Synthetic Biology Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Type (Oligonucleotide, Enzymes, Cloning Technologies Kits, Xeno-Nucleic Acids, Chassis Organism), By Technology (Genome Editing Technology, Bioprocessing Technology, Polymer Chain Reaction Technology, Others), By End-User (Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical companies, Academic and Research Institutes, Others) and By Region(North America, Europe, APAC, Middle East and Africa, LATAM) Forecasts, 2025-2033

Synthetic Biology Market Size

The global synthetic biology market size was valued at USD 19.91 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow from USD 23.60 billion in 2025 to reach USD 53.13 billion by 2033, exhibiting a CAGR of 10.7% during the forecast period (2025-2033).

Synthetic biology is a rapidly evolving interdisciplinary field that integrates biology, engineering, and computational sciences to design and modify biological systems for practical applications. By engineering genetic material, scientists can enhance organisms to perform specific functions such as biofuel production, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and agricultural improvements. Leveraging techniques like CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, metabolic engineering, and DNA synthesis, synthetic biology enables the development of innovative solutions across medicine, industry, and environmental sustainability.

The market is experiencing significant growth, driven by advancements in genome engineering, bioinformatics, and AI-driven bioengineering. The rising demand for biopharmaceuticals, sustainable bio-based materials, and precision medicine is accelerating progress in gene synthesis, metabolic engineering, and cell-free systems. Moreover, increased government and private investments are expanding biofoundries and biomanufacturing capabilities, supporting large-scale applications.

Innovations such as CRISPR-based gene editing, AI-driven protein design, and automated DNA synthesis are transforming research and development, making biological engineering more precise and cost-effective. Strategic collaborations between biotech firms, research institutions, and technology providers are further advancing synthetic genomics, engineered microorganisms, and biosecurity.

• In January 2023, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) partnered with LanzaTech, Northwestern University, and Yale University to launch a synthetic biology project aimed at accelerating biofuel discovery technologies. By integrating genome engineering and machine learning, this initiative focuses on developing industrial-scale, carbon-negative solutions for biofuels and biochemicals, promoting sustainable biomanufacturing and reducing dependence on fossil fuels.

Such initiatives underscore the role of synthetic biology in decarbonizing industrial processes, driving innovation in renewable energy, sustainable chemical production, and bio-based materials, ultimately shaping a more sustainable future.

Latest Market Trends

Integration of AI in bioengineering

The integration of AI in synthetic biology is revolutionizing gene editing, protein design, and metabolic engineering. AI-powered tools, such as AlphaFold, enhance protein structure prediction, improving enzyme engineering and drug discovery. Likewise, AI-driven automation streamlines lab processes, reducing R&D costs and accelerating advancements in precision medicine, bio-based materials, and sustainable biomanufacturing.

• For example, in February 2025, Capgemini introduced a generative AI-driven protein large language model (pLLM) that reduces protein design data points by 99%, significantly speeding up R&D in healthcare, agriculture, and environmental science. This patent-pending approach enhances bioengineering efficiency, cutting research time and costs.

The integration of AI in synthetic biology will drive breakthroughs across industries, transforming biopharmaceuticals, sustainability, and biomanufacturing at a significant pace.

Rise of cell-free systems

Cell-free synthetic biology enables biological reactions to occur outside of living cells, offering faster prototyping, improved biosynthetic control, and reduced biomanufacturing variability. This technology enhances drug development, enzyme production, and biosensor innovation, providing scalable solutions with increased flexibility.

• For instance, in March 2022, Northwestern University, in collaboration with the U.S. Army, launched the Cell-Free Biomanufacturing Institute to advance synthetic biology technologies. The initiative focuses on developing on-demand bioproducts for both military and civilian applications, enabling rapid production of biopharmaceuticals, biosensors, and sustainable materials.

As cell-free systems continue to evolve, they will drive faster, more flexible, and cost-effective biomanufacturing solutions across healthcare and industrial applications.

Synthetic Biology Market Drivers

Advancements in computational biology

The rapid progress in computational biology is fueling the global synthetic biology market by enhancing genomic analysis, protein engineering, and metabolic pathway optimization. AI-powered platforms and bioinformatics tools enable high-throughput data processing, predictive modeling, and automation, accelerating breakthroughs in drug discovery, synthetic vaccines, and precision medicine.

• For instance, in March 2024, MiLaboratories launched Platforma.bio, an AI-powered computational biology platform using large language models (LLMs) to simplify biological data analysis. This innovation enhances research in synthetic biology, personalized medicine, and biotechnology, accelerating discoveries and improving data-driven insights.

