What International Gene Synthesis Consortium does

The International Gene Synthesis Consortium (IGSC) is an industry-led non-profit consortium founded in 2009 and headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, that develops and maintains biosecurity standards for the synthetic gene synthesis industry. Its two core products are the Harmonized Screening Protocol — a standardized procedure applied by member companies to screen every double-stranded gene order and the customers placing those orders — and the Regulated Pathogen Database, a curated dataset derived from international pathogen and toxin sequence databases that underpins that screening. Together, the protocol and database allow IGSC members to identify sequences of concern before synthesis, addressing dual-use biosecurity risk while enabling beneficial applications in medicine, diagnostics, agricultural biotechnology, and industrial chemicals.

IGSC's membership spans more than 35 organizations across the gene synthesis value chain, including synthesis providers (GenScript, Twist Bioscience, IDT, Eurofins/Blue Heron, Synbio Technologies, Tsingke, Synplogen, Atum, Ansa Biotechnologies, Camena Bioscience, Molecular Assemblies, DNA Script, Elegen Bio, Ribbon Bio, Switchback Systems, BUILT, Touchlight, Telesis Bio, Nuclera, GenScript, Azenta/GENEWIZ, Bioneer), large life-science platforms (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Aldevron, Ginkgo Bioworks, BGI, GenScript), and biosecurity and research contributors (Battelle, IBBIS, Cyber@Ben-Gurion University, Edinburgh Genome Foundry, iBioFAB, DAMP Lab, GP-Write, Constructive Bio, Emerald Cloud Lab, Aclid, Biolytic). Members collectively represent a majority of commercial gene synthesis capacity worldwide.

As a non-profit industry body, IGSC does not sell screening as a service to end users. Its revenue mechanics — not publicly disclosed — are consistent with member dues and in-kind contributions from large corporate members, supplemented by engagement with U.S. and international government bodies (including alignment with the 2023 HHS/ASPR Synthetic Nucleic Acids Guidance). The consortium functions as a coordination and standards layer, distributing the screening protocol and pathogen database to its members, who in turn apply the standard in their direct commercial sales to researchers, pharmaceutical companies, and agricultural biotechnology customers.

Name

International Gene Synthesis Consortium

Legal name

International Gene Synthesis Consortium

Website

https://genesynthesisconsortium.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The International Gene Synthesis Consortium is a non-profit industry consortium founded in 2009 that maintains the Harmonized Screening Protocol and Regulated Pathogen Database, enabling its 35+ member companies — representing a majority of global gene synthesis capacity — to screen gene orders and customers for biosecurity risk.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biosecurity screening standards for gene synthesis

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (541380)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Laboratory Quality Systems, Accreditation & Proficiency Testing Programs (HLAJAIAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Laboratory-Based Surveillance & Genomic Epidemiology (WGS/NGS) (HLAJABAC), Public Health Laboratories & Diagnostic Oversight (BPAIAJAF)

Keywords

• Gene synthesis screening
• Biosecurity protocol
• Pathogen database
• Synthetic biology standards
• DNA sequence screening

Headquarters

HQ city

Boston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

The IGSC is a non-profit industry consortium that maintains a Harmonized Screening Protocol and the IGSC Regulated Pathogen Database, which member gene synthesis companies use to screen ordered DNA sequences and customers against regulated pathogen sequences for biosecurity risk. It coordinates industry-wide adoption of these standards and engages with national and international government bodies on synthetic biology biosecurity policy.

Product overview

The International Gene Synthesis Consortium is an industry-led organization, not a single unified product but rather a consortium that provides shared infrastructure and standards for the gene synthesis industry. The core offerings include the IGSC Regulated Pathogen Database (a comprehensive curated database for screening DNA and amino acid sequences against regulated pathogens and toxins) and the Harmonized Screening Protocol (a harmonized standard for screening both gene sequences and customers). These products work together: IGSC members use the screening protocol to process gene orders, cross-referencing them against the Regulated Pathogen Database to ensure biosecurity compliance while enabling beneficial applications of gene synthesis technology.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

37 partnerships are on record, tiered member.

