Can Europe’s bioeconomy thrive? With the right moves: Absolutely!

Click here to read the full article. 

C&EN Media Group’s latest front-page article shows that Europe’s biotech sector isn’t doomed, it’s evolving smartly:
✅ The 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲, hence Europe is the right place for investment in bioproduction.
✅ 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: We benefit from a long‑standing EU Bioeconomy Strategy and world‑class universities, incubators, and demo facilities like Belgium’s Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant.
✅ 𝗥&𝗗 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗲-𝘂𝗽 𝗽𝗶𝗽𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲: While early‑stage research is solid and benefits from a range of EU funding tools, the critical leap to industrial scaling needs more attention and investment.
✅ 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘁𝘆-𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆: Europe is leading in complex molecule production, where bioproduction can truly outperform traditional chemistry.

On the latter, Hendrik Waegeman (Head of Business Operations, BBEPP): “I don’t believe that bioproduction is inherently unable to compete with traditional commodity chemical manufacturing. Starting with specialties and growing to higher-volume products is a sound strategy, however Europe can build up bioproduction that competes in all markets because of its advantages in infrastructure, research and technology” 

The path ahead? Europe must:

  • 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘇𝗲 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗲-𝘂𝗽 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 and bridge the gap between lab and large‑scale biomanufacturing.
  • 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘄𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 to attract investors.
  • 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗦𝗠𝗘 𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 to commercialize high‑TRL biotech innovations.

𝗕𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗼𝗺 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲: 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲’𝘀 𝗯𝗶𝗼𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗵𝘆𝗽𝗲, 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘁𝘀. 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗹𝗮𝗯 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁, 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗶𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE.