De Europese Commissie waarschuwt het Europees Parlement dat Europa snel terrein verliest in de mondiale biotechnologiesector en roept op tot actie, schrijft Science Business. Tijdens een hoorzitting van de commissie voor onderzoek en industrie stelde Rainer Becker namens de Commissie voor “een groeiende concurrentiekloof”. Hij wijst daarbij op China, waarvan het aandeel in wereldwijde klinische studies in tien jaar is gestegen van minder dan 10 procent naar bijna 30 procent, terwijl het Europese aandeel is gedaald tot 10 procent. Ook investeert de VS meer dan 9 keer zoveel in biotechstart-ups als de Europese Unie, en kozen 66 van de 67 Europese biotechstart-ups die de afgelopen 6 jaar naar de beurs gingen voor een notering in de VS. Volgens Becker is snelle actie nodig, wat mede aanleiding was voor de vervroegde publicatie van de EU Biotech Act.
Just before the holidays, the European Commission unveiled Part I of the EU Biotech Act, a long‑awaited signal that Europe aims to unlock biotech’s full potential. In recent weeks, we worked closely with our members to analyse the full proposal and share our recommendations with the Dutch government as it prepares its official response (the BNC fiche). Hollandbio is hopeful: Part I clearly holds promise for our sector. However, we are not there yet. Without proper EU and national resourcing, clearer choices and a broader scope, it still risks falling short of being the breakthrough Europe needs. In our overall position and more detailed assessment we explain where Europe takes meaningful steps forward, where it falls short, and what must be sharpened to enable a framework that truly supports biotech from early R&D through to market uptake. Do you see opportunities, gaps or must-haves for Part I as well as Part II (expected Q3 2026)? We’d love to hear from you as we continue engaging with ministries and stakeholders to secure the best possible conditions for biotech to scale and thrive in Europe!
https://www.hollandbio.nl/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/HollandBIO_logo.svg00Dina Diekhttps://www.hollandbio.nl/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/HollandBIO_logo.svgDina Diek2026-01-20 12:43:332026-03-25 12:25:15Hollandbio’s take on the EU Biotech Act Part I← #nieuws
Yesterday, the European Commission unveiled Part I of the EU Biotech Act, a crucial step to boost Europe’s biotech innovation ecosystem. This first chapter focuses mostly on health, incentivising companies to conduct research and production within Europe, accelerate clinical trials authorisations across countries, and fast-track the development of cutting-edge new therapies using AI, data and regulatory sandboxes. And it proposes amendments to several EU regulations, including the general food law and GMO rules. As we take a closer look at the act during the Christmas holidays, we warmly invite you to share your insights and feedback with us. Your input will help us sharpen our asks and position, enabling us to best support the Dutch government in shaping its national position and ensuring the right steps are taken to strengthen biotech competitiveness in Europe. Our key asks for bold action remain central in our efforts. In the coming days, we’ll assess how Part I measures up to these ambitions and what’s still needed to make Part II (expected in Q3 2026) even bolder and better.
https://www.hollandbio.nl/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/HollandBIO_logo.svg00Idalia Dlugoszhttps://www.hollandbio.nl/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/HollandBIO_logo.svgIdalia Dlugosz2025-12-16 16:01:352025-12-16 17:13:00Does the EU Biotech Act Part I deliver on its promises? ← #nieuws
The Netherlands is positioning itself at the forefront of Europe’s biotech future! In its newly published non-paper on the EU Biotech Act, the Dutch government calls for a broad, competitive, and innovation-driven approach. The position advocates harmonized and flexible regulation, strong financing, and market creation across medical, agricultural, industrial, and environmental biotech, fully aligned with hollandbio’s asks to “boost biotech broadly, invest in frontrunners, pave the way to market, and remove barriers for uptake.” Besides broad, strategic suggestions, the non-paper proposes targeted action on key focus areas, including clinical trials, biological pest control, GMOs, novel foods, and animal-free methods. Among others, strengthening of knowledge transfer, state aid reform and regulatory sandboxes are highlighted as essential for a thriving biotech ecosystem. With this message, the Dutch government joins hollandbio in urging the EU to seize this moment for bold, integrated action, making Europe the world’s most attractive region for biotech innovation and ensuring smart solutions can deliver for our health, future, and economic growth.
https://www.hollandbio.nl/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/HollandBIO_logo.svg00Dina Diekhttps://www.hollandbio.nl/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/HollandBIO_logo.svgDina Diek2025-12-01 11:42:222025-12-01 11:42:23Dutch Government champions broad and competitive EU Biotech Act ← #nieuws
Last Monday marked the deadline for the EU Biotech Act public consultation. Hollandbio has made sure the Dutch biotech sector’s voice is heard in Brussels. In our input, including answers to the questionnaire, a list of detailed asks and our overarching position paper, we urge the EU to act boldly and decisively: develop an integrated, long-term biotech strategy, invest in frontrunners so smart ideas can make European impact, pave the way to market entry with fast and clear regulation, and remove barriers so biotech solutions can reach patients and consumers. We look forward to seeing how the EU responds in Part I of the Biotech Act expected on December 16th, as well as in Part II planned for Q3 next year!
