Technology · Synbio & enabling tech / Genome engineering

CRISPR screening as a service

Contract functional-genetic CRISPR screening (pooled sgRNA libraries, lentiviral delivery, NGS) — identifies cancer-resistance genes and drug targets in weeks.

Maturity 6/9 Risk: low Research tools & R&D services US · CN · EU Science: why it works → verified 2026-06-19 · 0 Sources (0 independent)

1 · What it gives

CRISPR screening as a service is a large B2B/CRO segment: high-throughput functional-genetic screening in mammalian cells to find drug targets and resistance mechanisms. Pooled guide-RNA (sgRNA) libraries target knockout (CRISPR-KO), activation (CRISPRa) or inhibition (CRISPRi) of thousands of genes; delivery is by lentiviral vectors at multiplicity of infection MOI <1; readout is deep sequencing (NGS) with MAGeCK bioinformatics. A whole-genome library is 80,000–120,000 unique sgRNAs (4–6 guides per gene), with ≥ 500 cells per guide of coverage.

Key platforms of CRISPR screening:

Pooled libraries (Pooled CRISPR Libraries): thousands of plasmids in one tube — the whole genome per experiment.
CRISPRa/CRISPRi: dCas9-VP64 (activation) and dCas9-KRAB (repression) without DNA breaks.
Single-cell / Perturb-seq: CRISPR screening + scRNA-seq — an expression profile per perturbation.
Arrayed screens (Arrayed): one guide per well — phenotypic readout.

Sectoral value chain#

[sgRNA library design] ──> [oligo synthesis + cloning] ──> [lentiviral packaging]
                                                              │
                                                  (transduction, MOI<1)
                                                              │
                                                              ▼
[targets (MAGeCK)] <─── [NGS + bioinformatics] <─── [cell selection/screen]

Value chain levels#

Level	Description	Key inputs/outputs
Library Design	sgRNA pool, 4–6 guides/gene, 80,000–120,000 sequences	In: gene list. Out: library design.
Synthesis & Cloning	on-chip oligo synthesis, Gibson Assembly into vectors	In: oligos. Out: plasmid library.
Lentivirus Production	production in HEK293T, titration (TU/ml)	In: plasmids, cells. Out: viral library.
Transduction	infection at MOI = 0.3, puromycin selection	In: cells, virus. Out: transduced pool.
Selection & Readout	selective pressure, DNA harvest, NGS	In: cell pool, toxin. Out: NGS data.
Bioinformatics	MAGeCK/BAGEL — target ranking	In: NGS data. Out: target report.

Cross-cutting technologies of the sector:

Pooled libraries (Pooled Libraries): the whole human genome in one experiment.
Perturb-seq: CRISPR + scRNA-seq — an expression profile per gene perturbation.
Robotic incubators: Cytomat for pools with ≥ 500 cells/guide coverage.

2 · What it replaces 0 · matched by industry

No graded substitution linked yet.

3 · How to implement 6 steps

1
Library design
An sgRNA pool — 4–6 guides per gene, 80,000–120,000 sequences total — designed to the client’s targets.
2
Synthesis & cloningSynthesis & conversion
On-chip solid-phase oligo synthesis, Gibson Assembly cloning into lentiviral vectors.
Who can do this step matched automatically
Maps Enzymes India
“2026-06-28 [BIOCATALYST LEADERSHIP: How Enzymes are Propelling India's Pharma Bio Spectrum - business - Read this story on Magzter.com — Summary: The article discusses how enzymes …”
Aum Enzymes / Infinita Biotech India
“2026-06-28 [BIOCATALYST LEADERSHIP: How Enzymes are Propelling India's Pharma Bio Spectrum - business - Read this story on Magzter.com — A brief mention of Aum Enzymes or Infinita …”
3
Lentiviral production
Production in HEK293T, ultrafiltration concentration, titration (TU/ml).
4
Transduction
Cell infection (e.g. H1975) at MOI = 0.3 — one integration per cell; puromycin selection.
5
Selection
Experimental (with inhibitor) and control arms; 14 days; dead cells wash out of the pool.
6
NGS & bioinformaticsData, software & automation
sgRNA-cassette PCR, NGS, MAGeCK ranks genes by enrichment/depletion — a resistance-target report.
Who can do this step matched automatically
N.Thing South Korea
industrial scale
“Established in January 2014, N.THING is a Seoul-based Agri-Food tech company leading innovation in agricultural products, by extension, in the farm-to-table food value chain by …”
Metso Finland
“With completely new and redesigned software,”
Stellapps India
240,000 liters/day
“It leverages advanced analytics and artificial intelligence through its full-stack IoT platform to enable dairy ecosystem partnerships with financial & insurance institutions, …”
JALA Indonesia
“JALA (jala.tech) is a female-led Indonesian end-to-end, data-driven shrimp aquaculture platform that digitizes pond operations, uses IoT water-quality monitoring and analytics to …”

