Australian Genome Foundry Unveils State-of-the-Art Facility Boosted by $11.5M Federal Grant
Exciting developments are unfolding in Macquarie Park!
The Australian Genome Foundry (AGF) unveiled its cutting-edge expanded facility, at a recent opening ceremony at the Macquarie University Art Gallery AGF’s operations will be supported over the next four years by an $11.5 million grant from the Federal Government’s NCRIS and Bioplatforms Australia.
The AGF is a state-of-the-art synthetic biology facility located in Macquarie University at 6 Science Road, adjacent to the Australian Research Council for Synthetic Biology. Australian Genome Foundry users can access high-throughput robotics and automated equipment to accelerate their synthetic biology research. Startups within the Macquarie Park innovation ecosystem will reap the benefits of this unique space to advance their next-generation bioengineering products, designing, building and testing industrial microbes and proteins at scale.
Central to their mission, the Australian Genome Foundry provides incubation spaces for startups, fosters industry partnerships, and supports a scholarship program. Cutting-edge advancements will be translated into real-world solutions across industries including food and beverage, agriculture, climate change and energy and new innovations
Director of the Australian Genome Foundry, Distinguished Professor Ian Paulsen, highlights:
“The Australian Genome Foundry brings together a unique combination of equipment for both academic and industry users—within Macquarie and beyond—to access and accelerate their research, whether proving concepts at the laboratory scale or building prototypes and minimum viable products more quickly.”
This additional funding is an exciting step and will expand AGF’s infrastructure, adding 40 new lab benches and advanced equipment to keep up with advances in synthetic biology. Operations Manager Belinda Fabian emphasises the importance of retaining skilled professionals to maintain Australia’s competitive edge globally.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Sakkie Pretorius commends the AGF’s alignment with Macquarie University’s focus on innovation and future contributions. The AGF offers 15 Master of Research and PhD scholarships, funded jointly by the university and industry partners.
Australia’s Synthetic Biology National Progress Report 2024 projects the sector to reach $30 billion in annual revenue by 2040. The AGF represents a significant opportunity for startups, researchers, and students eager to explore the future of synthetic biology.
