GPEC joins national biotechnology symposium in Washington, D.C.

Published: 03/27/2026

Greater Phoenix, federal leadership discuss biotechnology industry policy efforts at Biotech Across America State Symposium

PHOENIX (March 27, 2026) — The Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC) joined the Biotech Across America State Symposium in Washington, D.C. this week to discuss the strategic importance of strong state and local biotechnology ecosystems in bolstering national security and economic resilience.

At this two-day event, a continuation of the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB)’s Biotech Across America Roadshow, Greater Phoenix and Arizona leadership discussed national policy efforts in the industry with federal leadership and learned how the state can leverage its strengths to increase its impact on and coordination with the national sector.

This convening comes at a critical moment for U.S. biotechnology: As artificial intelligence (AI) converges with biology, advances in the life sciences are transforming sectors throughout the economy. Strengthening biotech is a national security imperative that helps lift industries and quality of life alike. State and regional initiatives are key to supporting the broader U.S. biotechnology industry, particularly in building workforce pipelines, supporting commercialization and fostering a greater understanding of the industry, its impacts and its potential.

“Biotechnology is no longer just a healthcare industry. It is national security, economic resiliency and innovation,” said Allie Bakovic, GPEC Vice President of Bioscience Business Development. “Greater Phoenix’s biotechnology sector is growing because of intentional collaboration between industry, academia, healthcare systems and government partners, and there are significant opportunities to contribute to national priorities including supply chain stability, biodefense and manufacturing. Continued coordination between federal, state, and regional partners will be critical to ensuring regions like ours will advance U.S. competitiveness through workforce development, commercialization support and industry growth.”

GPEC has worked closely with local groups including the Flinn Foundation, AZBio, the Phoenix Bioscience Core and Discovery Oasis to develop and nurture large clusters with evolving capabilities in biotechnology subsectors such as regenerative medicines, medtech and personalized medicine, with potential to engage in other subsectors unique to Arizona’s landscape such as bioremediation, industrial biotech and biodefense. The scope of the work in Greater Phoenix has aligned with increases in education and employment — over the last 10 years, the region had more growth in bioscience completions than any other major metro, and the sixth-most growth in bio industry jobs.

As such, Arizona is playing a role in the next stages of this massively important industry.

“As the NSCEB has traveled around the country, we’ve discovered biotech stakeholders turning local ingenuity and talent into national strength at every stop,” said NSCEB Vice Chair Michelle Rozo. “The hard work and dedication represented at the Biotech Across America State Symposium prove that regional biotech ecosystems are the foundation for durable economic resilience. But there is more work to be done at the federal, state, and local level, and biotech voices from every corner of the nation will play a vital role in maintaining the U.S. position as the global biotechnology leader.”

In collaboration with the Southwest Mission Acceleration Center, GPEC will host NSCEB and other federal officials from May 13-14 for further education on the Greater Phoenix bioscience ecosystem.

The Biotech Across America Roadshow was organized by NSCEB in partnership with the Federation of American Scientists (FAS) and the Engineering Biology Research Consortium (EBRC).

About the Biotech Across America State Symposium

The Biotech Across America State Symposium builds on the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology’s (NSCEB) Biotech Across America Roadshow by bringing together senior state and regional leaders from across the United States. By convening leaders with direct experience shaping biotechnology ecosystems, the symposium aims to create a forum for comparing approaches, identifying shared challenges, and highlighting strategies that can be adapted or scaled across different states. Representatives were invited from all 50 states to discuss ideas in three cross-cutting areas: talent pipeline development, commercialization efforts, and bioliteracy programs.

About the 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 the Greater Phoenix Economic Council

The Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC), globally recognized as a top economic development organization (EDO), works to attract and grow quality businesses and advocate for the competitiveness of Greater Phoenix. A data-driven regional EDO, GPEC works with 22 member communities, Maricopa and Pinal counties and more than 200 private investors to accomplish its mission and serve as a strategic partner to companies across the world as they expand or relocate to Greater Phoenix. Over the past 36 years, GPEC has fueled the regional economy by helping over 1,075 companies, creating more than 195,000 jobs and more than $76.5 billion in capital investment. Greater Phoenix is in a relentless pursuit of innovative and entrepreneurial-focused companies looking to thrive and scale in a vibrant, dynamic region. There is an undeniable spirit about Greater Phoenix; one rooted in strength, collaboration and resilience. Greater Phoenix is Greater Together. For more information about GPEC and how we can assist your businesses, visit www.gpec.org.

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.

About EBRC

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, and articulate compelling research roadmaps and programs to address these challenges and opportunities.

About FAS

The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) works to advance progress on a broad suite of contemporary issues where science, technology, and innovation policy can deliver transformative impact, and seeks to ensure that scientific and technical expertise have a seat at the policymaking table. Established in 1945 by scientists in response to the atomic bomb, FAS continues to bring scientific rigor and analysis to address national challenges. More information about FAS work at fas.org.