In today's era of scientific innovation, which increasingly relies on cross-border synergy, the International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) competition serves as a global platform integrating scientific research, engineering design, and social practice, profoundly revealing the core role of collaboration in driving technological advancement. Guided by this principle, the NPU-CHINA team from Northwestern Polytechnical University has constructed a multi-level, three-dimensional collaborative network Centerd on three pillars: "University-Industry Collaboration," "Inter-University Collaboration," and "Student Collaboration." This article aims to systematically review the team's practical pathways within these multi-dimensional collaborations and delve into the underlying humanistic values and innovative logic, hoping to provide a replicable model and insights for project practices in synthetic biology and other interdisciplinary fields.
Integration, Innovation, and Growth: Exploring the Humanistic Practice and Value of Multi-dimensional Collaboration in the iGEM Project
University-Industry Collaboration: Bridging the "Last Mile" from Research to Application
University-Industry collaboration is the crucial bridge transforming theoretical concepts into social value within the iGEM project. It breaks down the barriers between academia and industry, allowing students' innovative ideas to be tested and nurtured in real-world industrial settings. The School of Life Sciences at Northwestern Polytechnical University has strategically established multiple high-quality social practice Centers, providing the iGEM project with a broad spectrum of practical fields, ranging from traditional crafts to cutting-edge technologies.
Empowering Traditional Industries: A Dialogue Between Technology and Culture
Against the backdrop of the national strategy for deep integration of the "Digital Economy + Traditional Industries," our iGEM team first turned its attention to traditional manufacturing industries with profound historical heritage, exploring the potential for innovation brought by synthetic biology.
NPU Xifeng Jiu Labor Education Social Practice Center
The practice at the Xifeng Winery was a brewing journey spanning three thousand years. In the Qu-making workshop, we witnessed the art and labor of ancient foot-trodden Qu techniques; in the brewing workshop, we smelled the rich aroma of fermented grains. However, what struck us most was the symbiosis of modern technology and ancient craftsmanship: intelligent sensors quietly monitored the temperature and humidity of the fermentation pits, ensuring microorganisms thrived in the optimal environment; automated filling lines achieved millimeter-level precision, significantly enhancing production efficiency and stability.
This practice provided key inspiration for our team's project direction. Furthermore, discussions with technical experts made us realize that industry pain points are often very specific, such as how to stabilize liquor flavor or shorten the fermentation cycle. This prompted our iGEM research to move beyond "ideal conditions" in the laboratory and consider the complex variables present in actual production, thereby greatly enhancing the practical significance and application potential of our project.
NPU Qishan Tianyuan Rural Revitalization and Labor Education Practice Center
The practice at Tianyuan Food expanded the scope of "collaboration" from technology to social and regional development. We systematically learned the brewing process of vinegar and, through discussions on the enterprise's "Vinegar Character" culture, understood how a brand's cultural core becomes its soft power in market competition. Within the grand narrative of rural revitalization, we investigated how this local leading enterprise drives agricultural planting, creates employment, and shapes the regional brand.
This inspired us to consider the "social responsibility" dimension of the iGEM project. Could our project integrate with local characteristic resources? Could it provide biotechnological solutions for issues like the high-value utilization of agricultural by-products or reducing pollution in the food industry? The experience at Tianyuan showed us that the endpoint of an excellent iGEM project might not just be a presentation at the competition, but could also be a feasible business plan or technical proposal contributing to rural revitalization, truly realizing "scientific research serving society."
NPU School of Life Sciences Ziguang Chenji Social Practice Center
As a "century-old traditional Chinese medicine brand," Ziguang Chenji Pharmaceutical's philosophy of "Upholding Tradition while Embracing Innovation" highly aligns with the iGEM spirit. While visiting the processing workshop and testing laboratory, we saw the arduous journey from herbal medicine to finished product, and also witnessed how modern chromatography and mass spectrometry technologies safeguard the quality of ancient medicinal materials. The company candidly presented technical bottlenecks encountered in standardizing the active components of medicinal materials and optimizing production processes.
This provided extremely valuable "real-world problems" for our iGEM project. For instance, if our project involved the synthetic biological production of plant natural products, then Ziguang Chenji's needs represent the most direct application outlet. This "enterprise poses problems, team provides solutions" model ensures our research is not an ivory tower exercise but rather "targeted research" aimed at actual industrial needs. The agreed-upon promotion of industry-academia-research integration further paves the way for the future translation of project outcomes.
