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Sustainability
Based on the SDGs standards, the GRI 2021 guidelines, and this year’s implementation outcomes, our team has drafted a simulated “Future” Sustainable Development Plan.
(Based on GRI Standards 2021)
AEI Prep-Taiwan is an interdisciplinary research and innovation organization in the field of synthetic biology, with a core mission to advance algae-based carbon fixation, bioenergy conversion, and intelligent sensing systems. Through cross-disciplinary integration, the team promotes green technology innovation that bridges scientific research with real-world applications.
Operating under a “Research-to-Impact” model, AEI Prep-Taiwan transforms research outcomes into tangible influence across education, industry, and society. To ensure sustainable governance and decision-making transparency, the organization has established four standing committees, each with defined responsibilities and oversight mechanisms:
Responsible for guiding R&D direction and environmental impact assessment, this committee leads optimization of carbon fixation models, energy efficiency improvement, and equipment design enhancement. It also conducts periodic reviews on the sustainability and patent strategy of research outputs.
Dedicated to promoting educational outreach, curriculum design, and inclusivity initiatives. It develops STEM learning modules, teacher training programs, and community engagement projects to strengthen public understanding and participation in biotechnology and climate issues.
Oversees biosafety and ethical compliance across all laboratory operations and data collection processes. It formulates risk management procedures, incident reporting systems, and ethical review standards to ensure that all research activities align with legal and social responsibility requirements.
Focused on technology commercialization, market validation, and partnership strategy. This committee evaluates the economic feasibility, return on investment, and social benefits of projects while fostering cross-sector collaboration with industry and government entities.
Together, these four committees form the sustainability governance foundation of AEI Prep-Taiwan. Through periodic reviews and interdepartmental collaboration, they ensure the organization achieves a long-term balance between scientific research, education, economic development, and social impact.
Our project primarily contributes to the following SDGs:
| SDG | Goal | How Dancing JJ Contributes |
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SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy | Promote renewable energy sources to reduce fossil fuel dependency. We power algae cultivation, lighting, and processing with solar and wind energy wherever feasible. |
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SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production | Ensure efficient resource use and promote a circular economy. Residual biomass is valorized into soil enhancers or fertilizers under our zero-waste model. |
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SDG 13: Climate Action | Combat climate change through direct CO₂ mitigation using algae-based carbon capture and transparent emission reporting aligned with national NDC frameworks. |
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SDG 14 / 15: Life Below Water & Life on Land | Protect ecosystems and biodiversity by avoiding invasive strains, performing ecological risk assessments, and ensuring biosafety compliance. |
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SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals | Encourage multi-stakeholder collaboration, open education, and transparent reporting to amplify sustainable impact across communities. |
Dancing JJ contributes to multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through an integrated sustainability strategy that connects renewable energy, circular resource use, climate mitigation, ecosystem protection, and collaborative partnerships.
In alignment with SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), the project promotes renewable power sources such as solar and wind to operate algae cultivation, lighting, and processing systems—reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
Supporting SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), it implements efficient resource management and a zero-waste model where residual biomass is converted into soil enhancers or fertilizers, fostering a circular economy.
Through its algae-based carbon capture and transparent emission reporting mechanisms, Dancing JJ actively contributes to SDG 13 (Climate Action) by mitigating CO₂ emissions in accordance with national NDC frameworks.
Under SDG 14 and SDG 15 (Life Below Water & Life on Land), the initiative safeguards biodiversity by avoiding invasive strains, conducting ecological risk assessments, and ensuring biosafety compliance in all experiments.
Finally, in line with SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), the program strengthens multi-stakeholder collaboration, promotes open education, and ensures transparent sustainability reporting to amplify shared impact across scientific, industrial, and community networks.
This section corresponds to the Wet Lab and Dry Lab implementation details described in other chapters.
Based on the 2025 model projection, the following are AEI Prep-Taiwan’s three-year carbon fixation growth targets:
In the environmental performance domain, AEI Prep-Taiwan prioritizes carbon fixation efficiency and energy sustainability as its key advancement pillars, with measurable and scalable research outcomes.
According to the 2025 model forecast, the team aims to increase the average carbon fixation rate from 40 mg C L⁻¹ day⁻¹ in 2026 to 50 mg C L⁻¹ day⁻¹ in 2028, resulting in an annual CO₂ fixation increase from 8.0 tCO₂e to 12.2 tCO₂e.
