AdvaMed and Georgia Bio Send Letter to Natural Resources & Environment Committee Related to Ethylene Oxide
On behalf of the Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed) and Georgia Bio, we wrote to the Natural Resources & Environment Committee to share our comments on Senate Bill 426, being considered by the legislature, related to ethylene oxide. As you may know, billions of medical devices each year in the U.S. are sterilized using ethylene oxide. The direct impact of severe restriction on the ability to sterilize medical devices could compromise the medical device industry’s ability to provide a consistent, stable, and safe supply of medical supplies to patients nationwide during the COVID-19 pandemic.
As the threat of antimicrobial resistance to disease-causing, mutating microbes continues to rise in the U.S. and around the globe, now more than ever, we need to ensure the medical and surgical equipment health care providers use is sterile. Ethylene oxide allows sterile surgeries to happen.
Please click here to view the full letter to the committee.
New national report highlights Georgia’s growing bioscience workforce, research enterprise, and investment activity October 28— Georgia’s bioscience industry continues to expand its economic footprint, supporting 42,605 jobs across 4,281 business establishments statewide in 2025, according to a new report examining the economic impact of the U.S. bioscience industry. The U.S. Bioscience Economy: Advancing Innovation and Strengthening States and Regions, published by the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), the Council of State Bioscience Associations, and TEConomy Partners, provides a comprehensive assessment of the bioscience industry’s contributions to employment, wages, business growth, university research and development, and access to capital across all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. Georgia’s bioscience employment grew 7.6% between 2021 and 2025, slightly outpacing national growth. The state recorded employment gains across all five major bioscience industry subsectors, demonstrating the breadth of its life sciences economy. “Georgia’s bioscience industry is an important contributor to our state’s economic competitiveness, creating high-quality jobs and advancing research and innovation,” said Maria Thacker Goethe, President and CEO of Georgia Life Sciences. “These findings underscore the opportunity to build on Georgia’s strengths by strengthening connections among research institutions, industry, investors, and workforce partners to help more life sciences companies innovate and grow here.” Georgia’s Bioscience Industry: Key Findings The report highlights several indicators of Georgia’s bioscience industry strength: 42,605 jobs: Georgia’s bioscience industry employed more than 42,000 people in 2025, with employment growing 7.6% from 2021 to 2025. 4,281 business establishments: Bioscience companies and related businesses operate across the state, contributing to Georgia’s diverse economic base. $112,712 in average annual wages: Bioscience industry wages exceeded Georgia’s private-sector average by 52%, highlighting the sector’s contribution to high-value employment. $2.0 billion in university bioscience research: Georgia universities conducted $2.0 billion in bioscience-related research and development in fiscal year 2024. $789.5 million in NIH funding: Georgia institutions received $789.5 million in National Institutes of Health funding in fiscal year 2025. $1.5 billion in venture capital investment: Georgia bioscience companies attracted $1.5 billion in venture capital from 2021 through 2025. Georgia’s bioscience distribution subsector, the state’s largest, expanded employment by 10.3% during the period. Agricultural feedstock and industrial biosciences recorded the fastest percentage growth, reflecting the breadth of activity across the state’s bioscience economy. National Industry Impact Nationally, the U.S. bioscience industry generated $3.19 trillion in total economic output and directly employed 2.31 million Americans across more than 156,000 business establishments. The report examines the industry's economic footprint and the factors that support its continued growth, including research investment, workforce development, and access to capital. Building on Georgia’s Life Sciences Momentum The findings highlight Georgia’s substantial research enterprise, established industry base, and ability to attract investment. Continued growth will depend on strengthening the connections that help translate scientific discoveries into commercial opportunities, expand access to capital, develop a skilled workforce, and provide the infrastructure companies need to scale. Georgia Life Sciences works to advance the state’s life sciences ecosystem through policy and advocacy, workforce development, industry convening, and strategic collaboration. Its statewide roadmap, Pathways & Partnerships: A Roadmap for Georgia’s Life Sciences Sector, outlines a long-term vision for positioning Georgia as a leading scale-up manufacturing hub in the Southeast. “Georgia has significant assets across research, manufacturing, workforce, and logistics,” Goethe said. “By coordinating these strengths and addressing the gaps that can limit company growth, we can create more opportunities for innovation, investment, and long-term economic impact across the state.” Read the Report The full report, The U.S. Bioscience Economy: Advancing Innovation and Strengthening States and Regions, and Georgia’s state-specific profile are available from the Biotechnology Innovation Organization. Explore the national report and findings Download Georgia’s state profile (PDF)
Georgia Life Sciences connected 23 educators with hands-on STEM learning and industry experts at its Savannah workshop to strengthen the workforce pipeline.
Georgia Life Sciences Institute connects 23 chemistry teachers with industry professionals to bring real-world career opportunities into the classroom. The Georgia Life Sciences Institute (GLSI) recently organized an industry visit for 23 Forsyth County chemistry teachers to Bend Bioscience in Gainesville, Georgia, offering educators a firsthand look at the careers, skills, and opportunities available within the state's growing life sciences sector. During the visit, teachers engaged directly with Bend Bioscience employees, toured the facility, and explored how concepts taught in chemistry classrooms translate into real-world applications. Conversations focused on workforce needs, career pathways, and the combination of technical and professional skills that help employees succeed in the life sciences industry. A particular area of interest was Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC), functions essential to maintaining the quality, safety, and consistency of life sciences products. These discussions helped educators better understand the range of careers available to students, including opportunities beyond traditional research and laboratory roles. The experience also demonstrated the impact of connecting educators directly with industry. Several participating teachers shared that the visit inspired them to discuss life sciences career opportunities with their own children, illustrating how greater career awareness can extend beyond the classroom. Both the educators and Bend Bioscience team expressed interest in continued engagement, reinforcing the value of building stronger connections between Georgia's schools and life sciences employers. Connecting Education and Industry Through initiatives like this visit, GLSI works to bridge the gap between education and industry by giving teachers direct exposure to the companies, technologies, and careers shaping Georgia's life sciences ecosystem. By equipping educators with firsthand industry knowledge, GLSI helps bring greater career awareness and real-world relevance into classrooms across the state, introducing students to pathways they may not have previously considered. Georgia Life Sciences Institute extends its appreciation to Bend Bioscience for welcoming Forsyth County educators and investing time in the teachers who help prepare Georgia's future workforce. Together, these partnerships are helping build awareness of the diverse opportunities available in Georgia's life sciences industry and strengthen the state's future talent pipeline.
