NTI Advances Biotechnology Governance Framework to Reduce Emerging Biological Risks

This month, NTI | bio convened global experts in Amsterdam for the 2025 Biosecurity Innovation Risk Reduction Initiative (BIRRI) meeting to discuss safeguarding rapidly advancing bioscience and biotechnology capabilities, focusing on three key areas: DNA synthesis screening, safeguarding AIxBio capabilities, and guarding against mirror life risks.

The discussion included experts from across industry, the scientific research community, international organizations, and governments. They explored biosecurity challenges in the context of NTI’s proposed “three-legged stool” approach to biotechnology governance, which is designed to address current and future biological risks, through:

• Practical and technical solutions to safeguard rapidly advancing technologies against misuse while enabling scientific innovation

• Global platforms to develop and share biosecurity best practices

• Incentives to drive broad adoption of best practices, including national government guidelines, regulations and financial incentives

Participants noted that biotechnology advances offer potentially transformative societal benefits—but these same advances introduce risks of accidental or deliberate misuse. Putting biotechnology governance measures in place to address these risks is particularly challenging, where national security and economic competition may be perceived as in conflict with responsible innovation.

While participants acknowledged progress in governance to safeguard DNA synthesis screening, AIxBio capabilities, and guarding against mirror life risks, they also identified key gaps and proposed innovative risk reduction solutions:

• DNA Synthesis Screening: Experts called for minimum customer screening standards, an increased focus on resilience to potential AI-enabled evasion attempts, and harmonization of existing biosecurity standards. IBBIS, EBRC, and iGEM were identified as key drivers of progress in these areas. Participants advocated for creative incentivizes—ranging from tax benefits to third party efforts to recognize industry adherence to screening best practices—to encourage universal adoption.

• Safeguarding AIxBio Capabilities: With few safeguards currently available, participants advocated for a “sandbox” approach to develop, test, and validate technical solutions. They also emphasized the importance of sharing insights through platforms like the AIxBio Global Forum and other multilateral venues, and of increasing funding for efforts to develop technical guardrails based on a comprehensive research agenda.

• Guarding Against Mirror Biology Risks: In response to significant potential threats posed by mirror life, participants reinforced the to call identify red lines in mirror biology research and explored a variety of interventions to implement it in practice. These include oversight by funders through platforms like the Bio Funders Compact, oversight of supply chains and service providers, and pre-publication review of manuscripts. Many participants also stressed the need to establish a global norm against the creation of mirror life and they highlighted the importance of buy-in through international dialogue and clear risk communication among scientists, policymakers, and the public. Participants identified concrete steps toward reinforcing such a global norm, such as biosecurity interventions throughout the lifecycle of mirror-biology research and development.

NTI | bio will continue to work with global partners through BIRRI to develop practical and technical biosecurity solutions, leverage global platforms to share best practices, and promote national governance approaches to foster an effective, adaptable biosecurity framework that reduces current and emerging biological threats arising from rapid technological change.