What iGEM TU Eindhoven does

iGEM TU Eindhoven is a multidisciplinary student team from Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) that designs and builds an annual synthetic biology project for the international iGEM competition. Organized as a Dutch foundation (Stichting iGEM Eindhoven, Chamber of Commerce: 80850154) since 2012, the team draws approximately 50 student members from biology, engineering, computer science, and design disciplines each year, recruited through TU/e channels in January. The organization operates within TU/e's research ecosystem, leveraging facilities and mentorship from the Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS) and Eindhoven Innovation Space.

The team's annual competition portfolio spans therapeutic, diagnostic, and biomaterial applications of synthetic biology. Notable projects include !MPACT (2022), a CAR-T-style cell therapy for ANCA-associated vasculitis that won the overall iGEM world championship; cELPro (2023), a probiotic E. coli delivering interleukin-10 for inflammatory bowel disease that took first prize in therapeutics; PROMISE (2024), a bacterial membrane vesicle vaccine platform for lung cancer that has been filed as a patent; and BRIGHT (2025), a non-invasive bile-acid biosensor for gastrointestinal diagnostics that placed top-5 in multiple categories. Each project is documented on an open-access iGEM wiki and paired with structured human-practices engagement.

iGEM TU Eindhoven runs a non-commercial model funded by institutional grants and a three-tier corporate sponsorship program (Bronze, Silver, Gold) that provides logo placement, event access, and merchandising rights. Core institutional partners include TU/e, ICMS, Innovation Space, and University Fund Eindhoven; technology sponsors include QIAGEN, Promega, IDT, Demcon, and Cell Signaling Technology / BIOKÉ. The team operates two flagship events — Challenge Day (a free outreach program for regional high school students) and the Mini Jamboree (an annual showcase hosting iGEM teams from the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and Luxembourg) — with no pricing model or commercial product sales. The only documented IP asset is the filed PROMISE patent.

Name

iGEM TU Eindhoven

Legal name

Stichting iGEM Eindhoven

Website

https://igemtueindhoven.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

iGEM TU Eindhoven is a multidisciplinary student team from Eindhoven University of Technology that designs synthetic biology projects for the international iGEM competition. Founded in 2012 as a Dutch foundation, it runs Challenge Day and Mini Jamboree educational events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Synthetic Biology Research

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (54138), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Model United Nations (MUN) (EDAMAGAB)

Keywords

• Synthetic biology research
• Student competition team
• Biotechnology education
• Biomedical research projects
• Science outreach events

Headquarters

HQ city

Eindhoven

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Partnership Sponsorship: Partnerships with companies and organizations provide financial support, resources, and expertise. Three-tier sponsorship packages (Bronze, Silver, Gold) offering various perks including logo visibility, event access, and networking opportunities.
2. Institutional Funding: Funding from university partners (TU/e, University Fund Eindhoven) and research institutes (ICMS, Innovation Space) for project development and competition participation.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

iGEM TU Eindhoven is a multidisciplinary student team from Eindhoven University of Technology that designs and builds an annual synthetic biology project for the international iGEM competition, addressing real-world biomedical challenges through cell therapies, vaccine platforms, probiotics, biosensors, and biomaterials. Beyond competition projects, the team organizes two educational events: the Mini Jamboree showcase for regional iGEM teams and Challenge Day for high school students.

Product overview

iGEM TU Eindhoven is a multidisciplinary student team from Eindhoven University of Technology participating in the annual international iGEM synthetic biology competition. The organization operates two main programs: Mini Jamboree (annual showcase event for iGEM teams) and Challenge Day (educational event for high school students). Beyond these programs, the team develops synthetic biology research projects annually, ranging from therapeutic treatments (cell therapies, vaccines, probiotics) to diagnostic tools (biosensors, imaging agents) and novel biomaterials.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mini Jamboree Annual showcase event where international iGEM student teams come together to present their projects, share ideas, and collaborate on synthetic biology solutions. Held at TU Eindhoven Auditorium for iGEM teams from the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and Luxembourg. Free admission.
• Challenge Day Interactive educational event where high school students learn about synthetic biology and work on a challenge in teams, including hands-on lab experiments and a murder mystery biochemistry case. Free admission.
• !MPACT Cell Therapy Modular and Personalized Autoimmune Cell Therapy using patient's own immune cells genetically modified to produce an anti-inflammatory response upon targeting pathogenic ANCA disease markers. Developed as the 2022 iGEM competition project.
• PROMISE Vaccine Platform Vaccine platform using antigen-functionalized bacterial membrane vesicles (BMVs) that reprograms innate immune cells without replication risks. Modular design allows adaptation for various diseases with potential for personalized treatments. Patented.
• BRIGHT Biosensor Novel biosensor for detecting bile acids in feces using synthetic biology principles for non-invasive diagnostic tool development. Won special prize for best presentation and top 5 in diagnostics at the 2025 iGEM competition.
• cELPro Microbe-Based Therapy Affordable microbe-based therapy for Inflammatory Bowel Disease using Elastin-Like Polypeptides (ELPs) to modify E. coli to form intracellular hydrogel preventing cell division while producing anti-inflammatory Interleukin 10. Won first prize in therapeutics at the 2023 iGEM competition.

