The Biomaterials Industry Subpanel was chartered by the National Research Council (on behalf of the National Academies of Sciences and Engineering) to address the needs and opportunities in materials science and engineering as perceived by the biomaterials industry. This report represents an initial overview and should not be considered definitive.

The Committee examined the short-term, intermediate, and long-term needs of the industry and how external factors such as regulations, lack of standards, and international competition influenced the industry. The industry is heterogeneous and was subsequently defined by the following market segments: artificial organs, biosensors, biotechnology, cardiovascular/blood products, drug delivery, equipment/devices, maxillofacial, ophthalmology, orthopedics, packaging, and wound management.

Each of these market segments then addressed the:

Role of materials in the industry,

Current materials and material needs,

Material opportunities and impact,

Industrial needs/issues,

International competition/foreign initiatives, and

Role of the U.S. government.