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The Pentagon has welcomed the White House’s commitment to expand the local development of biotechnology in support of the United States’ security interests.
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The Biden administration has announced the signing of an executive order (EO) — Advancing Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Innovation for a Sustainable, Safe, and Secure American Bioeconomy.
The EO, welcomed by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, aims to support the Department of Defense’s (DoD) broader push to leverage biotechnology to “secure, strengthen, and diversify” domestic manufacturing supply chains of critical goods, products, and services.
Accordingly, the DoD has announced US$1.2 billion (AU$1.7 billion) in new investments in biomanufacturing to address logistical challenges across multiple DoD mission areas, reducing dependence on foreign suppliers.
The investment is also tipped to support the development of materials with novel properties, with potential applications across a range of defence capabilities, including hypersonics and submarines.
This is also expected to reduce logistical and resupply timelines, providing point-of-need manufacturing for building materials and energy production.
Further, the DoD has committed to investing $1 billion (AU$1.4 billion) in bio-industrial domestic manufacturing infrastructure over the next five years, in an effort to “catalyse the establishment of a domestic bio-industrial manufacturing base”.
This is set to involve incentivising private- and public-sector stakeholders to expand manufacturing capacity for products linked to both commercial and defence supply chains.
An additional $200 million would also be invested to support enhancements to biosecurity and cyber security resources.
According to the DoD, it plans to accelerate biotechnology prototyping, operational demonstration, and production by:
- Connecting and delivering biotechnology solutions to mission needs;
- Developing a rapid prototyping pipeline with a common foundation that enables shared data, standard workflows, and automated capacity;
- Leading in bioethics, biosafety, and biosecurity;
- Fostering a diverse, multidisciplinary workforce for the future; and
- Partnering effectively with industrial, academic, and international partners.
“I am excited at the prospect of what this executive order will empower us to accomplish,” Heidi Shyu, Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, said.
“The Department recognises biotechnology as a critical technology area that will change the way the DoD develops new capabilities, conducts missions, and adapts to major global changes.
“This executive order will advance and synchronise our efforts — across the DoD and across the federal government — to strategically leverage biotechnology so that our nation maintains its economic, military, and technological advantage.”
[Related: Pentagon launches new manufacturing pilot program]
