The European Commission has released a series of targeted actions to boost biotechnology and biomanufacturing in the EU. In its communication letter, the commission vows to ‘reap the benefits of biomanufacturing sector’ by accelerating the development and use of the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation and Synthetic Biology Accelerator (EU IBISBA) as a reliable digital repository and service network. The Commission is also keen to conduct an in-depth impact assessment of the commercial and economic feasibility of introducing the requirement for bio-based content in products purchased through public procurement. In an effort to shorten the time to market as well as reduce fragmentation and regulatory arbitrage, the commission will assess its current legislation and possibly use the results to compile a possible EU Biotech Act. In addition, it will continue to encourage the elaboration and updating of European standards. The involved parties will also work towards establishing an EU Biotech Hub which will be used as an operational tool for prospective companies to navigate through the regulatory framework and identify support to scale up innovations.

Further a study will be launched by the end of 2024 to identify barriers and ways to support the consolidation of investment funds, stock exchanges and post-trading infrastructure. The effort will include reskilling and upskilling programs for biotech-related skills, which are expected to be co-financed through the Blueprint Alliances activity of the Erasmus+ programme. Finally, collaboration will be encouraged within the EU, through Regional Innovation Valleys, but also internationally via the Global Gateway and in line with its Global Health Strategy guidelines. The letter denotes the importance of AI in achieving these aims and it advocates for the adoption of generative AI in biotech and biomanufacturing...

Other News this Month Includes:    

Policy

• European Commission takes action to boost biotechnology and biomanufacturing in the EU
• EU sets out plan to simplify biotech regulation and speed up approvals
• “Ambition, vision and urgency for biotechnology”, EuropaBio reacts to the Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Initiative

Markets

• Henkel and Kraton forge strategic, multi-year supply agreement
• What can a €200 million investment in biomaterials get you?
• Irish bioeconomy foregrounds commercialisation, not just innovation

Research & Development

• Switch to a bio-based economy boosted by new network funding from Innovate UK
• The DEEP PURPLE project – deriving bioplastics out of wastewater
• More...

Polymers

• Novel DITF composite material enables CO₂-negative construction
• OrganoClick develops biobased binders based on shrimp shells and cellulose
• More...

Chemicals

• Revolutionizing green chemical production with ultrasound
• USDA highlights Brownville, Maine company on National Biobased Products Day
• Technip Energies and LanzaTech selected by the US Department of Energy to receive $200M investment for breakthrough, replicable decarbonized ethylene commercial facility

Consumer Products

• Sustainable packaging startup Bpacks unveils bioplastics from bark: ‘It’s a massively underutilized natural resource’
• Better Earth introduces compostable catering trays

Patents

• Inolex grants patents for cationic amino lipid technology

Events

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