What if those biggest challenges in the world could be solved by the smallest living organisms? We are not just studying life, we are programming it.

This shared vision gathered microbiologists from Asia, Europe, America and Africa in Shenzhen on November 18 for a symposium co-hosted by the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) and the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology (SIAT) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

This event marked ASM's first symposium in Shenzhen and its inaugural partnership with SIAT, aiming to accelerate scientific exchange and collaboration aimed at addressing global challenges through innovative microbial solutions.

The symposium brought together over 300 interdisciplinary scholars to explore the latest advancements in: AI in Microbiology, Synthetic Biology, Applied Microbial Ecosystems, and Metabolic Engineering and the Bioeconomy.

"This platform is crucial for translating microbial technologies from laboratory to industry," said Dr. LIU Chenli, director of SIAT and ASM China Ambassador. He emphasized the partnership with ASM as a catalyst for driving innovation and shaping a new paradigm for the global bioeconomy within Shenzhen's dynamic ecosystem.

"ASM has brought together world-class experts from chemistry, microbiology, computational science and physics - people who, individually, push the boundaries of their fields," said Dr. Stefano Bertuzzi, CEO of ASM. "What makes this moment remarkable is their shared commitment to build a collaborative global platform that unites their strengths and unleashes new possibilities in microbial biotechnology."

The symposium addressed how engineered microbes can be harnessed as living factories to produce life-saving medicines, create sustainable materials, and develop solutions to pressing global challenges. Participants focused on forging concrete pathways for microbial technologies to enhance biomanufacturing and power a sustainable economy.

"How we can get the right microbes for the right applications, I think that's most challenging one," said Jeong Wook Lee, Associate Professor at Pohang University of Science and Technology.

Attendees expressed a commitment to fostering a collaborative global network to advance cutting-edge microbial biotechnologies.

"This meeting is based in Shenzhen, China. But if you look at all the speakers, they are from all over the world and they have come to this place to talk about science. So it's international, it's interdisciplinary. The focus is going to be absolutely amazing," said Dr. Anirban Mahapatra, the Chief Science and Global Strategy Officer of ASM.

"I think meetings like this are super important. Because it allows researchers working on opposite ends of the globe on similar topics to come together and meet each other and develop those collaborations," said Professor Ashley Shade, the Editor-in-Chief of the ASM journal mSystems.