In an exclusive conversation ahead of their panel appearance at SynBioBeta 2025 next week in San Jose, Patrick Rose, Innovation Manager at SPRIND (Germany’s Federal Agency for Breakthrough Innovation), outlined a provocative vision for the future of synthetic biology—one that steps decisively beyond the buzzwords and into transformative, real-world impacts.

Rose believes synthetic biology now sits at a critical inflection point: the height of a hype cycle that promised exponential economic growth across multiple sectors but, outside of pharma, has largely fallen short. His diagnosis is clear: outdated biomanufacturing infrastructure is holding back progress. “The core tools of biomanufacturing, especially fermentation hardware, are old,” Rose emphasizes. “If we want real breakthroughs, we need to radically change our understanding of biomanufacturing and drive radical innovations, not incremental inventions as some governments are pursuing at the moment —not just in biology, but in the physical infrastructure that supports it”.

But infrastructure isn't the only hurdle. Rose argues the synthetic biology industry must urgently rethink its priorities. Despite early successes in high-value niche markets like flavors, fragrances, and cosmetics, the real battleground, he insists, lies in commodity-scale materials—markets currently dominated by petrochemicals. “Flavors and fragrances have proven biomanufacturing works, but if we stay there, we’re missing the bigger opportunity. It’s time to shift our priorities toward volume and competitiveness”.

SPRIND is positioning itself as a catalytic force behind this shift. Rose points to Europe, and particularly Germany, as an emerging model for how governments and investors might realign their strategies. With an innovative approach to funding and risk management, SPRIND has established an ecosystem uniquely equipped to tackle these large-scale challenges. Unlike traditional funding mechanisms, SPRIND's model provides sustained and strategic investment, ensuring projects aren't left stranded between early promise and market reality.

“Too often, one-off investments are made that are neither sustainable nor substantial enough to truly scale,” Rose warns. “We need long-term support structures that include not just capital, but partners, facilities, and clear transition plans to help ideas move from lab bench to market”.

Under Rose’s leadership, SPRIND has initiated ambitious programs such as the Circular Biomanufacturing Challenge, offering up to €6 million in non-dilutive financing in competitive funding to innovative early-stage teams. For companies at later stages, SPRIND can deploy substantial equity investments—up to €100 million—to fuel the scale-up phase. Looking ahead, the agency's upcoming Transformative Metals Recycling Challenge exemplifies its expanding vision, targeting another critical area poised for disruption through synthetic biology and green technologies.

The implications of Rose’s approach go beyond incremental advances; he is actively reshaping how the synthetic biology community defines success. By focusing resources on scalable, economically viable applications, SPRIND aims to transition the bioeconomy from a promising concept to a dominant industrial paradigm.

For attendees at SynBioBeta 2025, Rose’s keynote promises to be more than a provocative take on industry direction—it’s a blueprint for turning hype into tangible, sustainable progress. “We want to partner with the ecosystem,” Rose concludes passionately. “Not just to fund ideas, but to make sure they land.”