Biofoundries: bridging automation and biomanufacturing in synthetic biology

Abstract

Biofoundries represent advanced automation facilities pivotal for streamlining the Design-Build-Test-Learn (DBTL) paradigm in biomanufacturing and synthetic biology, suitable for both academic research and industrial applications. Nonetheless, establishing such a platform demands significant financial and temporal resources while maintaining a forward-looking perspective on automation, equipment compatibility, and operational efficiency. Despite its challenges, international collaborations between global biofoundries may offer solutions. The automated DBTL framework in biofoundries has transformed the production of bioproducts using engineered microbes. As the field advances, biofoundries are essential for streamlining and standardizing biotechnological processes, addressing efficiency, cost, and consistency challenges.