What Amgen Biotech Experience does

Amgen Biotech Experience (ABE) is a nonprofit international science education program, founded circa 1990 and operated under the Amgen Foundation with direction and technical assistance from the Education Development Center (EDC). The program provides secondary school teachers and students with a comprehensive biotechnology curriculum spanning three delivery modes — lab-based investigations (gel electrophoresis, PCR, pipetting), classroom-based investigations (bioethics, precision medicine, computational thinking), and web-based investigations delivered through the LabXchange platform — plus teacher professional development institutes (PDIs), Master Teacher Fellowships (up to 12 stipended fellows annually), career-connection resources, and lab-equipment loans. ABE has reached over 1.1 million students and trained 10,000+ teachers across 27 program sites in 17 countries including the USA, Canada, Australia, Italy, Ireland, the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Singapore, Puerto Rico, and Türkiye.

ABE's business model is philanthropic rather than commercial: the entire program is funded by an Amgen Foundation grant, with no fees charged to schools, teachers, or students. Product pricing is therefore not applicable, and there is no paying customer base in the traditional sense. GTM motion is community-led and event-driven: 27 local program sites host PDIs and roundtables that recruit and retain teachers, supported by organic social channels (LinkedIn, Facebook, X, YouTube, Bluesky), a blog, an email newsletter, and free virtual teacher roundtables. Distribution is hybrid — direct/field (program sites and PDIs) plus self-serve PLG via the LabXchange platform. Core technology is the LabXchange digital learning platform (a Harvard–Amgen Foundation partnership); proprietary features center on the three investigation modalities and a continuously refreshed curriculum catalog including modules on Synthetic Biology, Thalassemia, Viral Variants, Innovative Cancer Treatments, and Rice Genetic Modification Simulation.

ABE has no subsidiaries, no commercial revenue, no venture or private-equity ownership, and functions as a single-entity educational initiative. Its sole material counterparty is the Amgen Foundation as funder, and operational direction is provided by EDC under California-governed terms of use.

Name

Amgen Biotech Experience

Legal name

Amgen Biotech Experience

Website

https://amgenbiotechexperience.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Amgen Biotech Experience is a nonprofit science education program funded by the Amgen Foundation that delivers biotechnology curriculum, laboratory equipment, and professional development to secondary school teachers and students across 27 program sites in 17 countries, operated with the Education Development Center.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Science Education

NAICS

All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology (EDABALAU)

akta.pro secondary industries

AI & Machine Learning (Foundations & Applied) (EDAMACAG), Corporate/Industry-Sponsored International Internship Programs (EDAIAFAH), AI & Emerging Technology Literacy (EDAAAIAJ)

Keywords

• Science education
• Biotechnology curriculum
• Teacher professional development
• STEM education programs
• Laboratory learning

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Amgen Foundation Grant: ABE is entirely funded by a grant from the Amgen Foundation. Education Development Center (EDC) provides direction and technical assistance. This is a philanthropic educational initiative, not a commercial enterprise.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Amgen Biotech Experience (ABE) is an international nonprofit science education program that provides free biotechnology curriculum, laboratory equipment loans, and professional development to secondary school teachers and students. It operates through 27 program sites across 17 countries, delivering lab-based, classroom-based, and web-based biotechnology investigations along with teacher training institutes (PDIs) and a Master Teacher Fellowship, all funded by the Amgen Foundation with technical assistance from Education Development Center (EDC).

