Education And Opportunity Mark Strength Of Atlanta Biotech Industry
A skilled workforce is the engine that will drive growth across America’s biotechnology industry, and Atlanta has built multi-faceted training programs that are developing and sustaining the talent pipeline for everything from advanced laboratory research to industrial biomanufacturing.
March 13, 2026 - Atlanta, Georgia – Today, the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB) traveled to Atlanta for its second Georgia stop on the Biotech Across America Roadshow. Commissioners Paul Arcangeli, Dawn Meyerriecks, and Dov Zakheim visited a biotechnology workforce training center and a cutting-edge research facility to learn more about the innovation, policy, and the unique opportunities for biotech in Atlanta. Workforce development initiatives were key recommendations in the NSCEB’s April 2025 action plan for Congress to boost the U.S. biotech industry and strengthen national security.
“America’s biotechnology leadership will ultimately depend on people as much as technology,” said NSCEB Commissioner Paul Arcangeli. “The Commission’s action plan makes it clear that building and maintaining a pipeline of skilled workers—from the trades to advanced laboratory research—is essential for actually scaling innovation. We have the talent, and in Atlanta, they have the opportunities needed to drive their success.”
“Biotechnology has immense job-creating power across the American economy,” said NSCEB Commissioner Dawn Meyerriecks. “Atlanta is a show of force when it comes to biomanufacturing job creation and this formula is repeatable in communities all over the country. These types of jobs will bring growth and prosperity to towns and cities in every state.”
“To move discoveries from lab to market, we need a talented workforce prepared to work at the leading edge of biotech innovation,” said NSCEB Commissioner Dov Zakheim. “The opportunities in Atlanta are shaping the next generation of biotechnology innovators and developing a legacy of leadership when it comes to training the future workforce.”
“Georgia’s life sciences sector is helping strengthen America’s national security by expanding domestic biomanufacturing capacity, advancing biotechnology innovation, and building a highly skilled workforce,” said Maria Thacker Goethe, President & CEO, Georgia Life Sciences. “We were honored to host the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology and showcase how Georgia’s collaborative ecosystem—spanning industry, research institutions, and workforce training partners—is driving the next generation of the bioeconomy. The work happening across our state demonstrates how regional leadership in biotechnology directly contributes to national resilience and global competitiveness.”
Event Details:
Commissioners first visited the Georgia Bioscience Training Center in Covington. The facility is part of a public-private partnership with the State of Georgia to drive biomanufacturing training opportunities in the region. The center provides customized life science industry training and is helping attract more biotech business to Georgia. Partnerships like this are critical to biotech industry growth and the NSCEB’s research highlights how stronger public-private partnerships contribute not only to industry growth, but to greater innovation and improved economic resilience.
In Atlanta, Commissioners visited the National Science Foundation (NSF) Engineering Research Center for Cell Manufacturing (CMaT) at Georgia Tech where they met students from the Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS) Foundation, and the International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) program. Access to the NSF facility and the training opportunities for ARCS participants are transformative advantages for regional biotech businesses.
At the end of the day, Commissioners joined a roundtable discussion on Georgia’s biotech ecosystem. Biotech industry leaders, representatives from academia, and state officials discussed how innovation in biotechnology is shaping the future direction of the industry, workforce development, and educational needs. They also discussed state and federal policy issues impacting industry growth both in Georgia and across the country.
Participants Included:
- Accuitis
- Achievement Rewards for College Scientists Foundation
- Andson Biotech
- ArunA Biomedical
- Emory University
- Focused Cryo, Inc.
- Frugal Science Academy
- Georgia Bioscience Training Center
- Georgia Department of Economic Development
- ·Georgia Life Sciences
- Georgia Life Sciences Institute
- Georgia Quick Start
- Georgia Research Alliance
- Georgia Tech
- GeoVax
- Lambert High School iGEM team
- Micron Biomedical
- Moonlight Therapeutics
- NSF Engineering Research Center for Cell Manufacturing Technologies
- Nutrivert
- Office of U.S. Representative Lucy McBath
- Soal Therapeutics
- Takeda
- TopoDx
- UCB
Biotech Across America Roadshow
The Commission is hitting the road to highlight biotechnology across America, including the companies, academic institutions, workforce development programs, and policy initiatives that are driving the future for this rapidly growing industry. Commissioners will continue learning about the work being done across this vibrant ecosystem while engaging on the key findings and recommendations from the Commission’s recent report to Congress.
About NSCEB: The National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology is a time-limited, high-impact legislative branch advisory entity whose purpose is to advance and secure biotechnology, biomanufacturing, and associated technologies for U.S. national security and to prepare the United States for the bioindustrial revolution. The Commission published a comprehensive report in April 2025, including recommendations for action by Congress and the federal government. The bipartisan Commission is composed of Congressionally-appointed Commissioners with members from both the Senate and the House of Representatives as well as experts from industry, academia, and government. For more information about the Commission and to view the report, visit: biotech.senate.gov.
Contacts:
NSCEB: press@biotech.senate.gov