Focusing on Cutting-Edge Technology: Calibrating the Innovation Compass at the R&D Frontline
Complementing the empowerment of traditional industries, our team also engaged deeply with frontier biotechnology enterprises to ensure our technical concepts align with the trends of the times.
NPU Yisai'er Biotech Social Practice Center & NPU Ailinke Biotech Social Practice Center & NPU Bainuowei Biotech Social Practice Center
These three Centers collectively formed our practice matrix in the field of biomedicine and biotechnology applications. At Yisai'er, the co-established "Employment and Internship Center" provided a long-term, stable platform for industry-academia-research collaborative education. At Ailinke, we systematically learned about the entire industry chain layout from biomedicine to cosmetics and biopesticides; its concept of green manufacturing resonated with our potential project themes like biodegradation and sustainable production. At Bainuowei, we witnessed firsthand how laboratory achievements, such as highly active recombinant collagen, are transformed step-by-step into end products like artificial skin and anti-aging dressings.
These experiences significantly enriched our understanding of the broader scope of "biotechnology." It is not just about gene sequences in test tubes, but also tangible products that can benefit human health and environmental protection. This requires us to simultaneously consider the "industrializable" attributes when designing an iGEM project: Is the cost controllable? Is the production process scalable? Does it comply with relevant industry quality management standards? These issues, easily overlooked in the lab, became crucial through corporate practice.
Cross-Border Integration and Science Communication: Expanding the Boundaries of Synthesis
The charm of iGEM lies in its interdisciplinary nature, and our university-industry collaboration also actively expanded into information technology and science communication fields.
NPU Dark Energy Galaxy Software Technology Social Practice Center
The practice at Dark Energy Galaxy was a typical "cross-border" journey. The GenoStack platform demonstrated how AI and big data analytics can mine valuable patterns from vast biological information. Exchanges with software engineers and data analysts made us realize that a complex iGEM project similarly requires robust data processing capabilities and modeling support.
This prompted the possibility of establishing deeper collaboration within our team with students from computer science backgrounds. Whether it was literature data mining in the early stages, metabolic pathway modeling in the mid-stage, or result analysis in the later stages, AI tools could be introduced. This collaboration not only enhanced the project's technical content but also cultivated our team members' ability to use multidisciplinary tools to solve complex problems.
NPU Baoji Science Museum Science Education Social Practice Center
The practice at the Baoji Science Museum shifted our perspective from "developers" to "communicators." How can we transform the profound concepts of synthetic biology in our project into scientific displays that the public, especially young people, can understand and find interesting? Discussions with museum staff about the "digitalization and intellectualization" of science communication directly served the "Public Education and Practice Promotion" component of our iGEM project.
The inspiration we gained here could be directly applied to designing our science outreach activities, promotional materials, and Wiki pages. It made us deeply recognize that the greatness of science lies not only in discovery and invention but also in being understood and accepted. Successful science communication is, in itself, an important form of social collaboration.
Embracing Nature: The Ecological Cornerstone of Sustainable Development
NPU Ningdong Forestry Bureau Labor Practice Center
The practice at the Ningdong Forestry Bureau, located in the Qinling Mountains, brought us back to the origin of life. In this treasure trove of biodiversity and important water conservation area, we personally experienced the fragility and preciousness of the ecosystem.
This served as a wake-up call and a source of inspiration for any iGEM project potentially involving environmental release or ecological application. Does our project follow the principles of "Green Bio-manufacturing"? Can it provide solutions for environmental issues such as water pollution or soil remediation? This practice deeply ingrained the sense of responsibility for "biosafety" and "environmental protection" into our project design philosophy.
Summary
Through our university-industry collaboration framework, we have created a mutually beneficial ecosystem where academic innovation meets practical application. This integration not only accelerates the translation of scientific discoveries into real-world solutions but also provides valuable industry insights that inform our research priorities. By combining academic rigor with industrial practicality, we are working to address some of the most pressing challenges facing society today.
Inter-University Collaboration: Building a Synergistic and Innovative Academic Community
During the iGEM journey, the team deeply realized that breakthrough innovation often emerges at the intersection of ideas. Therefore, the NPU-CHINA team actively expanded and deepened exchanges and cooperation with sister institutions domestically and internationally, committed to building an open, collaborative, and mutually progressive academic community. This inter-university collaboration not only provided us with valuable learning opportunities and broad perspectives but also became a key link in enhancing project quality and sparking innovation.