Such innovations in computational biology are driving the market by making research more efficient, scalable, and accessible across healthcare, biotechnology, and biomanufacturing.

Government & private investments

The growing influx of government and private investments is accelerating innovation in biopharmaceuticals, agriculture, and industrial biotechnology, driving the expansion of the market. These financial commitments support R&D, commercialization, and regulatory advancements, facilitating the development of cutting-edge bioengineering solutions.

• For instance, in January 2023, Asimov, a synthetic biology company focused on designing living systems, raised $200 million to expand its tools and services in biologics, cell/gene therapies, and RNA. This funding will accelerate biopharmaceutical development and bioengineering innovations, strengthening the market share.

Such investments are crucial in scaling synthetic biology solutions, enabling innovations in healthcare, sustainability, and biomanufacturing, driving the market.

Market Restraining Factors

Regulatory challenges

Stringent regulatory frameworks present a significant hurdle, delaying product approvals, commercialization, and global adoption. Regulatory bodies such as the FDA, EMA, and EPA impose rigorous safety, biosecurity, and ethical compliance requirements on genome editing, engineered organisms, and bio-based products. These regulations increase R&D costs and development timelines, making market entry more challenging.

Moreover, the lack of global regulatory harmonization complicates cross-border expansion, creating uncertainty for companies investing in synthetic biology innovations. Concerns over genetic modifications, environmental risks, and ethical considerations further contribute to the complexity, limiting the widespread adoption of synthetic biology applications.

Market Opportunity

Expanding applications in drug discovery

Synthetic biology is revolutionizing drug discovery through AI-driven protein engineering, genome editing, and biosynthetic pathways, enabling the development of novel biologics, antibiotics, and gene therapies. By leveraging these technologies, pharmaceutical companies are enhancing precision medicine and biopharmaceutical innovations, making drug development faster and more cost-effective.

• For example, in January 2022, Zymergen launched a new drug discovery initiative based on its synthetic biology platform and one of the world’s largest metagenomics databases. This initiative utilizes natural products as a diverse chemical source, complementing Zymergen’s advanced materials programs to drive innovations in biopharmaceuticals and material sciences.

With synthetic biology enabling faster drug discovery, reduced R&D costs, and enhanced biopharmaceutical advancements, the market is poised for substantial growth, shaping the future of precision medicine and personalized healthcare.

Market Regional Insights

North America Synthetic Biology Market: Dominant region with 40.1% market share

North America holds a leading position in the global market due to strong government and private investments, the presence of key market players, and advanced biotechnological infrastructure. The region benefits from high research and development funding, increasing applications in healthcare and biopharmaceuticals, and favorable regulatory frameworks supporting synthetic biology advancements. Moreover, the rising adoption of genome editing and bioengineering technologies contributes to market growth.

• U.S. synthetic biology market is driven by expanding manufacturing capabilities and increasing investments in gene synthesis. For instance, in May 2024, Integrated DNA Technologies (IDT) expanded its synthetic biology operations by opening a 25,000-square-foot facility in Coralville, U.S. The new site doubles IDT’s synthetic biology footprint and strengthens its gene synthesis portfolio, enhancing its ability to provide differentiated synthetic biology products. This expansion reflects the growing demand for gene synthesis technologies and North America's role as a key hub.
• Canada’s synthetic biology industry is driven by rising investments from both the public and private sectors in research and development. In October 2022, the Government of Canada invested over USD 5.6 million through FedDev Ontario to fund the BioCreate program by Ontario Genomics. This initiative provides seed funding and support for genomics SMEs in health, food & agriculture, and cleantech sectors to accelerate product development and market entry. Such investments strengthen Canada’s synthetic biology industry, driving research commercialization and industry growth.

Asia Pacific Synthetic Biology Market: Fastest growing region

Asia-Pacific is expected to register the fastest CAGR due to the expanding biotechnology sectors, increasing government funding, and rising demand for biopharmaceuticals and sustainable solutions. The growth of synthetic biology startups, rapid advancements in genome engineering, and expanding applications in agriculture and healthcare further drive market growth in the region.

• India’s synthetic biology market is driven by supporting the development of advanced diagnostics and biotech innovations. For instance, in January 2023, synthetic biology startup D-Nome raised USD 1.5 million in funding from Ankur Capital and Campus Fund. The company focuses on developing rapid point-of-care diagnostics for human infectious diseases and other applications using genomics and synthetic biology. This investment accelerates biotech innovation in India, fostering the growth of synthetic biology-driven healthcare solutions.
• South Korea’s market for synthetic biology is driven by regulatory support and government initiatives. For instance, in January 2023, South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) launched the National Synthetic Biology Initiative to foster synthetic biology innovations and enhance biomanufacturing capabilities. This initiative aims to strengthen national biotech competitiveness, promote research and development in synthetic biology, and accelerate industrial applications in healthcare, agriculture, and biomanufacturing.