Quantifiable outcome

• World Champions in 2022 iGEM competition
• +3 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• TU/e (Eindhoven University of Technology)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHome base and key partner providing access to state-of-the-art facilities, resources, and expertise in synthetic biology. Critical infrastructure for all project activities.
• ICMS (Institute for Complex Molecular Systems)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading research institute in synthetic biology providing advanced research facilities, expertise, and mentorship essential for project development.
• Innovation Space (Eindhoven Innovation Space)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatform for startups and student teams providing funding, mentorship, and access to network of entrepreneurs and investors to help develop projects.
• CLT (Centre for Living Technologies)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative platform of EWUU alliance mobilizing expertise from TU/e, Wageningen, Utrecht, and UMC Utrecht for breakthrough synthetic biology research.
• Cell Signaling Technology / BIOKÉminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner testimonial confirms value of annual mini-Jamboree for networking and brand recognition among universities and future professionals.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• QIAGEN: Global leader in molecular diagnostics and sample-to-insight solutions, already a partner of iGEM TU Eindhoven. Comparable because its nucleic acid purification, PCR, and diagnostic assay technologies intersect with the team's BRIGHT biosensor and IBDETECTION diagnostic projects.
• New England Biolabs: Manufacturer of recombinant enzymes and reagents for synthetic biology research. Comparable as a reagent and enzyme supplier ecosystem player that the team's molecular biology workflows depend on, similar to partners QIAGEN and Promega.
• Integrated DNA Technologies (IDT): World-leading manufacturer of custom oligonucleotides and CRISPR genome editing tools, already a partner of iGEM TU Eindhoven. Comparable as a supplier of the synthetic DNA and molecular biology tools underpinning the team's projects.
• iGEM Foundation: The international non-profit that organizes the iGEM competition in which iGEM TU Eindhoven participates. Comparable as the parent ecosystem organization that sets competition standards, judges projects, and hosts the Grand Jamboree in Paris.

Emerging players

• Synthego: Provider of synthetic RNA, genome editing tools, and CRISPR reagents used by synthetic biology researchers. Comparable as a tooling partner for the same gene-editing and cell-engineering workflows the team uses for its cell therapy and biosensor projects.
• Synlogic: Clinical-stage synthetic biology company developing engineered probiotic therapeutics, including for inflammatory bowel disease. Direct comparability to the team's cELPro engineered E. coli probiotic for IBD, which targets the same disease area with a similar microbe-based therapeutic approach.

Broad incumbents

• Codexis: Engineered enzyme and synthetic biology company serving therapeutics and industrial biotech. Comparable because it translates engineered biological systems into commercial products — the trajectory iGEM TU Eindhoven's PROMISE and !MPACT platforms could follow.
• Amyris: Synthetic biology company that engineers yeast and microbes to produce sustainable ingredients and therapeutics. Comparable as a broad synthetic biology incumbent pursuing the same design-build-test paradigm that iGEM TU Eindhoven applies to its annual projects.
• Ginkgo Bioworks: Foundry-style synthetic biology company that engineers organisms for industrial and therapeutic applications. Comparable because it operates at the same intersection of genetic engineering, biosensors, and cell therapy platforms that iGEM TU Eindhoven prototypes annually.
• Twist Bioscience: Synthetic biology company manufacturing synthetic DNA and gene fragments at scale. Comparable because the team's projects (e.g., BRIGHT, IBDETECTION) rely on the same DNA synthesis and oligos workflows that Twist commercializes, and IDT (a Twist subsidiary) is already a partner.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/igem-tu-eindhoven

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about iGEM TU Eindhoven