Regional Exchange, Consolidating the Power of Western Synthetic Biology
As an important promoter of regional synthetic biology development, we proactively initiated and deeply participated in the iGEM 2025 Western Regional Exchange Meeting. This meeting brought together iGEM teams from seven universities in the western region, serving as a high-level platform integrating project presentations, technical seminars, and free exchanges. At the meeting, our team systematically presented the research progress and innovations of our university's project on improving the thermal stability of xylanase. Simultaneously, we attentively listened to excellent reports from other sister institutions, covering cutting-edge directions such as the total synthesis of pikromycin in a Picrophilus system, collagen biom manufacturing targeting DDRs, visual detection technology for Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and AI-assisted intelligent screening for enzyme design. During the free discussion session, we engaged in open, in-depth, and constructive discussions with faculty and students from various teams on common technical challenges, human practices scheme design, mathematical modeling methods, and prospects for project achievement transformation.
This regional in-depth exchange made us deeply appreciate that "openness brings progress, while isolation inevitably leads to backwardness." Firstly, it provided us with a valuable "mirror," allowing us to clearly recognize the strengths of our own project and the shortcomings needing improvement through horizontal comparison. For example, the mature application of AI-assisted design by some teams inspired us to accelerate learning and integration in this field. Secondly, this "face-to-face" collision of ideas directly sparked our innovative inspiration. One team's successful experience in signal peptide optimization provided a directly referable technical path for us to improve protein secretion efficiency. Most importantly, we collectively felt that the synergistic power consolidated by western universities through such platforms could effectively overcome the limitations of resources and perspectives faced by individual teams, thereby jointly enhancing the overall competitiveness of western synthetic biology on the international stage.
Competing on the Same Stage, Testing and Learning on the National Platform
At the 4th Synthetic Biology Innovation Competition hosted by Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, we engaged in high-intensity competition and exchange with top teams from across the country, including the host and many other renowned universities. This was not merely a competition but a larger-scale, higher-level national inter-university learning platform. We observed the project defenses of other teams throughout, learning comprehensively from their topic conception, experimental design, data presentation, to presentation skills. Particularly during the Q&A sessions, the judges' incisive questions and other teams' adept responses provided us with valuable practical examples of how to deeply explore project connotations and rigorously defend against academic challenges. Ultimately, we won the National Silver Award Centerd on our solid work, an honor that also affirmed our comprehensive performance in national-level inter-university exchange and competition.
The experience of the national competition elevated the connotation of inter-university collaboration from "exchange" to a new height of "competition and learning." It made us understand that first-class innovation must withstand rigorous scrutiny from different academic backgrounds and evaluation criteria. Comparison with top domestic teams set a higher quality benchmark for us, making us recognize that a complete iGEM project requires not only solid experimental data but also sophisticated modeling analysis, profound human practices, and compelling presentation. The learning motivation stimulated in this high-pressure environment was unprecedented. Simultaneously, the indirect "collaboration" with universities like SIAT allowed us to appreciate the characteristics and differences in research atmosphere and interdisciplinary integration among different institutions, planting seeds for potential future inter-university project collaborations or talent exchanges.
Summary
Through regional in-depth exchanges and national-level competition, the inter-university collaborative network we built has become an indispensable catalyst for team growth. It allowed us to break through the confines of our campus, drawing nourishment, testing results, and defining direction within a broader academic community. These collaborations profoundly taught us that on the path of science, we must both maintain our own characteristics and explore independently, while also being good at listening, willing to share, and courageous in pursuing excellence through cooperation and competition.
Student Collaboration: The Core Engine and Crucible of Growth for the iGEM Team
Within the grand blueprint of iGEM, the most dynamic and creative part lies in the deep collaboration established among team members, and between students and advisors, for a common goal. This partnership, forged through challenges, is not only the cornerstone of the project's success but also a crucible of growth where every participant undergoes transformation. The fruitful results we achieved are the most vivid testament to this synergistic spirit.
Formation and Integration of the Interdisciplinary Team: From "Me" to "We"
The strength of a highly effective iGEM team stems from the blending of interdisciplinary wisdom. We proactively broke down disciplinary barriers, bringing together outstanding students from diverse backgrounds including life sciences, computer science, mathematics, engineering, and even humanities and social sciences. In the early stages of the project, diverse thinking posed challenges – the "languages" of biologists and software engineers seemed incompatible. However, through regular joint seminars, brainstorming sessions, and internal cross-training, we successfully built a common "project language." Students from life sciences patiently explained the intricacies of biological systems, while programmer partners shared the logic of data modeling. This process, in itself, was a profound initiation into collaboration, allowing us to truly experience that genuine innovation begins with understanding and tolerance, and succeeds through cooperation and empathy.