Product overview

Amgen Biotech Experience (ABE) is an international science education program funded by the Amgen Foundation with technical assistance from Education Development Center (EDC). The program provides a comprehensive biotechnology curriculum portfolio consisting of three main investigation types: Lab-based Investigations (hands-on lab techniques like gel electrophoresis, PCR, pipetting), Classroom-based Investigations (non-lab activities, games, simulations), and Web-based Investigations (digital curriculum via platforms like LabXchange). Supporting products include the Master Teacher Fellowship (professional development for experienced educators), Professional Learning/PDIs (teacher training institutes), Career Connections (professional profiles), and various teaching resources such as ABE Teacher Guides, T3 Toolkit, Visual Guides, and Escape Room Puzzles. The program operates across 27 sites in 17 countries, impacting over 1,100,000 students globally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lab-based Investigations Hands-on laboratory biotechnology curriculum allowing students to perform techniques such as gel electrophoresis, PCR, pipetting, and other molecular biology techniques. Aimed at secondary school biology and science teachers and their students.
• Classroom-based Investigations Non-laboratory biotechnology curriculum including activities, games, simulations, and projects on topics such as precision medicine, bioethics, computational thinking, viral variants, and innovative cancer treatments. Designed for secondary school classrooms without lab facilities.
• Web-based Investigations Digital/biotechnology curriculum delivered through web platforms, including bioinformatics activities, simulations, and online learning accessible to teachers and students worldwide via LabXchange.
• Professional Learning (PDIs) Professional learning institutes (PDIs) designed and hosted by local ABE program sites that help teachers practice content-specific competencies including bench skills and bioscience standards. Free training for participating teachers.
• Master Teacher Fellowship

Quantifiable outcome

• Students exposed to ABE show increased interest and confidence in science and biotechnology
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and regional.

• Education Development Center (EDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEDC is a global nonprofit organization that provides direction and technical assistance for the ABE program. They manage the program office and support curriculum development, professional learning, and program implementation worldwide.
• LabXchangecoreTechnology or IntegrationLabXchange is a free online science learning platform developed by Harvard's Amgen Foundation partnership that hosts ABE curriculum resources and enables teachers to access professional development and curriculum materials.
• University College Dublin (UCD)regionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerUCD serves as the ABE program site in Ireland. The institution hosts PDIs, supports teacher training, and during COVID-19, Amgen Ireland employees volunteered at UCD to help create PCR testing materials for hospitals.
• Regional Program Sites (27 locations)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal educational institutions and organizations hosting ABE program sites provide teacher training, lab facilities, and regional coordination across 17 countries including USA, Canada, Australia, Italy, Ireland, UK, Germany, Netherlands, Singapore, Puerto Rico, and others.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• iGEM (International Genetically Engineered Machine): International education competition and foundation that engages students in synthetic biology through hands-on lab work. Comparable as a global student-facing biotech/synthetic biology education initiative with teacher training components.
• Biogen Foundation: Biogen's philanthropic arm runs STEM education programs including Star Scholars and community college access initiatives. Comparable as a biotech company foundation funding science education programs with similar CSR-driven mission.
• LabXchange: Free online science learning platform developed through Harvard's Amgen Foundation partnership that hosts ABE curriculum resources. Directly comparable as a digital science education platform targeting secondary and undergraduate students with biotech content.
• DNA Learning Center (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory): Operating since 1988, DNALC provides hands-on genetics and biotechnology laboratory education for students and teachers. Comparable mission and delivery model to ABE, focused on lab-based DNA/biotech curriculum in school settings.

Others

• Education Development Center (EDC): Global nonprofit that provides direction and technical assistance for ABE. While ABE's operational partner rather than a direct competitor, EDC runs numerous STEM education programs with comparable curriculum development and teacher training scope.
• Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO): US trade association representing the biotech industry, including education and workforce development initiatives. Comparable as a biotech industry stakeholder advancing workforce pipeline and education advocacy.

Broad incumbents

• Science Olympiad: National STEM competition and education organization for K-12 students with event categories spanning biology, chemistry, and biotech-adjacent topics. Comparable as a national-scale US STEM education infrastructure for secondary students.
• Regeneron Science Talent Search: Premier US STEM talent identification program sponsored by Regeneron (biotech company), reaching high school students with science research recognition. Comparable as a pharma-funded STEM education program targeting high-achieving secondary students.
• Pfizer's educational programs: Pfizer Foundation runs various STEM and healthcare education programs globally. Comparable as another large pharma foundation operating science education initiatives with similar philanthropic funding model.
• Genentech Innovation Program: Genentech (a Roche company) runs science education programs and partners with schools to deliver biotech exposure. Comparable as a biotech industry player funding secondary-level science education.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/abeprogoffice
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCiTbFIy1iOhkdVIZqHnYmQg
• Facebookfacebook.com/ABEProgOffice
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/amgenbiotechexperience

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Amgen Biotech Experience