The International Biosecurity and Biosafety Initiative for Science Foundation

EU Legislative Interests

Given the remit and scope of IBBIS set out above, the main EU legislative proposals of interest include the EU Biotech Act and discussions around the EU Action Plan and strategy on Chemical, Biological and Radiological and Nuclear Strategy (CBRN strategy). IBBIS has responded to EU consultations (e.g. EU Biotech Act public questionnaire, Bioeconomy call for evidence, EU internal security strategy) and attended round table events (e.g. European Parliament events such as the meeting on “Strengthening EU’s resilience – Ensuring Security and Competitiveness in Biotech, 27 March 2025).

Communication Activities

IBBIS has attended events such as the European Parliament round table event mentioned in the previous question but has not organised or taken the initiative to organise events. IBBIS does not currently have the capacity or any plans to organise such events or campaigns. IBBIS has endorsed e.g. Joint Position on the European Commission - Proposal for an EU Biotech Act (along with 13 other organisations and stakeholders hailing from the synthetic biology sector).

Interests Represented

Does not represent commercial interests

Member Of

International Gene Synthesis consortium (IGSC): The International Gene Synthesis Consortium (IGSC) is an industry-led group of gene synthesis companies and organizations formed to design and apply a common protocol to screen both the sequences of synthetic gene orders and the customers who place them. In addition, the consortium works with national and international government organizations and other interested parties to promote the beneficial application of gene synthesis technology while safeguarding biosecurity. Engineering Biology Research Consortium (EBRC) is a non-profit, public-private partnership dedicated to bringing together an inclusive community committed to advancing engineering biology to address national and global needs. We showcase cutting-edge research in engineering biology, identify pressing challenges and opportunities in research and application, articulate compelling research roadmaps and programs to address them, and provide timely access to other key developments in engineering biology. Driven by member-led working groups, we focus on Research Roadmapping, Education, Security, and Policy & International Engagement.

Organisation Members

Sequence Biosecurity Risk Consortium (SBRC) - http://sbrc.bio/ Founded in 2024, the SBRC maintains a standard definition of “sequences of concern” based on a scientific assessment of biosecurity risk from synthetic nucleic acids. We bring together synthesis providers, screening tool developers, policymakers, and scientific experts to build the following resources: - Biosecurity Flag Rubric: A science-based rubric to assess risks from nucleic acid sequences. - Test Sets Collection: Thousands of sequences labelled 'flag' or 'no flag' according to the rubric. - Stakeholder Community: A trusted forum to disclose, discuss, and address screening vulnerabilities. Members: Twist Bioscience, Secure DNA, Integrated DNA Technologies, Frontier Model Forum, Batelle, Aclid DNA Screening Standards Consortium (DSSC) - This consortium brings together global experts from industry, academia, government, and civil society to strengthen and operationalize international standards for DNA synthesis screening, ensuring they are both technically robust and practically implementable across different contexts.

Additional Information

IBBIS was launched in February 2024 and was officially established and formally established as a non-profit foundation with a public-good mission on the 3rd June 2024. As such, IBBIS has not yet closed accounts for a full financial year. This information is also publicly available at: Search business name | Central Business Name Index In line with this timeline, IBBIS will close its first full financial year in 2026, covering the 2025 financial period. Consequently, no financial data for a closed financial year is currently available.