:
Bateman Group for iGEM PR
Jordyn Lee
igem@bateman-group.comSOURCE iGEM; Ginkgo Bioworks

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