A new seven-point plan to strengthen America’s biotechnology leadership amid intensifying global competition from China was released by the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) on Nov. 10.
BioAdvance: Securing America’s Biotech Century, calls for a bold, coordinated national strategy and targeted policy reforms to accelerate medical breakthroughs, strengthen America’s innovation ecosystem, and ensure the next generation of lifesaving medicines is developed and manufactured in the U.S.
America built the biotechnology industry, notes BIO President & CEO John F. Crowley.
“For decades, American biotechnology innovators have turned scientific discovery into hope for patients and families, building an industry that saves lives, drives economic growth, and strengthens our nation’s security and competitiveness,” Crowley says.
By 2025, the U.S. bioscience industry employed more than 2.3 million Americans across more than 156,000 business establishments and generated nearly $3.2 trillion in total economic output, according to the BIO/CSBA/TEConomy 2026 report.
“America’s biotechnology innovators have built one of our nation’s greatest strategic assets,” Crowley says. “But our leadership is not guaranteed. We must invest, innovate, and act with urgency.”
As the Executive Summary explains, China is competing to take over as the world leader in biotech, posing challenges to our health, economy, and national security.
“China has steadily elevated biotechnology as a strategic priority, directing massive state resources toward the sector in every new five-year plan,” the Executive Summary says. “Between 2016 and 2021, the value of China’s biotechnology industry grew more than 100-fold.”
The action plan
BioAdvance plan outlines how Congress and the administration can respond to the challenge with actions tailored to America’s strengths. The plan addresses seven actionable priorities across three areas:
Coordinate: Establish a clear national strategy for U.S. biotech leadership
- Establish a White House Office of Biotechnology.
Accelerate: Bring lifesaving discoveries to patients faster
- Speed up the path to first-in-human clinical studies.
- Modernize and streamline drug development.
- Improve patient access to clinical trials.
Build: Strengthen the foundations of American biotechnology
- Sustain support for biomedical research.
- Expand U.S. biomanufacturing capacity and expertise.
- Strengthen intellectual property protections and access to capital.
“This moment demands the ambition and determination that catalyzed the biotechnology revolution and made America the definitive global leader,” Crowley states. “BIO stands ready to work with the administration, Congress, and the entire biotechnology ecosystem to accelerate the next generation of lifesaving breakthroughs, and ensure the United States leads the biotech century.”
Learn more and download the full action plan at bio.org/bioadvance.
Read more: BIO CEO: American biotech needs a coordinated plan to beat China — now
