EuropaBio’s journey through the global biotech and biomanufacturing landscape has come to an end - after stops in US, India, Japan and China - it is now possible to have a snapshot from all these countries by consulting our Biomanufacturing Global Series.

As Europe waits for the launch of the highly anticipated EU Biotech and Biomanufacturing Initiative, EuropaBio promoted a summary integrating general statistics, main policy developments and data on targets and investments of other geographies. The goal is to contribute with evidence to the discussion and support the development of a strategic view for Europe.

• The US brought together the Departments of Energy, Agriculture, Commerce, Health and Human Services, and the National Science Foundation to build their Bold Goals for Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing. The Department of Defence also allocated $1 billion investment in critical biomanufacturing infrastructure.
• India supported its strategy on its scientific human capital and cost-effective biomanufacturing capabilities to produce innovative, affordable and accessible products and create a $100 billion global biomanufacturing hub. India leverages its strengths and sets clear goals and targets.
• Japan used biomanufacturing to answer challenges such as global warming, security of food supply and rising demand for pharmaceuticals. The country plans for a $8 billion fund to support biomanufacturing. Japan defined the foundations, the means and the targets.
• China, an industrial powerhouse, defined for the first time on its 14th five-year plan (2021-2025), biological innovation and biotech as major themes. A clear shift towards the industry of the future by focusing on competitiveness in high-end new materials including bio-based and biomedical

What can the EU do with this information?

The EU has an unique opportunity to deliver a robust strategy for Biotech and Biomanufacturing by combining an analysis of Europe’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats with intelligence on what is happening globally.

It is an opportunity to break policy silos and coordinate an inter-DG strategy, as the US. It is a chance to identify and leverage Europe’s strengths such as R&D and innovation, as India. It is time to connect biomanufacturing to the answer to challenges such global warming, as Japan. It is critical to anticipate a shift in the industry towards biotech to foster competitiveness, as China.

The EU Biotech and Biomanufacturing Initiative can support simultaneously the Green Transition, competitiveness and supply-chain resilience. The EU Biotech and Biomanufacturing Initiative should aim to reach a long-term key positioning for Europe in the global supply-chains across sectors.