This growth trajectory will be achieved through three stages of technological evolution:
In terms of energy efficiency and renewable energy utilization, the team is committed to building a low-power, green-energy operating system.
In 2026, AEI Prep-Taiwan plans to integrate solar power modules to meet 35% of total energy demand.
By 2027, a hybrid power system combining photovoltaics and energy storage will raise the renewable energy share to 50%.
By 2028, the goal is to achieve full green energy operation, with system power consumption reduced to only 1.2 W.
This strategy embodies the integration of scientific research systems with energy transition, in alignment with GRI 302 disclosure requirements on energy efficiency.
In the area of materials and safety management (GRI 306), AEI Prep-Taiwan plans to fully implement an electronic Material Safety Data Sheet system (e-MSDS) in 2026. Through digital tracking and classification mechanisms, the initiative will enhance waste treatment processes and regulatory compliance.
By 2028, the waste reutilization rate is projected to increase from 20% to 45%, significantly improving resource circularity and reducing the environmental impact of research activities.
This initiative demonstrates AEI Prep-Taiwan’s balanced and responsible approach to scientific innovation and environmental governance, reinforcing its commitment to sustainable research practices.
In the area of Research Ethics and Compliance (GRI 205), AEI Prep-Taiwan plans to formally establish the Ethics and Compliance Review Board (ECRB) in 2026 as the organization’s highest authority for ethical oversight in scientific research and external collaborations.
All projects involving human participants, data collection, or inter-institutional cooperation will be subject to a Dual-Layer Ethical Review process—first evaluated by the respective project unit, followed by final approval from the ECRB.
This dual-review mechanism ensures that all research activities fully comply with international ethical standards and local legal requirements.
The team has set a target of achieving a 100% internal review approval rate each year, demonstrating its strong commitment to research transparency, accountability, and integrity in governance.
Under Data Security and Intellectual Property (GRI 418), AEI Prep-Taiwan will implement AES-256-grade cloud encryption technology and a blockchain-based digital signature verification mechanism starting in 2026.
These technologies will safeguard the integrity, confidentiality, and traceability of research data, sensor records, and model parameters.
Beyond enhancing data access security, the system will serve as an objective basis for verifying research outcomes and intellectual property ownership.
By 2028, AEI Prep-Taiwan plans to register two educational copyrights—covering the “Open Synthetic Biology Learning Module” and the “Intelligent Sensing Education Platform”—to reinforce intellectual property protection and promote the sustainable circulation of academic and educational achievements.
The detailed implementation outcomes for this dimension can be found in the Entrepreneurship chapter.
In the Economic Performance domain, AEI Prep-Taiwan’s sustainability strategy focuses on commercializing scientific research outputs and expanding the impact of the green industrial chain, thereby achieving dual value creation in both research and economy.
According to the team’s three-year development roadmap, the Business and Economic Value Projection (GRI 201) highlights the “Carbon Capture as a Service” (CCaaS) model as the organization’s core commercialization pathway. By integrating technology licensing with field application deployment, AEI Prep-Taiwan aims to progressively scale its operations from regional to international markets.
| Year | Pilot Sites | Annual Revenue (USD) | Profit Margin (%) | Key Milestones |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 60,000 | 15% | Establishment of demonstration pilot sites |
| 2027 | 4 | 120,000 | 20% | Modularization of system and service process optimization |
| 2028 | 5 | 200,000 | 25% | Expansion to international collaborative sites |
This consistent growth trend reflects AEI Prep-Taiwan’s technological maturity and increasing market acceptance within the carbon management value chain, indicating that its R&D investments are steadily transforming into tangible economic value.
In terms of Indirect Economic and Employment Impact (GRI 203), AEI Prep-Taiwan’s sustainability-driven innovation is expected to create 25 new positions between 2026 and 2028, spanning roles such as research assistants, education outreach coordinators, and technical support staff.
These efforts not only foster youth employment but also contribute to the development of a knowledge-based workforce in the emerging green technology sector.
Moreover, through the CCaaS model and the integration of green technologies, the team anticipates collaboration with at least eight industrial partners to initiate carbon reduction and circular economy transition projects, generating a positive multiplier effect within the green industry ecosystem.
