The center will be a first of its-kind
collection and analysis center for data gathered through Ginkgo's
pathogen monitoring network
DOHA,
Qatar, Feb. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Ginkgo
Bioworks (NYSE: DNA), which is building the leading platform for
cell programming and biosecurity, has announced today the signing
of an agreement with Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZ) and Doha
Venture Capital (DVC) to build the first Center for Unified
Biosecurity Excellence in Doha
(CUBE-D) within Qatar Free Zones. The signing took place alongside
QFZ's and DVC's participation in the Web Summit Qatar, in a
ceremony attended by HE. Dr. Ahmad
Al-Sayed, Minister of State and Chairman of QFZ/DVC, HE.
Mohammed bin Ali Al Mannai, Minister
of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) and Vice
Chairman of QFZ/DVC, and Matthew
McKnight, General Manager for Biosecurity, Ginkgo Bioworks,
along with executives from the ministry and the three signing
entities.
CUBE-D's advanced platform is expected to serve as a nucleus for
global pathogen monitoring efforts and be a key hub in Ginkgo's
bioradar network. Supporting global programs modeled in part after
the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Traveler
Genomic Surveillance (TGS) program, which tracks and analyzes
pathogens collected at seven international airports in the U.S.,
CUBE-D will be a foundational piece of biosecurity and health
security infrastructure in Ginkgo's multi-continent, integrated
early warning system for biological threats.
CUBE-D plans to support analysis of data collected from pathogen
monitoring stations in both Qatar
and partner countries, such as airports, municipalities, and
agricultural sites by leveraging cutting-edge analytical platforms
powered by artificial intelligence and developed by Ginkgo.
Environmental and other anonymous, non-clinical samples will be
regularly scanned for signals of emerging outbreaks, offering
insight into how pathogens travel and evolve and building detection
capabilities for natural, accidental, or intentional
biothreats.
Advanced sequencing and bioinformatics tools aim to pinpoint the
genetic signatures of pathogens and provide early warning for
global health and national security leaders in as close to
real-time as possible. Coupled with Ginkgo's leading epidemiology
and risk analytics platforms, this type of biointelligence will
feed into predictive models to facilitate rapid response, such as
medical countermeasures, before a biological threat impacts lives
and economies.
H.E. Dr. Ahmad Al-Sayed,
Minister of State and Chairman of QFZ and DVC said: "We
are delighted to welcome Ginkgo Bioworks, a pioneer in the biotech
space and an anchor player joining an expanding community of
innovative companies, within the free zones in Qatar. Ginkgo's partnership with our tech
development fund, DVC, will foster innovation and enhance the
overall biotech ecosystem within Qatar and the broader region. At QFZ, we are
aiming to become a place of choice for companies shaping the future
of the biotech industry. We look forward to supporting and
collaborating with Ginkgo Bioworks in their establishment and
growth in the region and beyond."
Jason Kelly, CEO of Ginkgo
Bioworks: "The world needs effective biosecurity. Building
hubs like CUBE-D to connect Ginkgo's network of international
biosurveillance nodes transcends regionalism and lays a foundation
for the future. After all, biology doesn't respect borders. I am
proud of Ginkgo's ability to technically and socially synthesize
this global immune system, one node and hub at a time. Everybody's
health is connected, and CUBE-D is a foundational step forward for
global biosecurity."
Matthew McKnight, General
Manager of Biosecurity at Ginkgo Bioworks: "CUBE-D represents
the next generation of biosecurity infrastructure. By leveraging
lessons from COVID-19, Ginkgo is building a global bioradar system
to detect a wide range of known and unknown biothreats. As a
central connectivity hub with over two-thirds of the world's
population within an eight-hour flight, we believe Qatar and its free zones are ideally
positioned to anchor these bioradar efforts."
With the new site in Doha
providing expanded monitoring capabilities into the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, and connecting into Ginkgo's existing
network across the world, the launch of CUBE-D will bring the world
closer to the goal of creating global infrastructure to protect
against biological risks.
Rwanda's Minister of State
for Health, Yvan Butera: "As
inaugural members of Ginkgo's global pathogen monitoring network,
we are extremely supportive of expanded regional investment in
high-end monitoring solutions and excited to have the opportunity
to continue growing our biosecurity capabilities by leveraging
partnership with the new Ginkgo CUBE facility in Doha."