Striving for a Common Goal: Sweat, Debate, and Breakthroughs
The iGEM preparation cycle is a marathon lasting nearly a year, and the entire process is the ultimate test of teamwork. From repeated discussions on project selection, to mutual support when experiments faced setbacks; from working together late into the night to perfect a mathematical model, to repeatedly rehearsing for a flawless presentation.
Efficient Division of Labor and Coordination: An organic division of labor Centerd on interest and expertise formed within the team. Wet-lab members performed precise operations in the laboratory, dry-lab members built models in the digital world, and human practices partners conducted in-depth social research and science communication. However, division of labor never meant separation. We established close linkage mechanisms: experimental data provided real-time feedback to optimize models, and findings from social research infused humanistic thinking into technical R&D. This "you are in me, I am in you" working mode ensured the project's integrity and foresight.
Constructively Handling Conflict: Clashes of viewpoints and disagreements were inevitable during collaboration. But it was precisely in resolving these conflicts that we learned how to listen, how to compromise, how to persuade each other strategically, and jointly seek the optimal solution. The teamwork and project management skills honed in this high-pressure environment are more valuable assets than any single disciplinary knowledge.
Collective Glory Forged by Collaboration
Through the close cooperation of all team members and the careful guidance of our advisors, our team repeatedly achieved excellent results in multiple high-level academic competitions at home and abroad. This includes winning awards consecutively over the years in the International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) competition, and performing outstandingly in numerous other events such as the National University Student Life Science Competition and the Synthetic Biology Innovation Competition, earning multiple national and provincial/ministerial honors.
These substantial collective honors are by no means the achievement of any single individual or moment. They bear witness to the perfect partnership between wet and dry labs, ensuring a closed loop from gene design to functional prediction; they attest to the mutual enhancement of science and humanities, making our project not only technologically novel but also deeply socially valuable. Every trophy, every certificate, is the best commendation for the collective wisdom and sweat of our team.
Beyond the Competition: Collaboration-Driven Innovation and Legacy
The outcomes of our collaboration were not limited to the competition arena. During the process of joint exploration, the team successfully applied for multiple national invention patents and published high-level research papers in renowned domestic and international academic journals, covering aspects from basic research to teaching reform. Furthermore, teaching research projects carried out collaboratively by advisors and students also received awards for outstanding teaching achievements. These accomplishments signify that our collaboration has evolved from solving competition challenges to creating tangible intellectual property and promoting educational progress, achieving the effective inheritance of the innovative spirit.
Core Gains from the iGEM Competition
Through iGEM, we gained far more than just awards and outcomes.
Tempering of Comprehensive Abilities: We are no longer students confined to textbook knowledge, but have grown into "quasi-scientists" and "innovators" capable of managing complex projects, communicating effectively, and possessing an international perspective.
Profound Understanding of Scientific Responsibility: We personally experienced that responsible innovation must consider its ethical, environmental, and social impacts. iGEM taught us to engage in "science with warmth."
Lifelong Teamwork Spirit and Friendship: In the days of fighting side by side, we formed deep bonds of comradeship. We learned trust, responsibility, and sharing, understanding the immense weight of the word "team." This spirit of collaboration, tempered through challenges, will become the most valuable asset we carry on our future life paths.
Summary
Collaboration among students is the soul of the iGEM experience. It transformed us from independent individuals into an indestructible collective; it allowed us to learn through collaboration and achieve growth through challenges. This experience profoundly enlightens us: when facing the complex challenges of the future world, only by joining hands and cooperating can we jointly forge brilliance.
Conclusion
The iGEM journey of NPU-CHINA is an exploration with "collaboration" as its soul. Through university-industry collaboration, we bridged the path from theory to practice, grounding scientific research in real societal and industrial soil; through inter-university exchange, we broadened our academic horizons, constantly calibrating our innovation direction through openness and competition; and the close collaboration among students became the internal driving force and spiritual bond for the project's continuous progress. These three dimensions of collaboration support and empower each other, collectively shaping an iGEM project that possesses both scientific height and humanistic warmth. This experience not only honed our scientific research capabilities and team spirit but also gave us a profound realization: in synthetic biology and broader scientific fields, only by breaking down boundaries and advancing synergistically can we truly realize the grand vision of "Building with Biology, Benefiting the World." The spirit and wisdom of collaboration gained will continue to guide us as we move forward relentlessly in our future explorations.
Inspirations
Best Education
Innovative educational tools and outreach activities have the ability to establish a two-way dialogue with new communities by discussing public values and the science behind synthetic biology. Our approach focuses on promoting scientific learning and avoiding simply proselytizing or marketing synthetic biology and/or iGEM.