Ireland and Houston: A new frontier in biotech training

When San Jacinto College students walk through the door of the new Center for Biotechnology on the Generation Park campus, they are stepping into a partnership hoping to shape the future of life sciences. Launched in Houston in September 2025, utilising the expertise of Dublin’s National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT), the Center marks a bold new connection between Ireland and the United States in the rapidly growing world of global biopharma training.

The collaboration between NIBRT and San Jacinto College began in October 2023, when the College joined the NIBRT Global Partners Programme. The agreement made San Jacinto the exclusive provider of NIBRT-licensed training in the southern United States, giving students and professionals access to the Institute’s cutting-edge curriculum and practical training methodologies.

In early 2024, San Jacinto College launched a 90-hour hybrid on-boarding certificate in bio-manufacturing, blending classroom learning with hands-on experience in a lab environment.

The success of that programme revealed a growing appetite for biotech training and laid the groundwork for a dedicated biotechnology centre in Houston’s Generation Park business district.

Now open, the Center for Biotechnology stands as a cornerstone for the region’s research and learning in life sciences. The new facility features a pilot-scale bioprocessing plant, designed to replicate the environment of a commercial manufacturing site, allowing students to work with industry-standard equipment while also earning qualifications that rangefrom associate degrees in bio-manufacturing technology to shorter, targeted courses tailored to workforce needs.

The Center aims to meet the demand for highly skilled, workforce-ready talent in one of the world’s most critical industries, and to connect Houston’s thriving biotech sector with global innovators and markets.

“We’re excited to see the opening of the Center for Biotechnology at San Jacinto College at their Generation Park Campus, a major step forward in Ireland–US collaboration in life sciences education.” said Barry Shortt, Business Development Manager at NIBRT. “This new facility brings NIBRT’s world-class bio-manufacturing training to Houston, and it’s been a privilege to support the San Jacinto team in accelerating their journey from concept to reality. We look forward to seeing the Center grow and thrive, and to deepening our ties with the Southeast region of the United States as we work together to build a skilled, future-ready biotech workforce.”

Founded in Dublin in 2011, the National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT) was established with the support of the Government of Ireland and IDA Ireland in collaboration with leading universities University College Dublin, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin City University and the Institute of Technology, Sligo.

Its mission was clear from the beginning: to support Ireland’s growing biopharma industry with the skilled professionals needed to compete on a global stage. Since its launch, NIRBT has earned international recognition as a world leader in bioprocessing training, research, and innovation.

Today, its influence extends far beyond Irish shores. Through its expanding network of partners from theirGlobal Partners Programme, which now includes institutions in North America, Asia, Africa and Australia, NIBRT is sharing Irish expertise with training centres around the world. Each partnership is helping to close the global skills gap in advanced manufacturing while fostering long-term academic, industrial and cultural bonds.

The new Center for Biotechnology at San Jacinto is the latest expression of the NIBRT mission, a living example of Ireland’s contributions to globally standardised workforce development and education. The partnership not only strengthens bilateral links between Ireland and the United States, but also positions Houston with its own thriving biotech and life sciences industries, as a key player in the future of biomanufacturing.

As students begin their studies in the new Center for Biotechnology, both San Jacinto College and the National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training see this as only the beginning. The facility with serve as a launchpad for future collaborations, from research partnerships to new programmes and emerging technologies.

What began as a transatlantic partnership has quickly grown into a shared vision for the future: to build a workforce prepared for the future of medicine. No matter if you’re in Dublin or Houston, the message remains clear – innovation is born when knowledge is shared, and the next generation of biotech talent is already beginning to shape the future of the industry.