Synthetic Biology Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (Enzymes, Cloning Technologies Kits), By Technology (PCR, NGS), By Application (Non-Healthcare, Healthcare), By End Use, And Segment Forecasts, 2021 - 2027

Report Overview

The global synthetic biology market size was valued at USD 8.88 billion in 2020 and is projected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20.8% from 2021 to 2027. Advances in recent years helped synthetic biology to revolutionize technologies across various applications including, living materials, biocomputing, therapeutic genome editing, living biotherapeutics, multiplexed diagnostics & cellular recording, electronic interfacing, and third-generation biorefineries. Advancements in the fields of genome editing, gene circuit design, metagenomic discovery, automated strain engineering, directed evolution, and metabolic engineering have enabled agriculture, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology companies to develop synthetic biology products. These include chemicals, such as diamines, sitagliptin, and leghemoglobin, produced by engineered cells/enzymes, such as genome-edited soy, CAR-Ts, and engineered bacteria.

The rising population and changing food habits coupled with resource scarcity have contributed to the research and development in the nutrition segment. Several good food production processes have been identified with the help of synthetic biology. The technology is expected to help in the production of better food yield and development in pest control management.

Many stakeholders are considering synthetic biology as a helpful tool to enable growth in the nutrition sector. For example, NASA is developing BioNutrients and BioManufacturing capabilities for human consumption during deep space travel; currently, these are being tested on the ground. Similarly, Impossible Foods has engineered Pichia Pastoris to produce soy leghemoglobin to improve meaty aromas and flavors in plant-based burgers.

Synthetic Biology Market Trends

Extensive range of applications of synthetic biology is expected to boost the market growth. Products derived from synthetic biology techniques are used in a variety of sectors such as bioenergy, enzyme technology, biology-based chemicals, antibody production, vaccine manufacturing, among others. Several companies in the market are producing materials and textiles with the use of synthetic biology. Bio-based dyes, and water & energy-efficient textile production technologies are also being developed by companies such as Spiber,MycoWorks, Modern Meadow, and Bolt Threads.

Increasing global population and scarcity of essential resources have propelled several research and development activities in the food & nutrition space. Here, synthetic biology has aided in identification of sustainable food production systems. The technique has also contributed in attaining improved food yields and better management of pest control. Several companies are considering the use of synthetic biology for development of innovative food solutions, as evident by the increasing number of players that are entering the market. For instance, companies such as Beyond Meat, Upside Foods, Innocent Meat, Impossible Foods, among others are offering synthetic meat options.

Furthermore, rising funding opportunities and assistance from government and private organizations is anticipated to positively affect the market growth. For instance, according to Built With Biology, synthetic biology startups recoded investments worth over USD 18 billion in 2021, with the third quarter of 2021 witnessing the highest investments of around USD 6.1 billion. These investments are expected to rise further, as the field gains traction in the near future, due to emerging advancements in genome editing, designing of gene circuits, metagenomics, and metabolic engineering, among others.

Synthetic biology can manage environmental challenges such as climate change, natural resources management, and pollution reduction. The technique can be combined with genetic engineering for creation of microorganisms that serve as biosensors for detecting toxic environmental contaminants. Growing research and development activities in this domain are expected to fuel the market growth. For instance, synthetic biology has been used in the agriculture industry for development of chemical-free alternative fertilizer options. Companies such as Pivot Bio have developed synthetic nitrogen fertilizers that are safe for the environment.

However, the development of synthetic biology products has raised many concerns related to biosafety and biosecurity. Exposure to these products may cause unknown hazards to public health and the environment. To prevent incidences of unexpected or intentional release of pathogens or toxins, countries from Europe, America, and Asia have formulated policies to manage the application of synthetic biology techniques. Such policies may hinder the market growth.

Furthermore, suspicions over the origin of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 have diverted attention toward the bio-risk of synthetic biology due to the involvement of synthesis and engineering of living organisms in this field. This can lead to further stringency in regulations and can pose significant challenges for the market growth.

