Ninth Annual Next Generation for Biosecurity Competition Open for Applications

The Ninth Annual Next Generation for Biosecurity Competition is now open. NTI | bio hosts this competition to provide a platform for the next generation of global leaders in biosecurity to develop original concepts and share them with the wider biosecurity community. This year’s co-sponsors include 80,000 Hours, CBWNet, the iGEM Foundation, the InterAcademy Partnership (IAP), the International Biosecurity and Biosafety Initiative for Science (IBBIS), the United Nations Office of Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), and Women of Color Advancing Peace, Security, and Conflict Transformation.

This year, the competition invites innovative and creative papers focused on how to define “biological weapons,” given the ever-evolving biothreat landscape. The full prompt is provided below.

Winners of the Biosecurity Competition will be awarded the following:

• Publication of their paper on the NTI website
• The opportunity to attend a high-profile international biosecurity event, such as a meeting of the Biological Weapons Convention, and present their paper at a side event

BACKGROUND

Biological weapons represent a significant global security threat, capable of harming human and animal health, economies, and ecosystems. The threat has evolved over time from the earliest uses of biological agents in warfare to the modern risk of weaponization posed by dual-use technologies. The international community has long sought to prevent the development and use of biological and toxin weapons, including through the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC).

In 2025, the world marked the 50th anniversary of the BWC, the cornerstone of global efforts to prohibit the development, production, acquisition, transfer, stockpiling, and use of biological and toxin weapons. This milestone provides an important opportunity to reflect on the progress made in preventing bioweapons proliferation while addressing the dual-use challenges associated with rapid scientific and technological advances. For example, emerging capabilities in synthetic biology and artificial intelligence are reshaping the landscape of biological threats, testing the limits of existing norms and enforcement mechanisms.

While these advancements offer great societal benefits, they also present significant risks. Innovations intended for beneficial purposes could be misused to create novel bioweapons or bypass biosecurity safeguards. Additionally, changing geopolitical dynamics and non-state actors complicate the enforcement of international norms and agreements.

Understanding these dynamics is critical to strengthening biosecurity and ensuring that norms against the development and use of biological weapons remain robust and relevant. This competition invites participants to explore and develop innovative solutions to address this growing challenge.

Competition Prompt 

Biological weapons have long been recognized as a unique and insidious threat to global security. As the tools of modern bioscience and biotechnology continue to advance and as global security challenges evolve, so too does our understanding of what constitutes a “biological weapon.” Given this background, applicants should tailor their submissions to address the following question:

How do we define “biological weapons,” given the ever-evolving threat landscape, and what actions should the international community take to reduce the risks they pose?

We invite submissions exploring the evolution of biological weapons and the implications for international security and biosecurity norms. Participants should address the following:

1. Defining Biological Weapons: What is your definition of a biological weapon? In your view, has the definition shifted since the BWC opened for signature in 1972, and if so, what factors have driven these changes?
2. Emerging Threats and Innovations: What are the most pressing biological risks or new innovations that are reshaping our views on what constitutes a biological weapon and on how state and non-state actors might develop, access, or use them?
3. Implications for Norms and Agreements: How could evolving definitions impact international mechanisms, like the BWC or UN Security Council Resolutions, especially as we mark the BWC’s 50th anniversary? What challenges or opportunities might arise based on these evolving definitions?
4. Proposed Actions: What are the highest-priority actions the international community should take to prevent the misuse of biology and ensure a secure future (given your definition of a biological weapon)?

Submissions should present bold, forward-thinking ideas, grounded in evidence, to help shape the future of biosecurity. Contributions may include:

• Innovative policy recommendations to strengthen international norms
• Strategies for leveraging innovation to enhance biosecurity while preventing misuse
• Frameworks for international collaboration on emerging biothreats
• Case studies or lessons learned from historical or recent biosecurity challenges

This is an opportunity to influence global policy discussions, engage with leading experts, and make a meaningful impact in the biosecurity community. Whether you focus on science, policy, ethics, or international affairs, we look forward to seeing your creative and impactful solutions.

For the purposes of this competition, please use the following definition for biosecurity:

Biosecurity – policies and practices that protect against the deliberate misuse of biology to cause harm.

ELIGIBILITY

• Teams must have three participants and include members from two or more countries and/or regions. Teams with representation from different sectors or fields of work/study are strongly encouraged.
• Applicants must be currently enrolled in an academic institution or have less than five years of professional experience.
• Applicants must be 18 years or older.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

• Teams must submit two PDF documents:
• Competition Proposal – a complete submission guideline, including formatting and word-count requirements, can be found  here.
• Resumes – a single, combined PDF with the resumes of each team member (3 in total) – each resume should be two pages maximum.
• All submissions must be in English. 
• Participants are highly encouraged to consult with at least one expert in the field of biosecurity and/or biosafety, life sciences, or another related field. Consultation with this expert MUST be listed in the references section of the final report.

KEY DATES

The submission deadline is SUNDAY, JULY 13, 2025, at 11:59PM ET.  Teams should submit their papers at this link: https://www.tfaforms.com/5169976.

Call for Submissions Open:  March 18, 2025

Informational Webinar:  April 3, 2025

Call for Submissions Deadline:  July 13, 2025

Author Notification: Mid-August 2025

EVALUATION PROCESS

Submissions are evaluated through a three-part process:

1. Proposal Checklist: Submissions are compared against a checklist to determine if they meet all the eligibility requirements detailed above.
2. International Judging Panel Evaluations: Submissions that meet eligibility requirements are sent to an international, multisectoral panel of judges that includes biosafety, biosecurity, and nonproliferation experts from around the world. They judge and score submissions based on a predetermined rubric. All submissions are anonymized to avoid any conflict of interest.
3. Judges Roundtable: The judging panel meets to discuss the top scoring papers and vote for a winner and, if applicable, honorable mentions.

NEED A TEAM?

Participants can find teammates by:

• Completing the 2025 Next Generation for Biosecurity Interest Form. Once you have completed this form, you may find potential teammates here.
• Joining the 2025 Biosecurity Competition Team Finder group on WhatsApp.

INFORMATIONAL WEBINAR

Watch our virtual webinar that was held on April 3, 2025, for an overview of the 2025 Next Generation for Biosecurity Competition and a moderated discussion with an expert panel.