Brussels unveils strategy for the biotech industry: “Talent chooses Europe”

Brussels – Making Europe “the most attractive place in the world” for life sciences by 2030. This is the ambitious goal set in its sights by the European Commission, which today (2 July) unveiled a new strategy to win the “global race” for innovation in biotechnology and health. It aims to take advantage of the Trump administration’s crusade against American universities and offer shelter to scientists and researchers in the old continent: “The best talents are looking for the best opportunities,” stressed the EU Commissioner for Start-ups, Research and Innovation, Ekaterina Zaharieva. 

The study of living systems, from cells to ecosystems, is not only fundamental to our health, environment, and economy, but is also the driving force behind innovation in medicine, food, and sustainable production. According to figures released by Brussels, the sector, which accounts for 29 million jobs across the Union, contributes almost 1.5 trillion to the value of the EU economy. And it is at the forefront of R&D investment, with €46.6 billion spent by 2022, almost 20 per cent of total EU business expenditure on R&D. For these reasons, the European Commission is sounding the alarm bell: the EU “is losing ground to other global players in turning research into concrete solutions.” Olivér Várhelyi, European Commissioner for Health, insisted: “We must act urgently, because we are in a global race.”

The strategy outlined by Zaharieva and Várhelyi will be supported with more than €10 billion per year from the current EU budget, drawn from various programmes. Up to €100 million per year through Horizon Europe to develop microbiome-based solutions and therapies, €250 million to support the development of new methodologies, innovative molecules, advanced materials, and more efficient biofabrication, €300 million to stimulate biomedical research in areas such as climate change adaptation, next-generation vaccines, and affordable solutions for fighting cancer. 

The Commission is also working on the Biotech Act, a law aimed at “breaking down the boundaries of innovation” to create a more innovation-friendly framework across all biotechnology sectors. “The law was planned for 2026, but we want to proceed more quickly,” Várhelyi told a press conference. Finally, the strategy includes the launch of a digital interface to connect start-ups, industry, and investors, leveraging the European Innovation Council’s (EIC) portfolio and its network of investors. 

“We want start-ups and life science companies to choose Europe,” emphasised Zaharieva. The goal was outlined by Ursula von der Leyen in early May, when she presented the Choose Europe initiative at the Sorbonne University in Paris, aimed at making the EU a magnet for researchers.