Being a member of NIIMBL offers your organization the opportunity to help revolutionize current biopharmaceutical manufacturing platforms, processes, and educational programs and share in the benefits of these transformative solutions.
(Small to mid-sized)
| Large Industry Membership | Community / WF | Affiliate Bronze | Affiliate Silver | Tier 2 | Tier 1 | |
| Fees + Benefits | Option 1: Fee | $50K | $100K | $250K | $450K | $650K |
| Option 2: Fee + In-Kind | – | – | $100K + $150K In-Kind | $250K + $200K In-Kind | $450K + $250K In-Kind | |
| Benefit: T3 SMM Passes | – | – | – | 1 | 2 | |
| Committee Seats | SAC | – | – | – | (1) Participant† | (1) Participant |
| GC Vote Weight – Financial Vote Weight – Other | – | – | – | (1) Voting† / Lead 1x 1x | (1) Voting / Lead 2x 1x | |
| TAC | – | (1) Participant | (1) Participant | (1) Voting / Lead | (2) Voting† / Lead | |
| WAC | (1) Participant | (1) Participant | (1) Participant | (1) Voting | (1) Voting | |
| RCC | – | – | (1) Observer† | (1) Participant | (2) Participant | |
| FLICs | FLIC-W only | Participant | Participant / Lead | Participant / Lead | Participant / Lead | |
| Programs & Projects | Member-Led Project Calls: (PC-T / PC-W / PC-G) | PC-W only | Unlimited | |||
| Member-Led PC Concept Paper Prioritization | PC-W 1x | 1x | 1x | 2x | 2x | |
| NIIMBL-Led Programs | – | NIIMBL Testbeds only | Unlimited when actively engaged | Unlimited when actively engaged | Unlimited | |
| Industry-Led Projects | – | – | – | – | Up to $150K/year/T1 | |
| Other Membership Tiers | T3 SMM Industry | T3 Acad/NPO | T2 Acad/NPO | T1 Acad/NPO | |
| Fees + Cost Share | Fee | $15k $5k for Start-ups | $1k | $7,500k (Cash or Cost Share) | $30k (Cash or Cost Share) |
| Cost-Share | On projects | On projects (preferred) | 1:3 on projects (required) | 1:3 on projects (required) | |
| Committee Seats | GC Vote Weight | 2 for Tier (elected) None | Only for States >$1m/yr 1x | 1 elected per 10 T2 NPO 1x | (1) Voting 1x |
| TAC (participant only) | 2 for Tier (elected) | – | 2 for Tiers (only two elected) | ||
| WAC (participant only) | – | 1 for Tier (elected) | 2 for Tiers (only two elected) | ||
| RCC | – | – | – | (1) Observer | |
| FLICs (Subject Matter) | 1 | 1x (WF only) | 1x | 3x | |
| FLICs (Challenge) | By invitation | By invitation | |||
| Programs & Projects | Member-Led Project Calls | Unlimited | Unlimited | ||
| NIIMBL-Led Programs | By invitation | By invitation | |||
| Industry-Led Projects | By invitation | By invitation | |||
Committees & Working Groups
FLICs: Forums for Learning, Innovation, and Collaboration
Participation & Voting
Observer: Member-designated representative who may attend committee meeting but is asked not to comment.
Participant: Member-designated representative to attend and participate in meetings (may include delegate).
Voting: Member-designated representative who may vote on committee decisions.
Lead: Designated by the member organization to serve as a lead/co-lead on committees or FLICs.
Programs & Projects
NIIMBL-led Program: Large-scale initiative created by NIIMBL that brings together relevant organizations to address a specific collection of biopharmaceutical manufacturing challenges in which Members may participate depending on the level of membership subscribed to by each such Member or in limited cases by invitation.
Member-Led Project Call: Specific coordinated solicitation to complete projects around strategic technical or workforce themes defined by member program participants. All NIIMBL members eligible to participate.
Member-Led Project: Specific coordinated project around strategic technical or workforce theme, awarded through the Member-Led Project Call process.
Industry-Led Project: Collaborative NIIMBL initiative, defined by Tier 1 members, in which at least two partner organizations jointly execute a defined scope of work (SOW).
