International Biosecurity and Biosafety Initiative for Science

What International Biosecurity and Biosafety Initiative for Science does

The International Biosecurity and Biosafety Initiative for Science (IBBIS) is a Geneva-based Swiss non-profit foundation that develops open-source tools, technical standards, and policy frameworks to screen synthetic DNA and RNA orders for biosecurity risks. Founded in 2022 and launched as an independent organization in February 2024 after incubation under the Nuclear Threat Initiative, IBBIS operates with 1-10 staff and serves DNA/RNA synthesis providers, benchtop device manufacturers, academic biofoundries, policymakers, and AI biodesign developers across more than 80 countries. Its core technology product is the Common Mechanism (commec), a free open-source sequence screening software that runs locally to preserve data privacy, screens sequences as short as 50 base pairs, and has been validated for resilience against AI-generated obfuscation attacks with less than 2% false positives on real synthetic biology designs. Supporting tools include a NIST-partnered Screening Evaluation Portal, the Global DNA Synthesis Map (covering 700+ providers across 81 countries), and standardized customer/KYC screening forms. IBBIS also convenes two multi-stakeholder consortia — the Sequence Biosecurity Risk Consortium (SBRC) and the DNA Synthesis Screening Consortium (DSSC) — to develop consensus definitions of sequences of concern and translate standards such as ISO 20688-2:2024 into implementable guidance. Revenue is sourced exclusively from philanthropic grants (initially routed through NTI) and donations, subject to a strict Grant Acceptance Policy that vets funders for conflicts of interest with AI, synthetic biology, and biotechnology companies. Go-to-market relies on product-led open-source distribution via GitHub, community-led engagement through iGEM, Global South workshops, and event-driven policy advocacy at forums including the European Parliament, EU Commission, OECD, and the Biological Weapons Convention Meeting of States Parties. Named partners span standards bodies (NIST, ISO), industry consortia (IGSC, SBRC, DSSC), research institutions (University of Birmingham, UNICAMP), and synthesis providers (Twist Bioscience, IDT, CATALOG), with Microsoft providing research collaboration and an endowment.

Name

International Biosecurity and Biosafety Initiative for Science

Legal name

International Biosecurity and Biosafety Initiative for Science Foundation

Website

https://ibbis.bio

Company type

Private

Founded year

2024

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Geneva

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding: IBBIS operates as a non-profit foundation funded primarily through grants and philanthropic contributions. Initial operating costs were secured through funding from donors managed by NTI. The organization has detailed grant acceptance policies governing the types of funding it will and will not accept, with strict conflict of interest provisions regarding AI, synthetic biology, and biotechnology companies.
2. Donations: IBBIS accepts donations from individuals and organizations, subject to vetting procedures outlined in their Grant Acceptance Policy. The organization maintains strict guidelines to prevent conflicts of interest and reputational damage from funding sources.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

IBBIS develops and distributes free, open-source software tools (notably the Common Mechanism / commec screening tool and the Screening Evaluation Portal) that enable DNA and RNA synthesis providers to screen orders for biosecurity risks. The organization also convenes multi-stakeholder consortia (SBRC, DSSC), publishes the Global DNA Synthesis Map, and produces customer-screening resources to promote harmonized biosecurity standards globally.

Product overview

IBBIS offers a portfolio of interconnected biosecurity products and initiatives. The core offerings include the Common Mechanism (commec) software for DNA/RNA screening and the Screening Evaluation Portal for benchmarking screening tools against NIST standards. These are complemented by the Global DNA Synthesis Map for mapping synthesis providers globally, and Customer Screening Resources including forms and decision support tools. IBBIS also convenes two key consortia: the Sequence Biosecurity Risk Consortium (SBRC) for developing standards on sequences of concern, and the DNA Synthesis Screening Consortium (DSSC) for translating standards into practical guidance. Additional initiatives include vulnerability disclosure frameworks and international standards advocacy work.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Common Mechanism: A free, open-source, globally-available tool for synthesis screening that helps providers of synthetic DNA and RNA screen orders efficiently, securely, and in compliance with global biosecurity standards.
• Global DNA Synthesis Map
• DNA Synthesis Screening Consortium (DSSC)
• Sequence Biosecurity Risk Consortium (SBRC)

