THE Max Planck-Chinese Academy of Sciences Center for Synthetic Biochemistry was officially inaugurated in Shenzhen on Saturday, marking the first collaborative research initiative between the Max Planck Society (MPG) from Germany and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) dedicated specifically to the field of synthetic biology.

The MPG is Germany’s premier, non-university research organization dedicated to fundamental research at 84 Max Planck Institutes.  With 31 Nobel Laureates among the ranks of its scientists, it is equal to the world’s best and most prestigious research institutions.

The center, co-established by the Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology (SIAT) of CAS and Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, is an important measure to steadily expand international cooperation in cutting-edge life sciences and will further advance frontier exploration and talent cultivation in synthetic biotechnology.

Liu Chenli, director of SIAT and co-director of the new center, stated that the establishment of the center demonstrates a brand-new transformation in international cooperation — an upgrade from project-based bilateral cooperation to institutionalized multilateral cooperation.

“It is envisioned as a world-class collaborative platform where scientists can work together on innovative research to address shared challenges in synthetic biology and biomanufacturing,” he added.

“Shenzhen embodies openness, innovation, and transformation on a global scale,” said Patrick Cramer, president of the MPG. “I hope this new center will become a vivid example of the very best in Sino-German scientific cooperation — a place where outstanding science thrives and young researchers flourish.”

(Xinhua)