Synthetic biology, as an engineering approach to biological systems, has the potential to disruptively innovate the development of vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics. Data accessibility and differences in data-usage capabilities are important factors in shaping this innovation landscape. In this paper, the data that underpin synthetic biology responses to the COVID-19 pandemic are analyzed as positional information goods—goods whose value depends on exclusivity. The positionality of biological data impacts the ability to guide innovations toward societally preferred goals. From both an ethical and economic point of view, positionality can lead to suboptimal as well as beneficial situations. When aiming for responsible innovation (i.e. embedding societal deliberation in the innovation process), it is important to consider hurdles and facilitators in data access and use. Central governance and knowledge commons provide routes to mitigate the negative effects of data positionality.

合成生物学作为生物系统的一种工程方法，有可能颠覆性地创新疫苗、疗法和诊断学的发展。数据可访问性和数据使用能力的差异是塑造这种创新格局的重要因素。在本文中，支撑合成生物学对 COVID-19 大流行反应的数据被分析为位置信息商品——其价值取决于排他性的商品。生物数据的定位影响引导创新实现社会偏好目标的能力。从伦理和经济的角度来看，地位可能导致次优和有益的情况。在以负责任的创新为目标时（即在创新过程中嵌入社会协商），重要的是要考虑数据访问和使用中的障碍和促进因素。中央治理和知识共享提供了减轻数据位置性负面影响的途径。