In summary, AEI Prep-Taiwan—through the commercialization of R&D results, service-oriented green innovation, and education-based industrial transformation—has established not only a sustainable revenue model for the organization itself but also promoted regional economic development toward a low-carbon, intelligent, and inclusive future.
This demonstrates AEI Prep-Taiwan’s exemplary role as a research-driven catalyst in the global green economic transition, linking science, entrepreneurship, and sustainability into a cohesive model for next-generation innovation.
Over the next three years, AEI Prep-Taiwan will continue to enhance its technological innovation through systematic upgrades in hardware, software, and modeling. In 2026, the hardware module will be upgraded to an automated multi-sensing architecture equipped with energy recovery functionality, enabling higher efficiency and sustainability in data acquisition. By 2027, the software system will integrate generative AI-based predictive control, optimizing real-time system performance and adaptive management. In 2028, the system will be connected to carbon credit databases, enabling transparent verification and traceability of carbon fixation results. Concurrently, the carbon fixation model will be expanded into a three-dimensional climate variable simulation, improving predictive accuracy to R² > 0.9, thereby reinforcing the scientific reliability and global applicability of AEI Prep-Taiwan’s research framework.
The Key Performance Indicator (KPI) framework of AEI Prep-Taiwan illustrates its integrated development blueprint across the four ESG dimensions—Environment, Society, Governance, and Economy. Designed in accordance with the GRI quantitative disclosure principles, these indicators emphasize continuous growth, verifiable outcomes, and a systematic approach to research sustainability, with progressive targets set over a three-year period (2026–2028).
In the environmental dimension, the team focuses on carbon fixation and renewable energy transition as its primary objectives. Carbon fixation efficiency is expected to increase annually by 15%, 25%, and 35%, reflecting the advancement of technological optimization and automated reactor control. The renewable energy utilization rate will rise from 35% to 65%, signifying a gradual shift toward low-carbon and self-sufficient energy systems. Additionally, the carbon inventory completion rate is projected to reach 100% by 2028, ensuring that the organization’s entire carbon footprint is fully monitored and audited.
In the social dimension, AEI Prep-Taiwan places emphasis on education outreach and inclusive participation. The number of educational participants will expand from 350 in 2026 to 1,000 by 2028, driven by the growth of the learning alliance and online course platforms. The female participation rate is expected to steadily rise to 50%, demonstrating consistent achievement in gender-balanced governance, while the number of community engagement activities will increase from 6 to 10, symbolizing the diffusion of scientific benefits to local communities and the public sphere.
In the governance dimension, the organization implements a dual-axis strategy centered on safety and knowledge management. Over the three-year period, AEI Prep-Taiwan aims to maintain a zero laboratory incident rate, validating the effectiveness of the ISO 45001 safety management system and ethical review mechanisms. The cumulative number of intellectual property registrations will increase from one to five, reflecting the institutionalization and maturity of research output protection and knowledge asset management.
In the economic dimension, AEI Prep-Taiwan translates scientific research value into tangible revenue and field deployment outcomes. Annual revenue is projected to grow from USD 60,000 to USD 200,000, alongside profit expansion and the increase of Pilot Sites from two to five, indicating that the Carbon Capture as a Service (CCaaS) model is entering a stable stage of commercialization.
Overall, this KPI framework not only demonstrates AEI Prep-Taiwan’s ability to quantitatively manage its sustainability performance, but also embodies a full-chain governance mindset that connects scientific innovation, social implementation, and economic transformation. It establishes AEI Prep-Taiwan as a benchmark for international research organizations advancing toward net-zero and knowledge-based economic development.
Over the next three years, AEI Prep-Taiwan’s sustainability strategy will focus on five key dimensions—institutionalized management, educational outreach, cross-disciplinary collaboration, inclusivity, and data transparency—aiming to establish a globally aligned sustainability governance framework for scientific research.
First, in Institutionalized Carbon Management, the team will establish a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and ISO 14064 internal audit system by 2026, forming a measurable and verifiable mechanism for carbon inventory and reduction management. This will ensure that all research activities and product developments align with the net-zero pathway.
Second, in Educational Outreach, AEI Prep-Taiwan plans to launch an online learning platform by 2027, enabling international course sharing and remote learning integration, thereby expanding global access to knowledge in synthetic biology and net-zero technologies.
