A new group to promote gender diversity and support women working in synthetic biology is set to launch with support from the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC).

Launching on International Women’s Day 2022, Tuesday March 8th, the Women in Synthetic Biology network will invite women and underrepresented genders to join them for a range of networking, coaching, and training opportunities.

The new project has been established by IBioIC Director of Business Engagement and Operations Liz Fletcher, alongside Senior Associate at Potter Clarkson Sara Holland and Director of International Outreach at Built with Biology Fiona Mischel.

A virtual welcome party will take place on Tuesday 8th March from 4-5pm for anyone wishing to join the group and find out more about its future plans. All genders are welcome, with the first event celebrating the achievements of women and underrepresented genders in the bioeconomy.

Fletcher said: “Scotland’s bioeconomy is accelerating at pace, but women are still in the minority in the synthetic biology field – particularly at leadership and board level.

“We hope to build a community that enables women to connect with one another and support career development. There are fantastic opportunities for women in synbio to translate their research into business ideas and make an impact on the world, and we want to help them with that journey.”

The network is believed to be the first of its kind globally and will focus on both the challenges and opportunities women working in the bioeconomy currently face.

IBioIC facilitates collaborations, provides scale-up capabilities, creates networks and develops skills for Scotland’s industrial biotechnology sector. During 2019-20, it invested £1.25m in facilities, access to equipment and IBioIC educational programmes through connections with eighteen Scottish universities and research institutes and four further education colleges, with the University of Strathclyde taking a co-ordinating role.

Scotland’s National Plan for Industrial Biotechnology aiming to support the industry make £900m in annual turnover by 2025, turnover has risen from £200 million in 2012 to £747 million in 2019.

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Holland commented: “The network will provide a safe and non-intimidating space where women and others can reach out for help with all aspects of their career in biotechnology – whether it is founding their own company, working in academia or anything else.

“The possibilities of what synbio can do are endless – often limited only by our imaginations.”

Mischel added: “We are creating a space where women and underrepresented genders can support one another – it’s easy to feel alone in the struggles of navigating academia or founding a company, but when we’re connected with like-minded individuals who can share their own experiences, we can grow and develop together.”

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