Products and services

• Common Mechanism (commec) Free, open-source, globally-available software tool for DNA and RNA synthesis screening. Screens sequences down to 50 base pairs to identify sequences of concern, regulated pathogens, and AI-generated obfuscation attempts. Runs locally to preserve sequence data privacy and control.
• Screening Evaluation Portal A web portal partnering with NIST to provide standardized evaluation test sets for assessing baseline DNA screening performance. Synthesis providers can evaluate screening protocols while screening tool developers can benchmark tools against NIST datasets, with PASS/FAIL scoring (Accuracy >= 75%, Sensitivity >= 95%).
• Global DNA Synthesis Map An interactive online tool showing global DNA synthesis providers, screening practices, and applicable policies. Maps over 700 companies providing synthetic nucleic acids across 81 countries with local policies mapped for over 60 countries including export controls and pathogen licenses.
• Customer Screening Resources Resources for Know-Your-Customer (KYC) screening including New Customer Forms, SOC Order Forms, and Decision Support Guides for DNA synthesis providers to verify customer legitimacy and establish biorisk management practices. Available as fillable PDF, Word, and plain text formats.

Quantifiable outcome

• <2% false positive rate on real synthetic biology designs
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and notable.

• NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology)coreTechnology or IntegrationIBBIS partners with US NIST to share standard evaluation test sets for assessing baseline sequence screening performance. NIST develops datasets that IBBIS distributes through its Screening Evaluation Portal. This partnership enables synthesis providers and screening tool developers to benchmark their systems against government-developed standards.
• MicrosoftflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMicrosoft researchers collaborated with IBBIS and other partners on a Science publication demonstrating how AI-designed protein variants can evade screening tools. Microsoft created an endowment to support IBBIS's managed access review work and computational hosting. The study set a precedent for responsible red-teaming of synthesis screening.
• Twist BiosciencecoreTechnology or IntegrationTwist Bioscience beta tested the Common Mechanism against real customer orders, confirming the tool enables compliance with industry best practices. Twist participated in the Microsoft-coordinated AI resilience study, screening protein variants to improve screening tools.
• IDT (Integrated DNA Technologies)coreTechnology or IntegrationIDT participated in the Microsoft-coordinated screening study, screening AI-generated protein variants alongside other synthesis providers and screening tool developers to improve resilience against AI-generated threats.
• International Gene Synthesis Consortium (IGSC)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerIBBIS is a member of the IGSC, which has over 40 member companies that screen orders according to its Harmonized Screening Protocol. IBBIS contributes to efforts to standardize best practices for synthesis screening and collaborates on technical consensus development.
• CATALOGnotableTechnology or IntegrationCATALOG, a DNA data storage company, uses IBBIS's Common Mechanism to develop clean libraries with rigorous screening for high-risk sequence patterns. Their executives have cited the partnership in World Economic Forum reports on synthetic biology and biosecurity.
• Sequence Biosecurity Risk Consortium (SBRC)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded by IBBIS in 2024, the SBRC fosters collaboration across industry, academia, and policymakers to develop science-based definitions of sequences of concern. Grown to over 10 organizations and 60 members. Funded by Sentinel Bio through IGSC support.
• DNA Synthesis Screening Consortium (DSSC)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerIBBIS launched the DSSC as a global multi-stakeholder technical forum bringing together approximately 30 experts from industry, academia, government, standards bodies, and civil society. The consortium develops practical implementation guidance for ISO 20688-2 and other standards.
• Asia-based Mapping PartnersnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerIBBIS partnered with Asia-based organizations to strengthen mapping of Asian providers in the Global DNA Synthesis Map project. Collaborations include regional scientist surveys, expert interviews, and policy mapping across Asia.
• UNICAMP Synthetic Biology LeaguenotableImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerIBBIS co-organized a Portuguese-language workshop with UNICAMP (University of Campinas, Brazil) to introduce the Common Mechanism in an educational setting. The workshop engaged 27 participants including students, researchers, and industry professionals.
• SynBioBRnotableImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSynBioBR co-organized the Brazil workshop with IBBIS and UNICAMP, bringing together Brazilian students and researchers to confront biosecurity issues. The workshop was the first use of Common Mechanism in an educational setting in the Global South.
• iGEM FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIBBIS has led synthesis screening workshops at the iGEM Responsibility Conference and integrated screening exercises into iGEM competition workflows. Customer screening games and workshop materials have been used with iGEM teams worldwide.
• Engineering Biology Research Consortium (EBRC)notableStrategic or Co-development PartnerIBBIS collaborated with EBRC on synthesis screening workshops and participates in EBRC initiatives for security and measurable synthetic DNA sequence screening standards.
• World Health Organization (WHO)notableStrategic or Co-development PartnerIBBIS aligns its work with WHO's Global Guidance Framework for the Responsible Use of the Life Sciences, which highlights how biosecurity risks could be avoided through proper synthesis screening. WHO frameworks inform IBBIS standards development.
• Republic of Korea Ministry of Science and ICTnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerIBBIS welcomed Korea's National AI-Bio Strategy and committed to supporting implementation including biosecurity-by-design approaches, international standards for nucleic acid synthesis screening, and alignment with global best practices.
• Dr. Nicole Wheeler (University of Birmingham)coreTechnology or IntegrationDr. Wheeler developed the Common Mechanism v1.0 in collaboration with IBBIS. She is lead developer of the screening software and contributed significantly to AI-resilient screening research and testing.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• iGEM Foundation: iGEM runs the international synthetic biology competition and Responsibility Conference where IBBIS has led workshops and deployed the Customer Screening game. Both organizations shape global synthetic biology norms and engage the same community of researchers and students.
• Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI): NTI incubated and launched IBBIS and remains a core financial partner. Both are non-profit organizations working to reduce catastrophic biological and nuclear risks, with overlapping leadership (Ernest J. Moniz) and a shared funder ecosystem.
• Engineering Biology Research Consortium (EBRC): EBRC is an academic-industry consortium advancing engineering biology and security standards. IBBIS collaborates with EBRC on synthesis screening workshops and standards initiatives, making it a direct peer in the synthetic biology security community.
• International Gene Synthesis Consortium (IGSC): IGSC is an industry consortium of gene synthesis providers that issues the Harmonized Screening Protocol — the very standard IBBIS's Common Mechanism is aligned with. Both organizations work on DNA synthesis screening best practices and share member companies (Twist, IDT).

