Our Vision

Industrial biotechnology, although promising, requires continuous research for widespread adoption in the manufacturing sector. Europe boasts ample public research facilities and expertise spanning lab to pilot scale, yet research in this field is fragmented and lacks coordination. Major facilities are often underutilized, hindering knowledge consolidation and leading to lengthy R&D timelines. These challenges contribute to the slower development and limited competitiveness of industrial bioprocesses compared to established petrochemical processes.

In the face of fierce international competition and concern that Europe’s innovation capacity is weakening, it is evident that no single European country can succeed the circular bioeconomy transition. Likewise, no single research facility can spur the development of industrial biotechnology. This is particularly true when one considers that it is increasingly necessary to mobilise large amounts of data to fuel digitalisation and artificial intelligence. If Europe wants to regain industrial sovereignty and compete with international players such as the USA and China, European research facilities must reinforce and deepen interdisciplinary cooperation. By doing so, they will lay the basis for an efficient industrial biotechnology research and innovation ecosystem fit for digitalisation and capable of supporting the development of a flourishing industry. Taking cooperation between Europe’s research facility operators to a next level will ensure that EU investments are optimised and that European ambitions for industrial biotechnology are achieved.