The partners believe that CUBE-D will establish Qatar and its free zones as pioneers of
biosecurity innovation, enabling the growth of the country's
bioeconomy by bringing highly skilled jobs and businesses to
Doha, as well as bolstering
biosecurity infrastructure in the region and the world by
strengthening Ginkgo's global bioradar capabilities.
About Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZ):
Qatar Free
Zones Authority (QFZ) was established in 2018 and launched soft
operations in 2020 to oversee and regulate world-class free zones
in Qatar and secure fixed
investments within the zones. QFZ offers outstanding opportunities
and benefits for businesses seeking to establish operations and
expand regionally and globally, providing quality infrastructure, a
skilled workforce, 100% foreign ownership, access to investment
funds, tax exemptions and partnership opportunities with Qatari
entities.
For more information on QFZ, visit https://qfz.gov.qa/.
About Ginkgo Bioworks
Ginkgo Bioworks is the leading
horizontal platform for cell programming, providing flexible,
end-to-end services that solve challenges for organizations across
diverse markets, from food and agriculture to pharmaceuticals to
industrial and specialty chemicals. Ginkgo's biosecurity and public
health unit, Concentric by Ginkgo, is building global
infrastructure for biosecurity to empower governments, communities,
and public health leaders to prevent, detect and respond to a wide
variety of biological threats. For more information,
visit ginkgobioworks.com and concentricbyginkgo.com, read
our blog, or follow us on social media channels such as X
(formerly known as Twitter) (@Ginkgo and @ConcentricByGBW),
Instagram (@GinkgoBioworks and @ConcentricByGinkgo), Threads
(@GinkgoBioworks) or LinkedIn.
Forward-Looking Statements of Ginkgo Bioworks
This
press release contains certain forward-looking statements within
the meaning of the federal securities laws, including statements
regarding the capabilities and potential success of the partnership
and Ginkgo's biosecurity platform, and Ginkgo's establishment and
growth of its biosecurity platform in Qatar and the broader region. These
forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words
"believe," "can," "project," "potential," "expect," "anticipate,"
"estimate," "intend," "strategy," "future," "opportunity," "plan,"
"may," "should," "will," "would," "will be," "will continue," "will
likely result," and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements
are predictions, projections and other statements about future
events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and,
as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors
could cause actual future events to differ materially from the
forward-looking statements in this press release, including but not
limited to: (i) volatility in the price of Ginkgo's securities due
to a variety of factors, including changes in the competitive and
highly regulated industries in which Ginkgo operates and plans to
operate, variations in performance across competitors, and changes
in laws and regulations affecting Ginkgo's business, (ii) the
ability to implement business plans, forecasts, and other
expectations, and to identify and realize additional business
opportunities, (iii) the risk of downturns in demand for products
using synthetic biology, (iv) the uncertainty regarding the demand
for passive monitoring programs and biosecurity services, (v)
changes to the biosecurity industry, including due to advancements
in technology, emerging competition and evolution in industry
demands, standards and regulations, (vi) our ability to realize the
expected benefits of merger and acquisition transactions, (vii) the
outcome of any legal proceedings against Ginkgo, including as a
result of recent acquisitions, (viii) our ability to realize the
expected benefits from and the success of our Foundry platform
programs, (ix) our ability to successfully develop engineered
cells, bioprocesses, data packages or other deliverables, and (x)
the product development or commercialization success of our
customers. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. You
should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks
and uncertainties described in the "Risk Factors" section of
Ginkgo's quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed with the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on November 8, 2023 and other documents filed by
Ginkgo from time to time with the SEC. These filings identify and
address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause
actual events and results to differ materially from those contained
in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak
only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put
undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and Ginkgo assumes no
obligation and does not intend to update or revise these
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events, or otherwise. Ginkgo does not give any assurance
that it will achieve its expectations.
GINKGO BIOWORKS INVESTOR CONTACT:
investors@ginkgobioworks.com
GINKGO BIOWORKS MEDIA CONTACT:
press@ginkgobioworks.com
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SOURCE Ginkgo Bioworks