Two billion dollars for Biotechnology

On September 12, 2022 President Biden issued an executive order that launched a national biotechnology and biomanufacturing initiative long in the making. The "Advancing Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Innovation for a Sustainable, Safe, and Secure American Bioeconomy" investment is a commitment to innovation, the economy, jobs, food security and finding solutions to the challenge of climate change. On September 14th, the accompanying summit gave a chance to expand on the ideas presented by the government.

Goals described at the summit and in the White House's Fact Sheet include:

Leverage biotechnology for strengthened supply chains

Expand domestic biomanufacturing

Foster innovation across the United States

Bring bio-products to market

Train the next-generation of biotechnologists

Drive regulatory innovation to increase access to products of biotechnology

Advancing measurements and standards for the bioeconomy

Reduce risk through investing in biosecurity innovations

Facilitate data sharing to advance the bioeconomy

Although this immensely important investment had been in the planning stages for quite along time, it was unclear if it was ever going to become reality. I am really looking forward to seeing how this funding can help move the United States forward in the fields of biomanufacturing and biotechnology!