SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVE STRATEGIC RECOMMENDATIONS & PLAN (“SUSTAINABILITY PLAN”) 9 MAY 2014 PREPARED BY CO-FUNDED BY © 2014 NANCY J KELLEY & ASSOCIATES SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVE STRATEGIC RECOMMENDATIONS & PLAN 9 MAY 2014 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................... 3 2. PROJECT OVERVIEW .............................................................................................................. 8 2.1. Expected Outcomes ........................................................................................................................................................................... 8 2.2. Project Team ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 10 2.3. Methodology ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 11 2.4. Project Plan ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 12 3. THE CASE FOR SUSTAINABILITY .......................................................................................... 21 3.1. Synthetic Biology: The First 15 Years of a Vision ............................................................................................................ 21 3.2. Sustaining an Organization & Community .......................................................................................................................... 41 3.3. The Time for Action is Now ...................................................................................................................................................... 44 4. BUSINESS MODELS FOR SUSTAINABILITY ........................................................................... 48 4.1. Design Principles ................................................................................................................................................................................ 48 4.2. Alternative Models ............................................................................................................................................................................ 49 4.3. Model Assessment ............................................................................................................................................................................ 58 5. VISION FOR A SYNBIO NEWORG ........................................................................................ 63 6. ORGANIZATIONAL OPTIONS ............................................................................................. 65 6.1. Introduction .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 65 6.2. Model A: Academic/Industry Interactions ........................................................................................................................... 66 6.3. Model B: Research Initiatives ....................................................................................................................................................... 69 6.4. Model C: Synbio NewOrg ........................................................................................................................................................... 72 6.5. Recommendation .............................................................................................................................................................................. 78 7. DEFINING A SYNBIO NEWORG ........................................................................................... 80 7.1. Overview ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 80 7.2. Mission ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 80 7.3. Activities .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 81 7.4. Core Operating Areas .................................................................................................................................................................... 82 7.5. Organization ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 92 © 2014 NANCY J KELLEY & ASSOCIATES PAGE I SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVE STRATEGIC RECOMMENDATIONS & PLAN 9 MAY 2014 7.6. Governance and Management ................................................................................................................................................... 97 7.7. Location ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 102 8. STANDING UP A SYNBIO NEWORG .................................................................................. 103 8.1. Introduction & Principles ............................................................................................................................................................. 103 8.2. Laying the Foundation ................................................................................................................................................................... 105 8.3. Path Forward ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 109 9. SUPPORTING A SYNBIO NEWORG: US ROADMAP INITIATIVE ........................................ 110 9.1. Roadmap Outline ............................................................................................................................................................................ 110 9.2. Roadmap Team ................................................................................................................................................................................ 112 9.3. Roadmap Process ............................................................................................................................................................................ 112 9.4. Roadmap Timeline .......................................................................................................................................................................... 114 10. NEXT STEPS ...................................................................................................................... 115 APPENDICES ........................................................................................................................... 116 © 2014 NANCY J KELLEY & ASSOCIATES PAGE II SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVE STRATEGIC RECOMMENDATIONS & PLAN 9 MAY 2014 1. INTRODUCTION Synthetic biology—the design and construction of new biological parts, devices, and systems, and the redesign of natural biological systems for useful purposes1—is contributing sustainable and innovative solutions to numerous, pressing human needs and global challenges. Technical advances continue to open up new possibilities in healthcare, agriculture, chemicals, materials, energy, and bioremediation. With a 45% CAGR and an expected global market of $10.8 billion by 2016,2 synthetic biology will play an important role in the bioeconomy and has increasing implications for future US competitiveness and employment. By combining insights from biology, computation, engineering, ethics, and other disciplines, we can create new biotechnologies that provide social and economic value on a tremendous scale. That premise is at the heart of synthetic biology. How far we can go with this technology depends on our ability to bring together diverse researchers and stakeholders with vision, smart plans, and the support to carry it through. The frontier of engineering biology is still just beginning to be explored, and there is much to be done to fulfill the promise of synthetic biology safely and responsibly. Synberc (the Synthetic Biology Engineering Research Center) was launched in 2006 as an early US endeavor to develop the foundational understanding and technologies needed to build biological solutions as an engineering practice. Its primary financial support has come from the US National Science Foundation’s (NSF’s) competitively awarded Engineering Research Center (ERC) Program, which unites academia, industry, and government in the pursuit of technological advances that have the potential to create or reinvent industries. The ERC program represents a 10-year funding commitment, with Synberc’s NSF funding ending on 30 June 2016. In the years since its inception, Synberc has helped to shape the global research agenda for synthetic biology, developed numerous foundational technologies, served as an important