Biotechnology and Artificial Intelligence: Risks Posed by Research to Security and the Proliferation of Biological Weapons

  • Type of event:

    Public expert discussion (in German only)

  • Venue:

    Deutscher Bundestag, Platz der Republik 1, 11011 Berlin
    Paul-Löbe-Haus

  • Date:

    08.07.2026

  • Organiser:

    TAB and the German Bundestag’s Committee on Research, Technology, Space and Technology Assessment

  • Time:

    2:00 p.m.to 3.30 p.m.

  • Target group:

    Members of Parliament and their staff,
    interested public and professional audiences

  • Programme


    Further information
  • In:

    The event will be broadcast on www.bundestag.de. 

What's it about?

On the initiative of the Defense Committee, the TAB has presented a working report on the topic “Biotechnology and Artificial Intelligence: research risks to security and the proliferation of biological weapons.”

During the expert discussion, the findings of the  corresponding project will be publicly discussed with members of the German Bundestag and experts.

Two questions are at the forefront:

  • Can the interaction between AI and biotechnology (AIxBio) enable the development of novel biological weapons or facilitate the production and use of biological weapons in practice?
  • How can potential risks posed by various actors be mitigated at the national and international levels without disproportionately limiting the opportunities for innovation offered by AIxBio?

Programme

2:00 p.m.

Opening remarks

Prof. Dr. Karl Lauterbach, member of the German Bundestag, Chair of the Committee on research, Technology, Space, and Technology Assessment
2:05 p.m.

Introduction to the topic and brief presentation of the TAB project results

Dr. Harald König, TAB Project Manager
2:15 p.m.

Expert input for the discussion

 

  • Biological weapons: between theory and practice
    Prof. Dr Roman Wölfel, Head of the Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology (IMB)
  • Security-relevant knowledge and support for stakeholders through AI models
    Dr Jasper Götting, Head of AI Research at SecureBio, Cambridge, MA, USA
  • AI-based protein design: what is currently possible and for whom
    Prof. Dr Lukas Milles, Head of the ‘Biomolecular Design’ Research Group, Gene Centre, LMU Munich and Max Planck Institute for Biochemistry, Martinsried
  • Ways to reduce AI-based biosecurity risks
    Dr Janika Schmitt, Technical Director of Nucleic Acid Synthesis Screening, Sentinel Bio, Washington, DC, USA
  • International security and the non-proliferation of biological weapons
    Dr Una Jakob, Head of the “Biological and Chemical Disarmament and Security” Research Group, PRIF – Leibniz Institute for Peace and Conflict Research, Frankfurt am Main
3:25 p.m.

Summary of the discussion and closing remarks
3:30 p.m.

End of the event

The event is open to the public and will be streamed at www.bundestag.de.

Registration is required to attend in person. Please register by July 2, 2026, by emailing forschung∂bundestag.de and include your name, date of birth, and, if applicable, your institution. Due to limited space, please register early.

Further information