The European Commission’s communication “Building the future with nature” (COM(2024)137) outlines a strategic plan to strengthen biotechnology and biomanufacturing as pillars for EU competitiveness, resilience, and sustainability. These sectors are seen as essential to tackling climate change, improving health, enhancing food security, reducing dependence on fossil resources, and supporting the European Green Deal and Health Union.
The EU has strong research capacity, talent, and renewable resources but faces barriers such as slow research-to-market transfer, complex and fragmented regulations, limited growth-stage financing, skills shortages, biomass supply constraints, lower patent output compared to global leaders, and limited public awareness.
Key Takeaways
Economic & Strategic Value: Global biotech market worth €720B (2021); EU share 12%, high productivity, and cross-sectoral applications.
Application Areas: Health (mRNA vaccines, therapies), food security (bio-based pest control, nutrient-rich crops), sustainable materials (wood-based batteries, bio-composites), marine biotech, environmental remediation, and carbon capture.
Main Challenges:
Gaps in tech transfer and commercialisation.
Lengthy and inconsistent regulatory approvals.
Scarce venture/growth funding and fragmented capital markets.
Skills shortages in life sciences, AI, and regulatory expertise.
Biomass supply limitations and IP protection gaps.
Low public acceptance due to higher costs vs. fossil-based products.
Strategic Actions (2024–2025):
Simplify and harmonise regulations; explore an EU Biotech Act.
Create an EU Biotech Hub to navigate rules and support scale-up.
Promote AI and generative AI uptake (GenAI4EU, EuroHPC access).
Boost investment via EIC Accelerator, Innovation Fund, tax incentives.
Strengthen skills through Pact for Skills partnerships and talent attraction.
Develop updated EU standards for bio-based products.
Foster Regional Innovation Valleys and international partnerships (US, Asia, Africa, LAC).
Review EU Bioeconomy Strategy by 2025 to reinforce its industrial dimension.
The document positions biotechnology and biomanufacturing as critical enabling technologies for Europe’s green and digital transitions, aiming to move innovations “from lab to market” faster, stimulate demand for sustainable products, and secure Europe’s leadership in a globally competitive field.