EVOLF is the most recent chapter in the history of the synthetic cell research community in the Netherlands. It builds upon BaSyC, the first Dutch national research programme to build a synthetic cell, started in 2017; and it is also strongly connected with SynCellEU, the parallel European initiative, co-initiated in the same year 2017 by the synthetic cell research communities of the Netherlands (BaSyC), Germany, France and Spain.

Our network

BaSyC

The research programme BaSyC (Building a Synthetic Cell) aims at creating an autonomous, self-reproducing synthetic cell with a bottom-up approach, that is, through integration of molecular building blocks.

Financed by a national “Gravitation” grant from the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, the project is running from 2017 to 2027. It is a joint effort of 17 team-leaders with backgrounds in physics, chemistry and biology. They work for 6 Dutch research institutions: Delft University of Technology, Groningen University, Radboud University Nijmegen, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Wageningen University and the AMOLF Institute.

SynCellEU

European Synthetic Cell Initiative (SynCellEU) – www.syntheticcell.eu

BaSyC laid the foundation for synthetic cell research in the Netherlands. At the same time other national programmes in Europe were initiated. In order to stimulate collaboration beyond national level - and particularly in the EU – the European Synthetic Cell Initiative (SynCellEU) was started in 2017. 

SynCellEU is a network of excellent European research laboratories and institutions coordinated by Delft University of Technology. They joined forces to collaborate on synthetic cell research across Europe and accelerate its translation into technology. This requires a pan-European effort, both in terms of research collaboration as well as of investments.

The SynCellEU community now has over 250 members (including excellent research laboratories and representatives from the humanities and industry) from all over Europe.

 The European Synthetic Cell Initiative:

  • Encourages collaboration between scientists in bottom-up synthetic cell research, as well as with European biotech industry for cell-made technologies.

  • Shows the technological potential of synthetic cell research.

  • Facilitates ethical and RRI discussions to contribute to an ethical, societal and legal framework for the creation of synthetic cells.

  • Researches and shares funding opportunities

 

SynCellEU and the Build-a-Cell initiative in the United States jointly organize the annual International SynCell Conference, to which the BaSyC community actively participates.

With EVOLF, the international presence of the Dutch synthetic cell research community is further strengthened.