Emerging Bioindustrial Ecosystem in Washington Driving U.S. Biomanufacturing Growth

Washington State is home to a flourishing biomedical research and innovation hub, and emerging opportunities in bioindustrial manufacturing are turning the state into a biomanufacturing powerhouse.

27, August 2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Seattle, Washington –

On Tuesday, August 25, Commissioners Paul Arcangeli and Alexander Titus of the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB) joined Dr. Ali Nouri, senior staff with the Senate Commerce, Science, and Technology Committee, on a visit to Washington State to hear from innovators leading the state’s flourishing health biotech ecosystem and to learn more about how a growing bioindustrial base is reshoring American manufacturing and securing vulnerable supply chains.

In its April 2025 Action Plan for strengthening U.S. biotechnology, the NSCEB recommends leveraging biotechnology to bring manufacturing back to the United States. Biotechnology is unlocking new ways to manufacture critical products in cities like Seattle. Harnessing this potential will secure vulnerable supply chains from geopolitical influence and ensure Americans can access the vital products they need.

“Biomanufacturing is the next evolution of American manufacturing strength,” said NSCEB Commissioner Paul Arcangeli. “As home to leading innovators and world-class research institutions, Washington State leverages the incredible biomass resources of the Pacific Northwest and deep AIxBio know-how to support a robust bioindustrial base. This thriving ecosystem will help reshore American manufacturing to drive job growth, economic resilience, and secure supply chains for our most critical products.”

“Artificial intelligence is converging with biology in ways that are not just accelerating innovation, but are unlocking new frontiers every day,” said NSCEB Commissioner Alexander Titus. “Washington’s biotech ecosystem is primed to capture all that AIxBio convergence has to offer, and Seattle’s well-established research leadership for biotech is a stepping stone for extending emerging biotechnologies into industries beyond health.”

“Biomanufacturing will be a growing share of the physical economy, making protein design a strategic capability,” said Alexandre Zanghellini, PhD, CEO and Co-Founder of Arzeda. “The Pacific Northwest is the world’s center of gravity for protein design. Arzeda has spent a decade designing enzymes with AI and manufacturing them at scale. That manufacturing capacity belongs here and with our allies.”

“Seattle was recently named one of the top five emerging biotech hubs in the world,” said Marc Cummings, President and CEO of Life Science Washington. “Built on world-class research, collaboration, and leadership in AI and life sciences, the Seattle ecosystem has been at the forefront of American innovation for decades, but today federal funding uncertainty and lower-cost research and clinical trial infrastructure overseas threatens U.S. leadership. As other countries target our leadership in biotechnology, we need to simultaneously streamline our regulatory system and make targeted regional investments to ensure that hubs like Seattle remain competitive.”

“Biotechnology has the potential to bring together diverse aspects of the U.S. economy from AI to agriculture. That’s what happens when a computationally-designed biocatalysis process developed at Decycle Bio transitions from the computer to the lab and then to the factory, making use of domestic feedstocks and securing chemical supply chains,” said Christopher Pirie, co-founder and CEO of Decycle Bio.

Event Details:

Beginning the day at the Allen Institute, Commissioners Arcangeli and Titus visited the nonprofit bioscience accelerator for a look at new work happening across the institute. They visited several laboratories at the Allen Institute working on cutting-edge biotech research.

In the afternoon, Commissioners visited Arzeda Corporation, a company using AI-driven protein design to advance biomanufacturing using enzymes. After a tour of Arzeda’s facilities, Commissioners Arcangeli and Titus joined a panel discussion on Washington’s biotech ecosystem, including its strengths, the differences in commercialization of biopharmaceuticals and bioindustrial products, and the opportunity that AIxBio innovation presents.

Participants included:

Accipiter Biosciences
Acequia Capitol
Allen Institute
Arzeda Corporation
Benaroya Research Institute
Decycle Bio
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
HDT Bio
Life Science Washington
Lincoln Property Company – CoLabs
Madrona Venture Group
Marva Labs
Office of United States Representative Kim Schrier
Office of United States Representative Pramila Jayapal
Office of United States Representative Ro Khanna
Office of United States Representative Suzan K. DelBene
Pack Ventures
Sana Biotechnology
Seattle Children’s Research Institute
Talus Bio
The Bioforge
United States Senate Commerce, Science, and Technology Committee
University of Washington
Washington Research Foundation
Xaira Therapeutics

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