To keep pace with the rapidly evolving technology landscape, the UK’s Department of Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) established the RIO. The RIO supports businesses in high- growth sectors by helping bring innovative products and services to market more efficiently. Acting as an intermediary between government, regulators and industry, the RIO aims to streamline approval processes while maintaining safety standards and promoting regulatory transparency and accountability. The RIO advises the government on regulatory barriers, sets innovation-aligned priorities and helps regulators build the capacity needed to support economic growth. With a focus on engineering biology, the RIO collaborates with regulators to safely and efficiently bring bio-innovations to market. By accelerating approvals, providing regulatory clarity and minimizing unnecessary delays, the RIO aspires to cut red tape, stimulate innovation and drive economic growth – supporting business success, job creation and an improved quality of life across the UK. Recommendation 3 Embed and empower technical experts in regulation-making What if technical experts worked hand-in-hand with regulators to co-create dynamic, forward-thinking regulatory frameworks that evolve alongside the technologies they seek to regulate? As bio-innovation advances, regulatory frameworks are falling behind. Embedding scientific experts within the regulatory process helps ensure that policies stay aligned with technological progress and remain fit for purpose. Their involvement strengthens regulatory agility, supports science- based risk assessments and enables faster yet rigorous approvals. By contributing specialized knowledge, experts help regulators to home in on critical scientific elements. Ultimately, close collaboration between regulators and scientists is essential for building robust, efficient and well- informed frameworks. Integrating technical experts into the regulatory process is a common practice in various countries, enhancing the overall efficacy and relevance of regulations across sectors. With subject matter experts serving as an important resource to regulators in these regions, regulations are better poised to support the technological advances themselves. Japan’s Science for RE-designing Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (SciREX) is a government initiative launched by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). Its primary goal is to promote evidence- based policy-making in science, technology and innovation by integrating scientists into the policy development process. By embedding technical experts into regulatory decision-making, SciREX helps ensure that policies are both effective and well- informed, ultimately contributing to the creation of robust, data-driven policy frameworks in Japan.Description Embedding and empowering technical experts in the regulatory process will enhance the efficiency and scientific grounding of regulations. Example Japan’s SciREX Program promotes policy “coevolution” based on the dialogue between government policy-makers and SciREX researchers.24Recommendation 3 12 From Policy to Practice: Actionable Recommendations for a Commercial Bioeconomy

From Policy to Practice Actionable Recommendations for a Commercial Bioeconomy 2025