EuropaBio, the European association for biotech industries, welcomes the future EU Life Sciences Strategy (EU LSS) and the opportunity to provide feedback. Securing a world-class life sciences sector is strategically critical for future EU prosperity, leadership, and resilience.
The biotech industries are leading contributors to the EU economy and competitiveness. Their gross added value doubled, and trade surplus increased sevenfold during 2008-2022, economic growth rate stands at 5,3%, productivity is 2.85 times higher than the EU average, and employment growth is six times higher than the overall EU economy.1 Against a background of geopolitical shifts and growing challenges to scientific knowledge, the EU LSS must maximise EU global impact and position for its life sciences sector. This strategic sector should be at the centre of this Commission’s mandate, with an ambitious and
cross-sectoral approach to basic and translational life sciences to deliver on EU strategic objectives. Uniquely, it can deliver the EU’s next major generational scientific advance, combining the strengths of all Member States, with public and private actors, towards scientific progress that underpins a successful and resilient economy.
The EU LSS is an opportunity to confirm EU as a global leader in the biotech revolution, for the benefit of society and economy, together with an ambitious and transformative EU Biotech Act. It must ensure that EU impact from critical technologies, such as biotech and AI can match recognised global leadership from other regions and set goals for individual and institutional achievement from the bloc. It must create the next generation of leading scientists in both
basic and translational research, with their own global reach and partnerships. It must lead synergies with other initiatives relevant for biotech such as the Start-up and Scaleup Strategy, the Bioeconomy Strategy, and the Clean Industrial Deal and inform EU and Member State actions to deliver their life science ambitions.

(1) Measuring the Economic Footprint of the Biotechnology Industry in the European Union - Europabio

Click download to read the full response below