Third, in Industry-Academia Integration, the team will collaborate with green energy enterprises across Taiwan and Southeast Asia to establish the “Algae Lab Network”, a regional R&D and application alliance designed to accelerate the translation and commercialization of green technologies.
Fourth, under Gender and Cultural Inclusion, AEI Prep-Taiwan will promote the “50-50 Balance Initiative”, implementing institutional policies to ensure gender equality and cross-cultural collaboration, strengthening organizational diversity and social inclusiveness.
Finally, in ESG Data Transparency, the organization aims to implement an automated ESG reporting system by 2028, enabling real-time monitoring and public disclosure of sustainability performance to enhance governance efficiency and stakeholder trust.
Together, these five strategic directions mark AEI Prep-Taiwan’s transition from a research-driven organization to a systematically governed sustainable institution, demonstrating its forward-looking role in the global net-zero transformation.
Although this document serves as a “simulated” Sustainable Development Plan, it provides AEI Prep-Taiwan with a new framework of understanding and execution for future iGEM project cycles. The insights derived from this plan will guide the team in refining its workflow, implementation steps, and sustainability-oriented thinking throughout the next competition year.
Importantly, the Sustainability Plan should not remain a static document—it must be introduced to students early in the project process to help them fully grasp its meaning and long-term value. During the course of research, learning, and development, team members should continuously document and track their activities, updating the KPI metrics accordingly.
Through this iterative process, AEI Prep-Taiwan aims to transform the “Sustainability Plan” into an actionable “Sustainability Report”, thereby demonstrating the team’s commitment to implementing sustainability as a living practice rather than a conceptual framework. This evolution marks a concrete step toward embedding sustainable governance and measurable impact into the core of scientific education and innovation.
4. Social Performance (GRI 400 Series)
In the Social Performance dimension of its sustainability strategy, AEI Prep-Taiwan regards educational outreach, social inclusion, and research ethics as the core elements supporting the organization’s long-term sustainable governance.
By taking education as the foundation and human-centered governance as the guiding principle, the team advances knowledge dissemination, gender equality, and institutionalized research safety through measurable indicators.
Implementation details for this section correspond to the Education and Inclusivity chapters.
4.1 Education and Capacity Building (GRI 404)
In the domain of Education and Capacity Building (GRI 404), AEI Prep-Taiwan adopts a progressive expansion strategy to strengthen academic and public engagement.
Between 2026 and 2028, the team will gradually expand its educational initiatives — organizing 10 programs in 2026 in collaboration with three partner institutions, increasing to 14 programs in 2027 with the launch of an online learning platform, and further scaling to 18 programs in 2028.
By then, the team will establish the “Net-Zero Synthetic Biology Learning Alliance”, a cross-institutional and interdisciplinary education network that integrates learning resources and cultivates young talents in carbon neutrality and biotechnology.
4.2 Inclusivity and Diversity (GRI 405)
In the field of Inclusivity and Diversity (GRI 405), AEI Prep-Taiwan is dedicated to cultivating a gender-balanced and cross-disciplinary research culture.
According to its three-year roadmap, the female participation rate will increase from 47% to 50%, while the proportion of members from non-STEM backgrounds will rise from 20% to 30%.
Simultaneously, multilingual teaching materials will achieve 100% bilingual coverage (Chinese and English) by 2028, enhancing global accessibility and cultural diversity in knowledge dissemination.
4.3 Community and Social Impact (GRI 413)
In the aspect of Community and Social Impact (GRI 413), AEI Prep-Taiwan plans to hold 6–8 public education and science communication events annually, reaching a cumulative total of over 3,000 participants by 2028.
The team will also establish a “Green Energy Education Community” to sustain long-term operations and transform synthetic biology research outcomes into tangible social engagement and environmental awareness initiatives.
4.4 Occupational Safety and Ethical Management (GRI 403)
In the area of Occupational Safety and Ethical Management (GRI 403), AEI Prep-Taiwan will implement the ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety Management System starting in 2026.
The plan includes establishing a graded risk management system, emergency reporting procedures, and conducting annual internal audits to ensure the safety of researchers and adherence to ethical standards.
The team has set a three-year goal of maintaining a zero-incident record, demonstrating its long-term commitment to research ethics, staff well-being, and responsible innovation.