The Biosecurity Office regularly attends meetings abroad with the aim of sharing knowledge, acquiring knowledge and networking. For example, we recently attended the meeting of the Biological Weapons Convention, we visited biosecurity meetings in Cambridge and Helsinki, and the Biosecurity Office participated in a fellowship at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.
The purpose of 'Biosecurity Office International' is to inform you about our activities abroad. Where have we been (online) and where can you possibly encounter us (digitally). If you are going to an international meeting and would like to share biosecurity knowledge and information, do not hesitate to contact us. We may be able to support you with material or by sharing experiences we have gained in certain countries.
Biosecurity Innovation and Risk Reduction Initiative (BIRRI) meeting, Cambridge, 3-5 June
The Biosecurity Office participated in this conference organized by the Biosecurity Innovation and Risk Reduction Initiative (BIRRI). BIRRI is an initiative of the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI), an American non-profit organization. NTI launched BIRRI in 2018 to map biosecurity risks and to draw up guidelines to reduce the risk. During the meeting, extensive discussions were held about the risks and opportunities of artificial intelligence (AI) for biotechnology and how possible biosecurity risks can be recognized and reduced.
Helsinki Biosecurity Dialogue, Helsinki, 11-12 June
On 11-12 June 2024, the Council on Strategic Risks (CSR) in collaboration with the Government of Finland hosted the Helsinki Biosecurity Dialogue, bringing together representatives from 16 NATO countries and their Indo-Pacific partners, as well as experts from multilateral institutions and international NGOs. The two-day programme focused on strengthening relationships, sharing updates on biosecurity initiatives and discussing biological threats and responses. Regarding biosecurity initiatives, the Biosecurity Bureau participated in a panel discussion where, among other things, our outreach activities and education initiatives were highlighted.
A central theme was the shared goal of eliminating disease risks globally. This requires effective detection and stopping outbreaks before they can spread and cause damage. This was also the occasion for the launch of the Global Biosecurity Accelerator by CSR, of which the Helsinki Biosecurity Dialogue was the first multinational meeting. The goal of the Accelerator is to accelerate global resilience to biological threats, whether natural, accidental or intentional. In addition to promoting strong biosecurity strategies, Accelerator events will share insights on a range of country actions, such as strengthening biodefense and integrating biosecurity into broader societal approaches.
Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) , Geneva, 19-23 August
The fourth meeting of the Working Group on Strengthening the Biological Weapons Convention took place from 19 to 23 August in Geneva. The Biosecurity Office provided substantive support to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In addition, the Biosecurity Office organised a side event together with delegations from Cambodia, Mongolia, Sri Lanka and Uganda, on the lessons learned in setting up and implementing a national inventory of high-risk pathogens.
Emerging Leaders in Biosecurity Fellowship
Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security annually organizes an Emerging Leaders in Biosecurity (ELBI) Fellowship program. This competitive, part-time program offers talented young professionals the opportunity to deepen their biosecurity expertise, expand their network, and build leadership skills. This year, our Biosecurity Office colleague Iris Vennis has been selected for this fellowship. Components of this fellowship are a biosecurity workshop, a networking event, and a biosecurity research and practice symposium in Washington DC and a visit to the international (biosecurity-related) organizations in Geneva. Applications for ELBI 2025 will open on September 11. Read more about ELBI on the John Hopkins website: [ignore]https://centerforhealthsecurity.org/education-training/emerging-leaders-in-biosecurity-fellowship [/ignore]