• AclidmemberStrategic or Co-development PartnerAclid is a member of the IGSC, providing an end-to-end solution for screening DNA sequences and customers as part of the consortium's biosecurity efforts.
• AldevronmemberStrategic or Co-development PartnerAldevron is a premier manufacturing partner in the global genetic medicine field and member of IGSC, providing critical nucleic acids and proteins used in gene and cell therapies, DNA and RNA vaccines, and gene editing technologies.
• Ansa BiotechnologiesmemberStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnsa Biotechnologies is a member company developing enzyme-based DNA synthesis technology that promises to accelerate innovation in biological research and biotechnology.
• AtummemberStrategic or Co-development PartnerAtum (formerly DNA2.0) is a member offering an integrated pipeline of solutions including gene design, optimization, and synthesis, and technology platforms for protein and strain engineering.
• Azenta Life SciencesmemberStrategic or Co-development PartnerAzenta Life Sciences (formerly GENEWIZ) is a member providing cold-chain sample management solutions, sample analysis, multiomics services including Sanger DNA sequencing and gene synthesis.
• BattellememberStrategic or Co-development PartnerBattelle is a member and the world's largest independent, non-profit R&D organization, providing ThreatSEQ DNA screening platform for detection and threat assessment of sequences of concern.
• BGImemberStrategic or Co-development PartnerBGI is a member providing state-of-the-art genomics highly accessible to the global research community, including high-throughput sequencing and synthesis platforms.
• Biolytic Lab Performance, Inc.memberStrategic or Co-development PartnerBiolytic Lab Performance is a member designing and manufacturing cutting-edge DNA and RNA oligo synthesizers, headquartered in Fremont, CA.
• Bioneer Corp.memberStrategic or Co-development PartnerBioneer Corp. is a member and innovative genomics platform company pioneering next-generation high performance and rapid automation in delivering cost-efficient total genomics solutions.
• Blue HeronmemberStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlue Heron Biotech LLC is a member of Eurofins Group, offering proprietary Genemaker Technology platform for custom DNA design and gene synthesis.
• BUILTmemberStrategic or Co-development PartnerBUILT Biotechnologies is a member bridging DNA synthesis and ready-to-use DNA molecules through its centralized, subscription-based DNA Manufacturing-as-a-Service platform.
• Camena BiosciencememberStrategic or Co-development PartnerCamena Bioscience is a member developing highly accurate DNA and gene synthesis technology to enable synthetic biologists.
• Constructive BiomemberStrategic or Co-development PartnerConstructive Bio is a member developing technologies for wholesale genome synthesis and genetic code expansion, turning cells into programmable biofactories.
• Cyber@Ben-Gurion UniversitymemberStrategic or Co-development PartnerCyber@BGU is a member at the forefront of security, big data analytics, and AI applied research at Ben-Gurion University in Israel.
• The DAMP LabmemberStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe DAMP Lab is a member, a cloud laboratory at Boston University supporting synthetic biology-related activities through robotics and standardized protocols.
• DNA ScriptmemberStrategic or Co-development PartnerDNA Script is a member revolutionizing DNA synthesis with enzymes, producing SYNTAX, the world's first benchtop DNA printer powered by enzymatic technology.
• Edinburgh Genome FoundrymemberStrategic or Co-development PartnerEdinburgh Genome Foundry is a member specializing in computer-aided-design and automated assembly of large DNA constructs up to chromosome size.
• Elegen BiomemberStrategic or Co-development PartnerElegen is a member bringing unique insights and technical innovation to create high-quality synthetic DNA faster using proprietary microfluidics approaches.
• Emerald Cloud LabmemberStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmerald Cloud Lab is a member providing researchers remote access to state-of-the-art scientific labs 24/7 through a single software interface.
• GenScriptmemberStrategic or Co-development PartnerGenScript is a founding-era member, founded in 2002 in New Jersey, with over 5,000 employees serving more than 200,000 customers across 100 countries as a global leader in gene synthesis.
• Ginkgo BioworksmemberStrategic or Co-development PartnerGinkgo Bioworks is a member using biology as technology to grow products, having acquired Gen9 and integrated DNA synthesis expertise into its foundries.
• GP-WritememberStrategic or Co-development PartnerGP-Write is a member, an open international consortium forming a sequel to the Human Genome Project, focused on reducing costs of engineering large genomes.
• IBBISmemberStrategic or Co-development PartnerIBBIS is a Geneva-based nonprofit member working collaboratively with global partners to strengthen biosecurity norms and develop innovative tools.
• iBioFABmemberStrategic or Co-development PartneriBioFAB (Illinois Biological Foundry for Advanced Biomanufacturing) is a member, an automated biofoundry at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
• IDTmemberStrategic or Co-development PartnerIDT is a member specializing in DNA synthesis, gene construction, antisense oligos, molecular beacons and molecular biology products.
• Molecular AssembliesmemberStrategic or Co-development PartnerMolecular Assemblies is a member developing enzymatic DNA synthesis technology (Fully Enzymatic Synthesis/FES) headquartered in San Diego.
• NucleramemberStrategic or Co-development PartnerNuclera is a UK-based member enabling life science researchers to obtain active proteins from DNA in 48 hours through its benchtop eProtein Discovery platform.
• Raytheon BBNmemberStrategic or Co-development PartnerRaytheon BBN Technologies is a member and leading R&D company providing critical solutions for national defense and security missions.
• Ribbon BiomemberStrategic or Co-development PartnerRibbon Bio is a member redefining scientific possibility with algorithm-driven technology that produces pristine synthetic DNA molecules.
• Switchback SystemsmemberStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwitchback Systems is a member accelerating the Synthetic Biology Revolution with a simplified, highly scalable DNA synthesis platform.
• Synbio TechnologiesmemberStrategic or Co-development PartnerSynbio Technologies is a member providing advanced synthetic biology products and services including gene synthesis, protein design, and bioinformatics consulting.
• SynplogenmemberStrategic or Co-development PartnerSynplogen is a DNA synthesis company member spun out of Kobe University, providing DNA synthesis, library development, and viral vector services.
• Telesis BiomemberStrategic or Co-development PartnerTelesis Bio is a member and creator of the BioXp system, the world's only synthetic biology workstation, and the industry-standard Gibson Assembly method.
• Thermo Fisher ScientificmemberStrategic or Co-development PartnerThermo Fisher Scientific is a member and the world leader in serving science, enabling customers to make the world healthier, cleaner, and safer.
• TouchlightmemberStrategic or Co-development PartnerTouchlight is a privately-owned London-based member focused on DNA services and manufacture of enzymatically produced novel DNA formats including doggybone DNA (dbDNA).
• Tsingke Biotechnology Co., Ltd.memberStrategic or Co-development PartnerTsingke is a member covering the whole industry chain of gene synthesis from equipment to raw materials, providing gene synthesis and modified oligos services.
• Twist BiosciencememberStrategic or Co-development PartnerTwist Bioscience is a member with a unique silicon-based DNA Synthesis Platform providing precision at scale for medicine, agriculture, industrial chemicals, and data storage.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about International Gene Synthesis Consortium