The ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology brings together 17 research groups from nine Australian universities comprising almost 300 researchers. They collaborate with a range of partners, including biotech start-ups, government departments, international university and research facilities, medium to large business and industry bodies. Together they aim to create an environmentally sustainable processing industry, leading to significant rural investment, jobs and new export opportunities.

Their goal is to provide 21st century solutions to global agricultural, food production, manufacturing, healthcare and environmental challenges. For thousands of years, humans have used microbes to create bread, wine and cheese. Now synthetic biology goes one step further, engineering ways to convert biomass from agriculture or waste streams to biofuels, bio plastics and other high-value chemicals.