Product Insights

Oligonucleotide/oligo pools and synthetic DNA were the largest revenue-generating product segment in 2020 and accounted for a revenue share of more than 35% in the same year. The segment is anticipated to expand further growing at the fastest CAGR over the forecast period. The ability to design custom DNA oligos for experiments has created ample opportunities in the fields, such as molecular and synthetic biology.

Companies, such as Integrated DNA Technologies, Life Technologies, Operon, and Eurofins, are providing custom primer services. Furthermore, the decreasing cost of synthesis and rising demand for synthetic DNA, RNA, and genes that are used in various applications contribute to the segment’s growth.

The enzymes segment is also expected to register a significant CAGR over the forecast period. Companies are focusing on the efficient, cost-effective, and eco-friendly production of enzymes. Many companies are focusing on the adoption of enzymatic chemistry rather than existing phosphoramidite chemistry for gene synthesis. The potential application of enzymatic synthesis to deliver longer genes in the shortest turnaround time will boost industry growth.

Technology Insights

The PCR technology segment accounted for the largest revenue share of more than 27% in 2020 due to the high usage of this technology as it is fast, convenient, easily reproducible, extremely specific, and highly sensitive. PCR cloning is applied to gene cloning, DNA recombination, and gene quantification in synthetic biology workflows. Syno 2.0 platform offered by Synbio Technologies can efficiently clone target genes without relying on the restriction enzyme sites. The development and launch of such platforms enhance the cost-effectiveness of PCR in synthetic biology applications.

An increase in R&D for the development and launch of reagents also drives segment growth. In June 2021, a group of researchers from the U.S., U.K., and Ghana developed cellular reagents, which can substitute enzymes in molecular biology, diagnostic reactions, and common synthetic biology processes including qPCR and PCR. Such technologies can also be used to ramp-up the production to meet the rising diagnostic demands.

The NGS technology segment is expected to register the fastest CAGR during the forecast period. The ability of NGS to synthesize DNA sequences from the start, along with new technologies, such as CRISPR/Cas9, is enabling the targeted introduction of DNA sequences into living cells. Application in the field of rapid whole-genome sequencing, deeply sequences target regions, discovering novel RNA, understanding of the human microbiome, and identification of novel pathogens.

Application Insights

The healthcare application segment accounted for the largest revenue share of more than 77% in 2020. Synthetic biology has offered significant advancements in the scale and scope of biopharmaceutical drug development. The technology offers actionable solutions to overcome the limitations associated with current biopharma production for gene design, expression optimization, yield stability, fermentation, and purification.

Diagnostics based on synthetic biology provide a real-time, specific & sensitive, and noninvasive process for detecting cancer cells, infectious agents, and therapeutics. Researchers use rational engineering approaches to make novel biosensing systems that are dynamic and constituted of a sensor, processor, and reporter. Glympse Bio has manufactured an activity-based biosensor to diagnose the early signs of Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH), predict the stage of disease, and support drug development.

Bio-fuels is the largest revenue-generating, non-healthcare application. Synthetic biology has created the possible way for the fourth generation of biofuels. Researchers are involved in developing alternative biofuel molecules as these are expected to have the potential to reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. Companies, such as GenScript, offer GenPlus high-throughput gene synthesis, combinatorial assembly library, and CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing for biofuel production.

End-use Insights

The biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies segment dominated the market with a revenue share of more than 51% in 2020. Synthetic biology has helped biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies to develop novel drugs, which can treat chronic conditions. For instance, Merck has used synthetic biology approaches to develop Januvia (sitagliptin) for diabetes patients. Similarly, Novartis developed Kymriah (Tisagenlecleucel) to treat B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Furthermore, various companies have used synthetic biology to engineer pathways that enable microorganisms to produce medically relevant drugs. For instance, Amyris Inc. engineered yeast strains to develop the antimalarial drug Artemenisin. Moreover, synthetic biology can also improve in-vitro drug production. For instance, Codexis utilizes synthetic biology to develop a more efficient enzyme for the synthesis of small-molecule drugs.

Technological advancements in this field further stimulate the growth of the market. Computational protein design develops proteins from scratch and makes calculated variants of protein design and variants of protein structure. Scientists can create innovative enzymes that are not common to nature. For instance, Ginkgo Bioworks uses computer automation to build new organisms. In addition, Arzeda manufactures new enzymes from scratch for the production of rare sugars and natural sweeteners.