Broad incumbents

• Federation of American Scientists (FAS): FAS is a non-profit scientific policy organization working on biosecurity, nuclear security, and emerging technology governance. It overlaps with IBBIS in policy advocacy for biological risk reduction and engages similar U.S. government and standards-body stakeholders.
• World Health Organization (WHO): IBBIS explicitly aligns its work with WHO's Global Guidance Framework for the Responsible Use of the Life Sciences. WHO operates at much larger scale and broader scope, but its frameworks inform the standards IBBIS implements at the technical level.
• Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security: The Center for Health Security conducts research and policy work on biosecurity, pandemic preparedness, and emerging biotechnology risks. It operates at broader scope than IBBIS but shares overlapping funders, policy audiences, and a focus on biological risk governance.

Others

• Battelle Memorial Institute: Battelle operates biosecurity and life science research programs that intersect with IBBIS's mandate, including work on biological threat reduction and biodefense. It is a larger research services organization rather than a direct screening-standards peer, but operates in adjacent biosecurity-adjacent space.
• RAND Corporation: RAND conducts policy research on biosecurity, dual-use research, and biological risk. IBBIS's International Standards Lead (Sophie Peresson) previously worked at RAND Europe. RAND does not compete with IBBIS but produces research that informs the same policy ecosystem.
• Implementation Support Unit (BWC ISU): The BWC ISU supports the Biological Weapons Convention, the international treaty regime that IBBIS's standards work is designed to operationalize. IBBIS launched the Global Synthesis Map at the BWC Meeting of States Parties and engages the ISU on standards implementation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• GitHubgithub.com/ibbis-screening/common-mechanism
• Xx.com/IBBIS_bio
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/international-biosecurity-and-biosafety-initiative-for-science

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

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 International Biosecurity and Biosafety Initiative for Science