NIIMBL Testbeds: NIIMBL Testbeds are ramping up and envisioned to be a shared biomanufacturing capability, platform, dataset, material, equipment set, process, or data environment that enables access, learning, comparison, de-risking, demonstration, training, or adoption across the ecosystem. The Process Intensification Program’s Continuous Manufacturing testbed is one example. Additional examples are being developed.
Engagement: Regular attendance to, and contributions in, program meetings as tracked by meeting minutes.
Membership Fee, In-Kind, and Cost-Share Terms
Cost-Share: Resources that a NIIMBL member contributes to support a project or program reported as either cash (direct monetary outlay) or in‑kind (non‑cash contributions such as labor, equipment, supplies, or services). Must be verifiable, necessary, reasonable, and compliant with 2 CFR 200 requirements.
In-Kind Cost-Share Towards Membership Fee for Large Industry Members: NIIMBL-requested equipment, services, specialty supplies, and/or consumables. Must comply with 2 CFR 200 except limited exceptions; may be tax‑deductible; does not include in‑kind for projects.
Small-to-Medium Manufacturer (SMM) Passes: Eligible companies can choose to sponsor membership at NIIMBL for an SMM (company with 500 or fewer employees working in biopharmaceutical research, development, and/or manufacturing.
Please see the Glossary of Terms tab for definitions.
| Tier 1 Industry | Tier 2 Industry | Affiliate Silver | Affiliate Bronze | Tier 3 Industry | |
| NIIMBL-Led Program (NLP) Participation | Unlimited participation in and access to all NLPs | Participation in and access to 2 NLPs of choice | Participation in and access to 1 NLP of choice | Participation in and access to 1 NLP workstream of choice | Individuals from the organization may participate in NLP workstreams or projects by invitation only |
| Project Call Participation | Unlimited on open Project Call projects | Unlimited on open Project Call projects | Unlimited on open Project Call projects | Unlimited on open Project Call projects | Unlimited on open Project Call projects |
| Committee Seats* | GC: 1 (+ SAC vote) TAC: 2 WAC: 1 RCC: 2 | GC: 1 (non-voting) TAC: 1 WAC: 1 RCC: 1 | GC: none TAC 1 WAC: 1 RCC: none | GC: none TAC: 1 WAC: 1 RCC: none | GC: 1 seat for every 2 members at Tier 3 (via election process) TAC: 1 seat for every 10 members at Tier 3 (via election process) WAC: none RCC: none |
| IP Benefits | All non-exclusive royalty free (NERF) IP | All NERF IP only for 2 programs PLUS project-participation-based IP for internal business use only | All NERF IP only for 1 program PLUS project-participation-based IP for internal business use only | Project-participation-based IP for internal business use only | N/A at program level; Project-participation-based IP for internal business use only |
| Other Benefits | Name up to three SMM companies per year to join NIIMBL with a waived membership fee | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| ANNUAL FEE** | $650,000 cash PLUS leveraged cost share on project activities | $450,000 cash PLUS leveraged cost share on project activities | $250,000 cash PLUS leveraged cost share on project activities | $100,000 cash PLUS leveraged cost share on project activities | $5,000 cash (<50 FTE, pre-revenue) OR $15,000 cash (<500 FTE) |
| Tier 1 Academic | Tier 2 Academic | Tier 3 Academic | |
| Project Call Participation | Unlimited on open Project Call projects | Unlimited on open Project Call projects | Unlimited on open Project Call projects |
| Committee Seats* | GC: 1 TAC: 1 WAC: 1 RCC: 1 (observer) | GC: 1 seat for every 5 members at Tier 2 (via election process) TAC: 1 WAC: 1 RCC: none | GC: none TAC: none WAC: 1 RCC: none |
| IP Benefits | For research / education use only | For research / education use only | For research / education use only |
| ANNUAL FEE | $40,000 in kind, plus leveraged cost share on NIIMBL-funded project activities*** | $10,000 in kind, plus leveraged cost share on NIIMBL-funded project activities*** | $1,000 cash |
* Committee Structure
** Leveraged cost share and/or in-kind contributions to NIIMBL projects require levels that ensure meaningful engagement appropriate to the scope of work
***Based on a 3:1 ratio of NIIMBL funding: for each $3 of NIIMBL funding received, pay $1 in funded support
Why did NIIMBL update its tier structure and bylaws?
