As the EU looks ahead to the European elections in 2024, with a new EU Commission mandate and Work Programme, EuropaBio reviews European strategies and ambitions where biotechnology plays a key role. Ursula von der Leyen’s State of the European Union address of 13 September announced an ‘EU Biotech and Biomanufacturing Initiative’ under the heading of ‘An Economy that Works for People’1. Europe needs to be ambitious for this, particularly when considering the ongoing changes in global perspective on biotechnology which were highlighted in the 2022 Vilnius Statement.