Protecting Biotechnologies: The Risks of Chinese Economic Espionage

The biotech-AI revolution is under appreciated and under protected.

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Protecting Biotechnologies: The Risks of Chinese Economic Espionage

Last week, in one of its final actions, the Biden administration announced new export controls on advanced biotechnology equipment, aimed at preventing critical technologies from falling into the hands of U.S. adversaries. These controls represent the latest effort to restrict access to a rapidly growing industry that, alongside artificial intelligence, is poised to become one of the most transformative sectors of our time. In the coming years, the convergence of biotechnology and AI could enable breakthroughs such as personalized medicines tailored to an individual’s unique genetic profile, regenerative therapies capable of slowing or reversing aging, and unpredictable biological weapons.

But despite its revolutionary potential, biotechnology has received far less policy attention than AI. While initiatives like the recently announced Framework for Artificial Intelligence Diffusion have sought to safeguard AI technologies, the biotech sector has been comparatively overlooked, even as China’s biotechnology industry continues to advance.

However, last year, the BIOSECURE Act emerged as a significant legislative attempt to respond to this challenge. It passed the U.S. House of Representatives in September with overwhelming bipartisan support after a high-profile case of Chinese industrial espionage in the biotech sector. China has been identified as a major source of biotech IP theft cases, primarily due to state-sponsored espionage that aligns with China’s national goals. While the BIOSECURE Act failed to reach the Senate floor in last year’s session, the legislation is likely to resurface in 2025, with a good chance of passing.

This post will explore the rationale behind the BIOSECURE Act, break down key trends and emerging technologies in biotech, explain the rapid rise of China’s biotech industry, and discuss the specific espionage threats targeting the sector. It will also highlight case studies and propose steps that companies and governments should take to protect this critical field. As with other strategic industries—semiconductors, shipbuilding, defense, etc.—safeguarding biotechnology should be a top priority for Western lawmakers in 2025.

The post is structured as follows:

1. The BIOSECURE Act — Background and Potential Impact

2. Current Trends and Emerging Tech in the Biotech Industry

3. The Rise of Chinese Biotech

4. Espionage Threats to Biotechnology

5. Case Studies

6. Why This Matters

7. What Companies and Governments Should Do

Let’s get started.