NIIMBL updated its membership structure to make participation easier, more meaningful, and better aligned with member expertise, while strengthening the Institute’s ability to deliver high‑impact programs and projects.
The updates are designed to:
When do the changes take effect?
NIIMBL began to implement changes starting on October 1, 2026.
Does my organization need to sign anything for the new bylaws?
No signatures or action steps are required.
How can I view the new Bylaws and Exhibit B of the Membership Agreement?
Updated Bylaws and Exhibit B of the Membership Agreement can be viewed in the Member Portal. If you need access to the Member Portal, please contact [email protected].
Are membership fees changing?
The tier structure and associated benefits have been updated. Details are available in Appendix B of your Membership Agreement and on the NIIMBL Member Portal.
What counts as an in-kind donation toward membership fees?
Donations must be items NIIMBL needs and requests, such as specialty laboratory supplies or service contracts. These must be things NIIMBL would otherwise purchase.
Is there a limit to in-kind donations?
Yes. Tier 1 companies can fund up to $250,000, Tier 2 up to $200,000, and Affiliate Silver up to $150,000 of their membership fees through in-kind donations.
What is cost share?
Cost share is the value of resources (cash or in-kind) contributed by members to support NIIMBL projects or programs, and must be verifiable, necessary, reasonable, and compliant with applicable federal regulations (e.g. 2CFR200).
Are cost share requirements changing?
Cost share targets and eligibility are being updated for some tiers. Details are outlined in new Exhibit B of the Member Agreement found on the Member Portal.
What committees are affected by the new bylaws?
The Governing Committee (GC), Technical Activities Committee (TAC), Workforce Activities Committee (WAC), and Regulatory Considerations Committee (RCC) have updated compositions and roles to better align with NIIMBL’s evolving needs.
How will committee elections work?
Elections for GC, TAC, and WAC will be held in November, with nominations opening in September. New committee terms will run January – December.
How is committee representation changing?
Representation for academic and industry tiers is being recalibrated (e.g., Tier 2 Academic/NPO now has one elected seat per 10 members). Industry and state representation is also updated.
What are FLICs?
FLICs (Forums for Learning, Innovation, and Collaboration) are new working groups focused on specific areas, enabling subject matter experts to contribute and collaborate across NIIMBL. FLICs will launch in early 2027.
How do I get involved in FLICs?
FLICs will be rolled out in early 2027. Members will receive communications about how to join or participate based on their expertise and tier.
How does a FLIC get started?
Two different ways – by a committee (TAC/WAC/GC, etc.) or by NIIMBL staffto solve a problem or answer a particular question. FLICs will have a defined purpose and deliverables.
Who can participate in a FLIC?
Participation is based on membership tier or by invitation, depending on the FLIC subject.
What does “Participant” mean?
A Participant is a designated individual (or delegate) from an organization who attends and actively participates in meetings. Some tiers allow one or two participants.
What does “Voting” mean?
Voting means an organization names one (or two) people to participate in meetings; the organization receives one vote, which may carry double weight for certain tiers.
What are NIIMBL-Led Programs?
NIIMBL-Led Programs are longer term strategic efforts that envision what manufacturing paradigms 5-10 years down the road. Programs establish workstreams to address major initiatives and execute projects to deliver impact. Programs offer a strategic, intentional, approach to innovation. All large industry members above Bronze, have unlimited access to programs, provided they are actively engaged in Program activities.
What are Industry-Led Projects?
Defined by T1 companies, these are collaborative projects where at least two partners (including multiple Tier 1 companies if three or more partners) work together. NIIMBL invests up to $150,000 per Tier 1 company per project, with a 1:1 cost share required. Projects must be completed within 12 months.
The new membership tier structure calls for Bronze Tier member companies to access NIIMBL Testbeds as their workstream. What are NIIMBL Testbeds?
NIIMBL Testbeds are ramping up and envisioned to be a shared biomanufacturing capability, platform, dataset, material, equipment set, process, or data environment that enables access, learning, comparison, de-risking, demonstration, training, or adoption across the ecosystem. The Process Intensification Program’s Continuous Manufacturing testbed is one example. Additional examples are being developed.
Get in touch with our membership team: We can answer any of your questions and help you choose a level of engagement based on your technology and workforce interests and priorities.
