In developing countries, massive populations are struggling surviving with relatively limited water, land, mineral and oil resources. What are measures to decrease their dependency on petroleum resource, and gradually decrease their dependency on chemical processing?

2011 TWAS-ROESEAP (The Academy of Sciences for the Developing World and its Regional Office for East and South-East Asia and the Pacific) Symposium on Industrial Biotechnology from August 26 to 30 in Beijing addressed these issues. With the theme of “Towards a Bio-based Economy of Developing Countries”, the symposium reviewed recent progress in the area of industrial biotechnology in developing countries. It endeavored to build a strong linkage among the experts and to promote the cooperation among the developing world in the area of industrial biotechnology.

The fast development of human society has created stresses on climate, environment and natural resources. Changing the pattern of economic growth to achieve sustainable economic development becomes urgent, especially in fast-growing developing countries. “Such changes depend on the use of science and technology – including through industrial biotechnology - so that we can reduce our dependency on fossil resources and chemical processing, with the aim of using fewer non-renewable resources and reducing the emission of wastes.” Prof. Romain Murenzi, TWAS executive director and TWAS fellow, added.

Industrial biotechnology is considered as the third wave of biotechnology development, followed by medical biotechnology and agricultural biotechnology. China, one of the biggest developing countries, responded to this wave proactively, listing biotechnology manufacturing as one of the strategic emerging industries last year. This change can also be reflected by China’s research institute. Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IMCAS) sees a growing research progress in biofuels, lactic acid and enzymes and increasing collaborations with industrial partners including Shell and DSM.

The symposium also updated current research trends and practical applications of knowledge in the sustainable solution of ever-increasing energy demand, environmental pollution, impact of climate change and food security of increasing populations of developing countries.

LI Jiayang, CAS Vice President conferred the TWAS Regional Award to Ms. Mahaletchumy Arujanan, executive director, Malaysian Biotechnology Information Centre, Malaysia, and Prof. Queena N. Lee-Chua, Ateneo de Manila University, the Philippines, in recognition of their contribution to promoting public understanding of science for East, Southeast Asia and Pacific region.

Hosted by TWAS and CAS, organized by IMCAS and TWAS-ROESEAP, the symposium attracted over 120 scientists and students from 17 developing countries, including 11 Asian countries, 5 African countries, and 1 South American country.