European Projects
About the BIOLEAD Project
In June 2026, EuropaBio joined BIOLEAD - Leading Europe’s Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Strategy: Roadmap to Improve Europe’s Bio-based Competitiveness - a 36‑month project supported by the European Union’s Horizon Europe Programme. BIOLEAD brings together key European leaders in biotechnology and biomanufacturing to deliver a co-created, action-oriented roadmap with clear, evidence-based recommendations for the rapid adoption of bio-based solutions, accelerating the transition towards a climate-neutral and competitive European bioeconomy.
BIOLEAD adopts a holistic and systemic approach to foster stakeholder alignment across the biotechnology and biomanufacturing value chain, from feedstock providers to industry, policymakers and consumers. Through a comprehensive analysis of opportunities, barriers and innovation needs, the project will develop a shared EU Vision and Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) to strengthen Europe’s competitiveness, sustainability and strategic autonomy.
To achieve this, BIOLEAD will implement a three-step methodology based on Mapping, Shaping and Enabling activities. The project will establish a comprehensive knowledge base on biotechnology and biomanufacturing, assess environmental, social and economic impacts, develop recommendations to improve the uptake of bio-based solutions, strengthen policymaker engagement and foster international cooperation. These activities will culminate in a roadmap that supports future EU initiatives and legislative frameworks in the biotechnology and bioeconomy sectors.
BIOLEAD is a consortium of ten partners from across Europe and includes INRAE, VTT, Bioeconomy For Change (B4C), Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC), Aarhus University, EuropaBio, Wageningen University & Research (WUR), Imperial College London, INsociety, and BIOEAST Nexus.
For all enquiries, please contact our Industrial Biotechnology Public Affairs & EU Projects Junior Coordinator, Marcos Jiménez Sánchez: m.jimenez@europabio.org
The project goals are:
- To create a comprehensive knowledge and evidence base on biotechnology and biomanufacturing in Europe and globally.
- To accelerate the uptake of bio-based solutions and improve Europe’s innovation capacity and competitiveness.
- To provide evidence-based recommendations that support policy development and regulatory frameworks.
- To strengthen cooperation among industry, academia, policymakers and civil society.
BIOLEAD will deliver several key outputs to support the deployment of bio-based solutions across Europe, including a BioBarometer knowledge platform, sustainability and risk assessments, consumer awareness studies, international benchmarking activities, policy recommendations and a roadmap for future biotechnology development. The project aims to develop an EU-wide stakeholder network, organise policy forums and support cooperation between industry, research infrastructures, public authorities and civil society. Building on these activities, BIOLEAD will develop a shared EU Vision for Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing and a Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA), providing a roadmap for future investments, policy development and research priorities. Together, these outputs will help position biotechnology and biomanufacturing as key drivers of Europe's competitiveness, sustainability and resilience in the transition towards a climate-neutral bioeconomy.
EuropaBio leads Work Package 5: Improved Awareness and Engagement for Policymaking for Biotechnology. EuropaBio is responsible for analysing legislative and regulatory frameworks affecting biotechnology and biomanufacturing, developing policy briefs and recommendations, coordinating engagement with policymakers at EU and national levels, and organising annual policy forums to support the development of future biotechnology-related legislation and initiatives.
