# Douglas Friedman

> Douglas Friedman is CEO of BioMADE, the U.S. Department of Defense-funded Manufacturing Innovation Institute dedicated to growing the domestic industrial biomanufacturing ecosystem. With a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Northwestern and a career spanning the National Academies, the White House OSTP, and the founding of the Engineering Biology Research Consortium, Friedman is one of the foremost architects of America's bioeconomy strategy — arguing that biology, not silicon, may define the next great manufacturing revolution.

- **Role:** Chief Executive Officer at BioMADE
- **Organizations:** BioMADE, Engineering Biology Research Consortium (EBRC), U.S. Manufacturing Innovation Council, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, White House Office of Science & Technology Policy (former consultant), Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry & Security Materials and Equipment Technical Advisory Committee
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** B.S. in Chemical Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Ph.D. in Chemistry (physical organic chemistry, molecular nanotechnology), Northwestern University, Certificate in Management for Scientists & Engineers, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University
- **Known for:** Founded BioMADE (2021), the U.S. DOD-funded Manufacturing Innovation Institute for industrial biomanufacturing, Inaugural Executive Director and President of the Engineering Biology Research Consortium (EBRC), built from founding in 2016, Vice Chair of the U.S. Manufacturing Innovation Council

## Career timeline

- **Early career** — Conducted research in physical organic chemistry and chemical biology in academic and industrial settings
- **Pre-2016** — Study Director and Senior Program Officer, Board on Chemical Sciences and Technology, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
- **2016** — Founded Engineering Biology Research Consortium (EBRC) as inaugural Executive Director and President
- **2016-2021** — Led EBRC, building it into the preeminent nonprofit membership organization for advancing precompetitive synthetic biology and engineering biology
- **~2020-2021** — Served as Consultant (Special Government Employee) at the White House Office of Science & Technology Policy, advising on domestic biomanufacturing policy
- **2021** — Co-founded BioMADE and became CEO; BioMADE launched April 28, 2021 as a DOD-funded Manufacturing Innovation Institute
- **2021-present** — CEO of BioMADE, building the U.S. industrial biomanufacturing ecosystem
- **2021-present** — Vice Chair, U.S. Manufacturing Innovation Council
- **2021-present** — Member, Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry & Security Materials and Equipment Technical Advisory Committee
- **2025** — Broke ground on $40M BioMADE pilot-scale biomanufacturing facility at Iowa State University (scheduled to open 2027), funded by $20M BioMADE, $10M Iowa EDA, $10M ISU

## Achievements

- Founded BioMADE (2021), the U.S. DOD-funded Manufacturing Innovation Institute for industrial biomanufacturing
- Inaugural Executive Director and President of the Engineering Biology Research Consortium (EBRC), built from founding in 2016
- Vice Chair of the U.S. Manufacturing Innovation Council
- Served as Special Government Employee at White House Office of Science & Technology Policy
- Broke ground on $40M Iowa State biomanufacturing pilot facility in November 2025
- Recognized subject matter expert on emerging biotechnologies, biotechnology policy, biosecurity, and national security applications
- Keynote speaker at UNC Cleantech Summit (2024, 2025)
- Grew BioMADE to 87 employees and ~$65M annual revenue

## Latest updates

- **2025-11** — BioMADE broke ground on a new $40M pilot-scale biomanufacturing facility at Iowa State University Research Park in Boone, Iowa, alongside Governor Kim Reynolds and ISU President Wendy Wintersteen. The facility is expected to open in 2027.
- **2025-04** — Appeared on the Interesting Engineering 'Lexicon' podcast (Episode 87) discussing how biology can replace fossil fuels and how BioMADE is scaling the bioeconomy from lab to factory.
- **2025-01** — Delivered keynote at UNC Cleantech Summit on bioindustrial manufacturing and the U.S. bioeconomy opportunity.
- **2024-11** — Highlighted BioMADE job opportunities and talent pipeline initiatives, reinforcing focus on workforce development as a bottleneck to scaling biomanufacturing.

## Links

- Website: https://biomade.org
- LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/dcfriedman

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/douglas-friedman
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-05-17