iGEM 2025 in Paris: Our Highlights From an Inspiring Grand Jamboree
This year, the iGEM Grand Jamboree returned to Paris, and so did we. From 28–31 October, the Paris Convention Centre became a global hub of synthetic biology, and we were thrilled to be right in the middle of it all.
A Community That Thinks Beyond Boundaries
Throughout the week, we had the chance to speak with teams from every corner of the world - discussing ideas, learning about emerging challenges, and exploring how AI and synthetic biology can unlock new possibilities.
Our Talk: “Smart Models Think Like Scientists”
One of our key moments this year was our presentation on the Technology Stage, where our Scientific Officer, Wiktoria Palka, explored a big question: How do we build AI that truly advances discovery?
In her talk, Wiktoria challenged the limits of black-box AI and highlighted the need for a more grounded approach to scientific modeling. With scarce, noisy, and heterogeneous datasets—especially in protein design—purely statistical models fall short. The future, as she explained, lies in hybrid modeling:
- Using machine learning to generate diverse hypotheses
- Constraining and testing them with physics-based models such as Molecular Dynamics
- Closing the loop with experiments to enable justifiable, reproducible decisions
At xyna.bio, we’re already building toward this future through our hybrid GROMACS-based MD environment—and this is just the beginning. Our vision is a world where AI becomes a true research partner, enabling cyclic hypothesis generation and human-in-the-loop discovery.
Celebrating Our 2025 Travel Grant Teams
Another highlight was cheering on the six incredible teams we supported through the xyna.bio Travel Grant Program. Their performance at the Jamboree left us genuinely inspired.
Across the six teams, they achieved:
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🏅 2× Top 10 placements
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🏅 6 medals
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🏆 Safety & Security Award
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🏆 Best Hardware Award
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🏆 Best Fashion & Cosmetics Project
…along with numerous nominations and recognitions.
Paris treated us wonderfully once again. The conversations, presentations, and spontaneous idea-sharing sessions reminded us why the iGEM community is so special.
Until next year—let’s keep building the future of bioscience together. 💚
