The Biotech Across America State Symposium builds on the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology’s (NSCEB) Biotech Across America Roadshow by bringing together senior state and regional leaders from across the United States. By convening leaders with direct experience shaping biotechnology ecosystems, the symposium aims to create a forum for comparing approaches, identifying shared challenges, and highlighting strategies that can be adapted or scaled across different states.

The agenda is designed to support interactive discussion and exchange, combining case studies with moderated sessions and dedicated time for participant networking. Conversations will focus on three cross-cutting areas that consistently shape state-level biotechnology success:

• Talent Pipeline

• Commercialization

• Bioliteracy.

America’s Biotech Moment

Biotechnology is becoming an increasingly important driver of U.S. economic competitiveness, national security, and innovation. Advances in the life sciences are transforming sectors ranging from healthcare and agriculture to materials, energy, and manufacturing. As this field continues to grow, the strength of the United States’ biotechnology ecosystem will depend not only on federal leadership, but also on the capacity of states and regions to develop talent, support innovation, and translate research into real-world impact.

Recognizing the strategic importance of biotechnology, Congress established the NSCEB to examine emerging biotechnologies and their implications for U.S. national security and economic competitiveness. In its April 2025 report to Congress, the Commission highlighted the importance of strengthening the broader biotechnology ecosystem across the United States, including the role of state and regional initiatives in building workforce pipelines, supporting commercialization, and fostering public understanding of biotechnology.

To deepen its engagement with leaders across the country, the Commission launched the Biotech Across America Roadshow, which visited biotechnology ecosystems nationwide while advancing the findings and recommendations set out in the Commission’s report. These engagements highlighted the diversity of state and regional approaches to building biotechnology capacity, as well as the value of greater coordination and learning across states.

Symposium Organizers

National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB)

The National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology is a bipartisan commission established by Congress to examine emerging biotechnologies and their implications for U.S. national security and economic competitiveness. Following the release of its April 2025 report, the Commission continues to engage across the biotechnology ecosystem to advance the report’s findings and recommendations.

Engineering Biology Research Consortium (EBRC)

The Engineering Biology Research Consortium is a nonprofit, public–private partnership dedicated to advancing engineering biology to address national and global needs. EBRC works across research, policy, and ecosystem engagement to strengthen the conditions needed for biotechnology innovation and translation.

Federation of American Scientists (FAS)

The Federation of American Scientists is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization working to ensure that science and technology serve the public interest. FAS advances evidence-based policy solutions across a range of national security, emerging technology, and public purpose innovation issues.