White House Seeks Input on the National Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Initiative

The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) has issued a Request for Information seeking public input on how advances in biotechnology and biomanufacturing can help the U.S. achieve “goals that were previously out of reach and what steps can be taken to ensure we have the right research ecosystem, workforce, data, domestic biomanufacturing capacity, and other components to support a strong bioeconomy.”

President Biden issued an executive order launching a national biotechnology and biomanufacturing initiative this past September. With funding of more than $2 billion, the goals are to “lower prices, create good jobs, strengthen supply chains, improve health outcomes, and reduce carbon emissions.”The executive order also noted that industry is increasingly embracing “biomanufacturing—as an alternative to petrochemical-based production—to make things like plastics, fuels, materials, and medicines.”

Comments, which need to be submitted on or before 5 pm ET on January 20, 2023, should be emailed to biotech@ostp.eop.gov and include “RFI Response: Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Initiative” in the subject line of the email. Mailed paper submissions will not be accepted, and electronic submissions received after the deadline may not be taken into consideration, according to the OSTP.

To view related GEN articles see “Why Tech Should Answer the Call of Biden’s Bioeconomy Executive Order” and “Biotechnology Gets $2 Billion Boost from the White House.”