![banner](https://static.igem.org/websites/igem/2024/igem-crowd.webp)
iGEM is dedicated to advancing achievements in synthetic biology through education and competition, and to the development of an open, collaborative and cooperative community that strives to find solutions for a healthier, more resilient and sustainable world.
![](https://static.igem.org/websites/competition/2023/banners/2024-competition-card.jpg)
Early Bird Registration is open until February 15, 2025!
![iGEM 2025](https://static.igem.org/websites/jamboree/2025/logo/horizontal/igem-gj-2025-horizontal-tagline-negative-2x.webp)
![](https://static.igem.org/websites/igem/redesign/igem-home-gallery-0.jpg)
![](https://static.igem.org/websites/igem/redesign/igem-home-gallery-1.jpg)
![](https://static.igem.org/websites/igem/redesign/igem-home-gallery-2.jpg)
![](https://static.igem.org/websites/igem/redesign/igem-home-gallery-3.jpg)
![](https://static.igem.org/websites/igem/redesign/igem-home-gallery-4.jpg)
In the News
![Synthetic biology puts its young talents into competition](https://static.igem.org/websites/igem/2024/article-thumbnail-lemonde-min.webp)
![iGEM, a worldwide Lego competition with living organisms](https://static.igem.org/websites/jamboree/2023/article-thumbnail-lobs-min.jpg)
![The engineering of living organisms could soon start changing everything](https://static.igem.org/websites/igem/2024/the-economist-thumb.webp)
ALSO FEATURED IN
Local people solving local problems all over the world
Through iGEM, people are creating synthetic biology ecosystems around the world. There are hundreds of success stories originating at iGEM.
1 817
1 259
1 059
192
30
![Vilnius](https://static.igem.org/websites/igem/2024/vilnius.webp)
Inspiration, persistence, and excellence are hallmarks of the Vilnius iGEM team. Students formed the team in 2015 when synthetic biology was barely known in Lithuania. Representing a country of 2.8 million inhabitants, the team won the Grand Prize in 2017 for developing a biological framework designed to make working with single and multi-plasmid systems precise, easy and functional. Their accomplishment served as an inspiration for new iGEM teams and helped bring synthetic biology on the map in Lithuania. The team went to build BioMatter, a startup for health and sustainable manufacturing.
![Bluepha](https://static.igem.org/websites/igem/2024/bluepha.webp)
Dr. Li Teng and Dr. Zhang Haoqian met in 2010 at the Chinese Regional iGEM Jamboree. They co-founded Bluepha in 2015 with a vision of solving practical and local problems based on synthetic biology. Their first product is an environmentally friendly plastic, and they are dedicated to "creating 100 products that impact 5 billion people." More than 50% of Bluepha"s founding team are iGEM alumni. By nurturing the growth of young researchers who provide innovative perspectives on synthetic biology, Bluepha creates a better business environment for scientists and entrepreneurs.
![Sumbawa](https://static.igem.org/websites/igem/redesign/sumbawa.png)
The 2014 Sumbawagen iGEM team aimed to make a meaningful impact to support Sumbawa's way of life by using synthetic biology to develop a safe, eco-friendly system for farmers to distinguish counterfeit honey from real forest honey. With few resources, the team devised equipment using whatever materials they had on hand to carry out their project. To recognize their extraordinary effort, the Sumbawagen iGEM team won the first Chairman's Award. Team members continued to pursue synthetic biology, and the first iGEM Indonesia League will be launched this year.
![Amazonas](https://static.igem.org/websites/igem/2024/amazonas.webp)
In 2013, Manauara students set out to protect and preserve their Amazon river through synthetic biology. Over decades waste disposal has been polluting the mighty river sea, thus harming the biodiversity and damaging the ecosystem. The teams created solutions to target over 146 million tons of frying oil and 3,000 tonnes of mercury that polluted the river each year. In addition to their technological work, they spent countless hours traveling by boat to educate people, from young students to lawmakers, about synthetic biology, environmentalism, and the preservation of the Amazon rainforest.
iGEM Programs
iGEM has established many initiatives to support the future growth of synthetic biology throughout the world.
![](https://static.igem.org/websites/igem/2024/isthisalaptop.webp)
Multidisciplinary student teams from all over the world compete for medals and awards by designing, building, and testing projects using cutting edge synthetic biology. Teams document their work through deliverables like wikis, videos, and presentations, and are evaluated by expert panels of judges.
Teams create projects from start to end - from brainstorming to proof of concept. Projects aim to have a positive impact and solve real world problems in the local community.
![](https://static.igem.org/websites/jamboree/2025/images/home-box-competition.webp)
![](https://static.igem.org/websites/igem/2024/banner-igem-collage-2023-1.webp)
Discover team projects through
videos, wikis, and abstracts.
![](https://static.igem.org/websites/igem/2024/letsgo.webp)
Witness the future and interact with tomorrow's leaders of synthetic biology! The Grand Jamboree brings together researchers, industry reps, startup founders, investors, journalists, experts in governance and policy, and the general public to chart the future of synthetic biology.
![](https://static.igem.org/websites/jamboree/2025/images/home-box-jamboree.webp)
![](https://static.igem.org/websites/igem/2024/blog.webp)
Read stories, announcements, and
insights from the iGEM Community
![](https://static.igem.org/websites/igem/2024/cheese.webp)
![](https://static.igem.org/websites/igem/2024/whatchout.webp)
![](https://static.igem.org/websites/igem/2024/hihihi.webp)
![iGEM 20th Anniversary Logo](https://static.igem.org/websites/jamboree/2023/igem-20th-green-logo.png)
iGEM Startups
Stories from the iGEM Community
Explore our Blog