Rising Demand for Bioeconomy Workforce

This week, the White House announced new investments in the biomanufacturing and biotechnology workforce, highlighting a rising demand for more workers, and more highly skilled workers throughout the bioeconomy.

BIO-ISAC, together with its members, created and piloted a cyberbiosecurity curriculum and is now mobilizing to implement global access to this program through its newly formed Workforce Workgroup. Focused on diversity in geographies, demographics, and layered demand for skill growth at both introductory and advanced levels, the Workgroup plans to deploy its curriculum in 2024.

The bioeconomy refers to a segment of the total economy utilizing and/or derived from biological resources, and includes manufacturing processes, technologies, products, and services. These may encompass, wholly or in part, industries and products including fuel, food, medicine, chemicals, and technology addressing a range of issues including health, climate change, energy, food security, agriculture, labor opportunities and economic growth.

As advancements in technology enable greater connectivity and data sharing, the need for robust cyberbiosecurity measures is increasingly important, and it starts with our workforce. By integrating cybersecurity principles, protocols, and best practices in training, cyberbiosecurity is the focus of this program and will ensure the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of biological data and technologies.

This program addresses education and training needs, both in cybersecurity and factors unique to the bioeconomy, and offers a path forward to a more capable, prepared workforce.

If your organization would like to be involved in the Workforce Workgroup, please contact BIO-ISAC directly.