4 · Who delivers

Matched suppliers (matched automatically)

Pairwise	United States	Research / RTO	active
GenScript ProBio / Genscript	China	Research / RTO	active
Tsingke Biotechnology	China	Producer	active
HLB Genex (ex-GenoFocus)	South Korea	Producer	active
Algal Bio	Japan	Research / RTO	active
Fermelanta	Japan	Producer	active
Cibus	United States	Research / RTO	active
EcoWin (Dong-A ST sub)	South Korea	Research / RTO	active

In the services and supply catalogue 2 · paid service

Analytical & testing services · Reagents & kits

Leading companies and institutes (from the brief)

Company / Institute	Country	Key products / platforms	Tech features	Status 2026
Synthego	🇺🇸 USA	sgRNA synthesis, cell engineering	turnkey automated knockout	Commercial
Horizon Discovery	🇬🇧 United Kingdom	CRISPRa/CRISPRi libraries (Revvity)	longest-running SynBio libraries	Commercial
GenScript	🇨🇳 China	plasmids, lentiviral libraries	large-scale T-cell screening	Commercial
Cellecta	🇺🇸 USA	barcoded plasmids	Perturb-seq for cancer centers	Commercial
DKFZ	🇩🇪 Germany	oncology screening, AI analysis	glioblastoma resistance networks	Research
Broad Institute	🇺🇸 USA	Genetic Perturbation Platform (GPP)	reference genome-wide libraries	Research

5 · Rules & route to market

United States

The US holds the patent and commercial lead in contract CRISPR screening.

Synthego, Revvity/Horizon, FDA IND decisions#

Synthego: high-quality sgRNA synthesis and turnkey cell engineering.
Horizon Discovery (Revvity): the longest-running provider; CRISPRa/CRISPRi libraries.
FDA: relies on CRISPR-screening data when assessing IND candidates’ mechanism of action.

European Union

The EU prioritises Perturb-seq, structural biology and target de-risking.

DKFZ/Max Delbrück, Perturb-seq, EMA de-risking#

DKFZ (Germany): oncology screening, AI CRISPR-data analysis; glioblastoma resistance.
Perturb-seq consortia (DE/FR): rare resistance mechanisms to targeted therapy.
EMA: mandatory target de-risking on cell panels — steady B2B demand.

China

China bets on price and the scale of robotic cell culture.

GenScript, Suzhou clusters, national sgRNA libraries#

GenScript: largest B2B producer of plasmids and lentiviral libraries; screening on primary T-cells.
Suzhou biopharma clusters: screening at 2–3× lower cost than the US.
China MOST: national sgRNA libraries for crops and livestock.

6 · Money: tenders & grants

Tender	Greece – Biochemical analysers – ΗΛΕΚΤΡΟΝΙΚΟΣ ΑΝΟΙΚΤΟΣ ΔΙΑΓΩΝΙΣΜΟΣ ΑΝΩ ΤΩΝ ΟΡΙΩΝ ΣΕ ΕΥΡΩ ΓΙΑ ΤΗΝ ΠΡΟΜΗΘΕΙΑ … ΓΕΝΙΚΟ ΑΝΤΙΚΑΡΚΙΝΙΚΟ ΟΓΚΟΛΟΓΙΚΟ ΝΟΣΟΚΟΜΕΙΟ ΑΘΗΝΩΝ "Ο ΑΓΙΟΣ ΣΑΒΒΑΣ" · Greece	Dec 11, 2026 56 days
Tender	Netherlands – Blood-testing reagents – Gevalideerde Totaaloplossing voor de hielprikscreening op … Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu (RIVM) · Netherlands	Nov 10, 2026 25 days
Grant	Blueprint Neurotherapeutics Network (BPN): Biologic-based Drug Discovery and Development for Disorders of the … National Institutes of Health · United States	Aug 18, 2027 306 days

7 · Tech stack & innovations

The stack rests on lentiviral vectors, variant Cas9 enzymes and NGS analytics.

Lentiviral vectors (3rd generation):
- self-inactivating (SIN) HIV-1-based systems for stable sgRNA integration.
Variant Cas9 (Modified Cas9):
- Cas9 (CRISPR-KO), dCas9-KRAB (CRISPRi), dCas9-VP64-p65-RTA (CRISPRa).
NGS + bioinformatics:
- Illumina NovaSeq X Plus + MAGeCK/BAGEL for target ranking and false-positive control.