NTI | bio Hosts 2023 Global Biosecurity Dialogue Workstream Meetings

NTI | bio hosted more than 50 high-level biosecurity experts and professionals from governments, civil society, and regional and international organizations for the 2023 Global Biosecurity Dialogue (GBD) Workstream meetings between February 28 and March 7.

The virtual meetings, supported by Global Affairs Canada’s Weapons Threat Reduction Program and Open Philanthropy, sought to advance biosafety and biosecurity efforts in support of the five areas of work identified during the annual GBD meeting hosted in Cape Town, South Africa in November 2022. These actions include:

• Launch a biosecurity advocacy agenda
• Optimize impactful biosecurity collaboration at the regional level
• Create transparent biosecurity systems with clear performance indicators
• Incentivize actions that reduce emerging biological risks associated with advances in technology
• Foster the next generation of biosecurity leaders

The event featured nine presentations aligned against the three GBD workstreams – Biosecurity Capabilities, Biosecurity Policy, and Emerging Biological Risks. Participants discussed how to accelerate action within these workstreams and are working to develop coordinated biosecurity policy “asks” that they can use to raise awareness and advocate for change.

“We are thrilled to have brought together such an esteemed group of experts committed to taking actions to improve biosecurity at national, regional, and global levels,” said NTI | bio Deputy Vice President, Hayley Severance. “The event provided an opportunity for participants to share knowledge, exchange ideas, and identify opportunities for collaboration to reduce biological risks worldwide.”

The GBD is an annual series of multi-stakeholder discussions designed to sustain attention and accelerate progress in advancing international biosecurity. Throughout 2023, NTI | bio will continue to convene the workstreams and associated working groups prior to a convening of the full meeting of the GBD late in the year.