Europe Synthetic Biology Market: A Key Market Driven by Research and Development

Europe represents a significant market for synthetic biology, supported by strong government regulations, research-driven innovation, and increasing applications in precision medicine and sustainable biomanufacturing. The region benefits from extensive collaborations between academic institutions and biotech companies, driving the market in drug discovery, enzyme production, and agricultural biotechnology.

• Germany’s synthetic biology market is driven by the expansion of new facilities for synthetic genomics in the country. In 2024, the Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung (CZS) funded €12 million to establish the Center for Synthetic Genomics in Germany. This facility aims to advance DNA synthesis technologies using AI-driven approaches, enabling artificial genome creation for applications in biomedicine, nanomaterials, and research.

Segmentation Analysis

By Type

The oligonucleotide segment dominates the global market due to its essential role in gene synthesis, CRISPR-based genome editing, and molecular diagnostics. Rising demand for custom DNA and RNA synthesis in biopharmaceuticals, synthetic biology research, and diagnostics is fueling growth. Moreover, advancements in enzymatic DNA synthesis and high-throughput oligonucleotide production are expanding applications in vaccine development, gene therapies, and precision medicine, strengthening its market leadership.

By Technology

Genome editing technology leads the market, driven by the widespread adoption of CRISPR-Cas9, TALENs, and ZFNs in gene therapy, agricultural biotech, and drug discovery. Its role in precision medicine, synthetic biology, and biopharmaceutical production reinforces its dominance. Advancements in base and prime editing technologies are enhancing genome modification accuracy, expanding potential applications in genetic disorder treatments and next-generation therapeutics, ensuring sustained market growth.

By End-User

Biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies hold the largest share of the market, fueled by increasing investments in synthetic biology-driven drug discovery, biologics production, and personalized medicine. The growing use of cell and gene therapy, vaccine development, and biomanufacturing strengthens their market presence. Moreover, the integration of AI and automation in synthetic biology workflows is accelerating drug development, optimizing production processes, and enhancing precision medicine advancements, further solidifying their dominance.

Company Market Share

Key players in the synthetic biology industry are actively adopting strategic collaborations, product approvals, acquisitions, and innovative product launches to strengthen their market presence. Companies are forming partnerships with biotech firms, research institutions, and pharmaceutical giants to accelerate R&D and commercialization.

Ginkgo Bioworks: An emerging player in the global synthetic biology market

Ginkgo Bioworks is a leading synthetic biology company specializing in cell programming and bioengineering, offering advanced organism design and biofabrication services across various industries, including biopharmaceuticals, agriculture, and industrial biotechnology. The company leverages AI-driven bioinformatics, high-throughput automation, and genome engineering to develop engineered microbes for applications such as drug discovery, sustainable materials, and bio-based manufacturing.

Recent developments by Ginkgo Bioworks:

• In May 2024, Ginkgo Bioworks entered into a trade agreement with Sojitz, a major Japanese trading company, to expand the use of synthetic biology in Japan’s bioeconomy. Through this partnership, Ginkgo aims to leverage its cell programming platform to support sustainable biomanufacturing and develop eco-friendly production processes in collaboration with key Japanese businesses.

Recent Developments

• March 2025 – GRO Biosciences (GRObio), a synthetic biology company founded by renowned geneticist George Church, is currently exploring strategic alternatives approximately six months after securing a $60 million Series B funding round. This decision comes amid significant organizational restructuring, including substantial workforce reductions.

Analyst Opinion

As per our analysts, the market is on a strong growth trajectory, fueled by advancements in genome editing, AI-driven bioengineering, and rising investments in biofoundries. The increasing adoption of cell-free systems, metabolic engineering, and gene synthesis is expanding applications across biopharmaceuticals, agriculture, and industrial biotechnology.

Despite this promising outlook, the global synthetic biology market faces notable challenges, including stringent regulatory frameworks, ethical concerns surrounding genetic modifications, and biosafety risks. The lack of global regulatory harmonization further complicates commercialization, delaying product approvals and market entry.

However, ongoing advancements in AI and machine learning are mitigating some of these challenges by optimizing protein design, metabolic pathways, and drug discovery, improving efficiency and scalability. With continuous R&D efforts and collaborations, the market is set to redefine healthcare, sustainability, and biomanufacturing, overcoming barriers.