BioHack UIO
First community biotechnology lab in Ecuador and a Latin American pioneer.
BioHack UIO is the first community biotechnology lab in Ecuador, founded in 2020 by engineers Camila Velandia and Andrés Jarrín. As a pioneer initiative in Latin America, it promotes open access to science by providing hands-on education, lab access, and technical mentorship to students, entrepreneurs, and citizen scientists.
Its mission is to democratize biotechnology through community-driven innovation, open tools, and a learning-by-doing approach. BioHack UIO empowers people to investigate, experiment, and build impactful biotech solutions outside of traditional academic or corporate settings.
🏛️ History & Development
- 2020: Initiative launched as a mobile education and DIYbio project.
- 2021: Delivered first practical workshops using borrowed academic labs.
- 2022: Established its own independent and fully equipped community lab in Quito.
- 2024: Registered as a biotech company (S.A.S) and expanded services to researchers and startups.
🔬 Main Activities
- Practical training in microbiology, molecular biology, and synthetic biology.
- Design and execution of bio-based solutions for agriculture and health.
- Lab memberships and space rental for research and prototyping.
- Mentoring programs, bio-entrepreneurship bootcamps, and science hackathons.
- Educational content and community engagement on social media and workshops.
🌎 Network & Community
BioHack UIO actively collaborates with:
- International networks like Genspace, YLAI, and Techstars by WeXchange.
- Local institutions such as ESPE University.
- Entrepreneurs, students, and innovators across Latin America.
The lab continues to build bridges between open science and real-world applications, fostering a more inclusive and creative biotech ecosystem.
“We hack science to make it accessible, creative, and impactful from Latin America.”
