Biotech Industry Publishes New Policy Agenda For Europe - Foreword By Finnish Presidency
December 27, 2006 – 8:56 pm | posted in Biology / Biochemistry, Pharma IndustryThe European biotech industry has published a new Industrial Biotechnology Policy Agenda for Europe. Over the last two years the industry has worked out a set of practical steps to realise the vision of a Knowledge-Based Bio-Economy (KBBE), where biotechnology’s new, clean, energy-efficient processes and innovative bio-based products create a sustainable industrial base to ensure Europe’s future prosperity. But, without active political encouragement and incentives, the full benefits will not be achieved, and other trading partners will reap the rewards.
Among the main policy elements set out by EuropaBio - the EU Association for Bioindustries, industry asks:
- To establish a coherent European Policy Agenda for Industrial Biotechnology and the KBBE,
- To stimulate and support innovation in plant science and industrial biotechnology,
- To promote production and use of bio-based products and processes,
- To create awareness amongst all stakeholders, and
- To improve investment in KBBE-related SMEs.
Dirk Carrez, Public Policy Director at EuropaBio and Manager of its Industrial Biotechnology Council said “With our member companies and other stakeholders, we have put a lot of hard work into developing a Vision, a Strategic Research Agenda, and now a Policy Agenda. Together, these lay out the vast potential open to us, and the means to achieve it. We hope that policy makers at both EU and Member Statelevel will take note, and work with us to make the Vision a reality.â€
Europe has two key strengths to build on: an excellent academic base in the biological sciences, some of the world’s leading enzyme companies, the world’s largest chemical industry - infrastructure and knowledge base, and a solid development and production of bio-specialities. But it also has a lower overall R&D spend than major competitors, and provides a less innovation-friendly environment. According toJack Huttner, Chairman of EuropaBio’s Industrial Biotech Council: “Europe must build on its undoubted strengths in the area of white biotechnology. But our problem is in translating the excellent science into commercial products. We must stimulate public-private partnerships to enable the development of flexible, research-oriented pilot plants to validate the concept of integrated and diversified bio-refineries.â€
Although Industrial Biotechnology has enormous potential, it still has a rather low profile not only among the public but also in the investment community. One important policy strand is therefore a programme of communication to create awareness and interest. Jack Huttner said of the policy document “Having done the hard preparatory work, we now have to go out and spread the messages about Industrial Biotechnology. At the same time, we need to make sure that we develop a coherent overall policy framework. If policy makers get it right, biotechnology can be the key which unlocks the door to a sustainable and competitive future for Europe. The objectives of the Lisbon agenda are still within reach.â€
Mr. Mauri Pekkarinen, Minister of Trade and Industry of Finland and President of the Competitiveness Council in autumn 2006, said “The European knowledge-based bioeconomy has every opportunity to emerge to a leading position. Next generations of European citizens will wonder why an integrated use of raw materials, such as biorefinery technology, was not made use of earlier. We need next generation biotechnologies that are based on what we understand today but go much further in efficiency. That alone is a major challenge. This document prepared by EuropaBio offers very useful policy advice with regard to a number of these challenges. I am sure that the document will give EU policy-makers a lot of inspiration when contemplating future measures.â€
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