Regional Insights

North America accounted for the largest share of over 41.13% in 2021 owing to rising funding for development of synthetic biology products, favorable regulations, and government assistance. Startups in this field, such as Moderna Therapeutics, Sana Biotechnology, Poseida Therapeutics, Apeel Sciences, and Greenlight Biosciences raised over USD 3 billion in the first half of 2020.

The U.S. majorly focuses on the research being done in the area of drug discovery, proteomics, and genomics structure prediction, thereby propelling the growth of the synthetic biology market. Furthermore, several government-funded research institutions, such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and privately held organizations, such as the Gates and Melinda foundation are driving research and development activities in synthetic biology which can increase the market prospects for the country. 

Germany is expected to witness growth in the synthetic biology market over the forecast period due to presence of several synthetic biology hubs that are driving advancements in the field. For instance, MaxSynBio, a part of the Max Planck Society and Ministry of Education and Research is involved with uncovering essential cellular mechanisms for creation of minimal cells. Similarly, Leaps by Bayer, an initiative from Germany-based Bayer AG company, invests in various life sciences advancements, including those in synthetic biology. Presence of such institutions is anticipated to fuel the market growth in Germany.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

Despite the COVID-19 impact, the market witnessed a strong investment from private and public partnerships. As per the data published by Synbiobeta, the industry raised a record $7.8 billion investment in 2020. Joyn Bio is developing an engineering microbe for sustainable agriculture bio-based solution. Consumer biotechnology has seen rapid growth due to the presence of companies like Bolt Threads, Spiber and Modern Meadow. These companies are developing synthetic yet ‘natural’ biomaterials that are sustainable. These new biomaterial-based products are being marketed as sustainable fashion clothing products.

Spiber, a Japanese company, is growing spider silk with the help of precision-engineered microbes. The company has raised approximately $240 million in 2021. The textile industry is witnessing the biotechnological revolution using biology to make clothing better and more sustainable. Companies, such as Modern Meadow and VitroLabs, are producing genuine leather with the use of a bioengineering process. Modern Meadow is pioneering the leather industry by making leather from yeast. Companies, such as Algiknit and Algalife, are working on producing textile and dyes from algae. Some of the key players in the global synthetic biology market are:

• Bota Biosciences

• Codexis, Inc.

• Creative Biogene

• Creative Enzymes

• EnBiotix, Inc.

• Eurofins Scientific

• Illumina

• Merck (Sigma Aldrich)

• New England Biolabs

• Novozymes

• Pareto Biotechnologies, Inc.

• Scarab Genomics

• Synthego

• Synthetic Genomics

• Thermo Fisher

Synthetic Biology Market Report Scope

Segments Covered in the Report

This report forecasts revenue growth at global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2018 to 2027. For the purpose of this study, Grand View Research, Inc. has segmented the global synthetic biology market report on the basis of product, technology, application, end use, and region:

• Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2027)

  • Oligonucleotide/Oligo pools and Synthetic DNA

  • Enzymes

  • Cloning Technologies Kits

  • Xeno-nucleic Acids

  • Chassis Organism

• Technology Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2027)

  • NGS

  • PCR

  • Genome Editing

  • Bioprocessing Technology

  • Others

• Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2027)

  • Healthcare

    • Clinical

      • Bio/Pharmaceuticals

      • Diagnostics

    • Non-Clinical/Research

  • Non-Healthcare

    • Biotech Crops

    • Specialty Chemicals

    • Bio-Fuels

    • Others

• End-use Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2027)

  • Biotechnology & Pharmaceutical Companies

  • Academic & Government Research Institutes

  • Others

• Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2027)

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

  • Europe

    • UK

    • Germany

    • France

    • Italy

    • Spain

    • Russia

  • Asia Pacific

    • China

    • Japan

    • India

    • Australia

    • Singapore

  • Latin America

    • Brazil

    • Mexico

  • Middle East & Africa

    • South Africa

    • Saudi Arabia