Biotechnology will help restore Europe’s economy
The European Association of Bioindustries (EuropaBio) and the Portuguese Association of Bioindustry (P-BIO) are organizing, on May 10, the event “Building on biotechnology: From vaccines to economic growth for Europe”, with the aim of discussing how is that national priorities and synergies between different European countries can converge on a unique path of European economic recovery, through biotechnology.
The event is part of the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the EU and has the support and participation of the Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education of Portugal, Manuel Heitor.
The COVID-19 crisis made it possible to create paths for rapid technology development, including partnerships, investments and approvals, to allow faster delivery of biotechnologies to the market. Although this was a unique and unprecedented scale and speed for vaccine development, this example shows that biotechnology can act quickly and robustly to overcome major global challenges, not only linked to health, but also to sustainable development. This event aims to analyze the biotechnology sector’s response to the COVID-19 crisis and discuss how Europe can continue this momentum in all sectors and ensure a more competitive global position.
Initiatives such as the European Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA), the European Industrial Strategy and the Circular Economy Action Plan are levers for the development of bio-industries and will be addressed at this event.
EuropaBio’s position document will emerge from the event, which will serve as a roadmap for the construction of initiatives and policies that enhance biotechnology and that allow the strengthening of the competitiveness and leadership of the economy in Europe based on aligned and ambitious national policies and actions.
Claire Skentelbery, Director General of EuropaBio, says that “Europe has a powerful engine to ensure greater competitiveness, through its member countries and partners on the continent. This meeting reflects the priorities and capabilities of countries of all sizes in Europe and helps to ensure that we all make progress together”.
Filipa Sacadura, General Secretary of P-BIO, adds that “the biotechnology sector in Portugal is growing rapidly and it is essential to have policies and incentives that enhance the participation of Portuguese biotechnology companies in global partnerships. This meeting will make it possible to align national priorities to continue building the economic power of biotechnology in the future”.
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