Bioinspiration: A Motivation for Investing in Foundational Biological Research in the U.S.

Publication Date: June 2026

Bioinspiration is a growing field that translates biological principles into engineering solutions, often yielding significant returns even from niche research. Bioinspired technologies have the potential to generate billions for the U.S. economy and contribute to millions of jobs in fields including construction, healthcare, and chemical manufacturing. To promote this growth, significant investment must be made in the innovation pipeline from foundational research to commercialization.

Citation: O’Neil, J. and Aurand, E. Bioinspiration: A Motivation for Investing in Foundational Biological Research in the U.S. Engineering Biology Research Consortium. June 2026. https://doi.org/10.25498/E4425J

Keywords: bioinspiration, bioinspired design, biomimicry, congress, SBIR, STTR, valley of death

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