https://www.hollandbio.nl/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/HollandBIO_logo.svg00Idalia Dlugoszhttps://www.hollandbio.nl/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/HollandBIO_logo.svgIdalia Dlugosz2025-11-11 17:45:202025-11-11 17:45:21Hollandbio asks for a bold EU Biotech Act in public consultation ← #nieuws
Good news from Brussels: the Council of the European Union officially endorsed the EU Biotech Act and life sciences strategy. This marks a united commitment from all EU Member States to make Europe the most attractive place for biotech innovation by 2030. In its conclusions, the Council sends a clear political signal oddly familiar to what hollandbio is calling for: it’s time to act for biotech. It calls for a stronger innovation ecosystem with a business-friendly regulatory framework, coordinated governance and better support for frontrunners. While the final EU Biotech Act still needs to be drafted and negotiated, this endorsement gives the European Commission a strong mandate to move forward. The coming months will be crucial to ensure the strategy delivers real impact — for health, sustainability, and Europe’s global competitiveness.
https://www.hollandbio.nl/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/HollandBIO_logo.svg00Idalia Dlugoszhttps://www.hollandbio.nl/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/HollandBIO_logo.svgIdalia Dlugosz2025-11-04 14:29:052025-11-04 22:16:21EU Council says it’s time to act for biotech ← #nieuws
Europa zet een grote stap om scale-ups te ondersteunen. Samen met grote private investeerders als Novo Holdings, Santander/Mouro Capital en APG Asset Management (namens pensioenfonds ABP) kondigt de Europese Commissie namelijk het Scaleup Europe Fund aan: een miljardenfonds gericht op Europese scale-ups in deep tech, waaronder biotech. Geen log subsidievehikel, maar een slim, marktgericht groeifonds dat instapt in investeringsrondes van €100 miljoen of meer met als doel om Europees talent en innovatie op eigen bodem te houden. De eerste investeringen staan gepland voor lente 2026, zodra een fondsbeheerder is geselecteerd. Voor biotech ondernemers betekent dit perspectief op meer groeikapitaal, minder obstakels, en kansen om op te schalen. Bij hollandbio zijn we blij dat Europa in de financiële actietaxi springt. Zodra het fonds operationeel is en bedrijven zich kunnen melden, laten we het weten. Stay tuned!
The recently published European Commission’s 2026 Work Programme is packed with opportunities for a strong biotech sector: the European Innovation Act, Advanced Materials Act, European Research Area Act, and new initiatives on AI, critical raw materials, and the circular economy – to name a few. Most important is of course the EU Biotech Act, which the Commission has now officially split in two. Biotech Act I (expected before Christmas) focuses on rapid regulatory simplification in health, food and feed, enabling quick progress for innovation in those fields. Biotech Act II (expected Q3 2026) will deliver a comprehensive, future-proof framework for the entire biotech ecosystem, including industrial biotech, based on a full impact assessment. The coming year offers a unique opportunity to help shape Europe’s biotech future. During this time, hollandbio will continue to push for bold EU action, ensuring that this potential translates into real progress for a world-leading, innovation driven biotech landscape.
https://www.hollandbio.nl/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/HollandBIO_logo.svg00Dina Diekhttps://www.hollandbio.nl/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/HollandBIO_logo.svgDina Diek2025-10-31 17:36:452025-10-31 17:36:46Biotech in the EU Work Programme for 2026 ← #nieuws
The European Commission has officially postponed the EU Biotech Act to the end of 2026 – a move welcomed by biotech stakeholders across Europe. The delay offers a crucial window to shape a regulatory framework that truly supports innovation, rather than stifling it. Hollandbio’s message is clear: the EU must act now for biotech. With global competition intensifying, Europe cannot afford to fall behind. Alongside other European biotech advocacy organisations, we take all available opportunity to push for smarter rules, better funding, and a stronger biotech ecosystem. Fingers crossed the EU uses this extra time wisely, building a future-proof, innovation-friendly framework. Now is the moment to get our act together and make biotech a cornerstone of Europe’s strategic future!
https://www.hollandbio.nl/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/HollandBIO_logo.svg00Dina Diekhttps://www.hollandbio.nl/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/HollandBIO_logo.svgDina Diek2025-10-21 16:12:352025-10-21 16:12:36EU Biotech Act postponed: time to act super now!← #nieuws
Tired of slow approvals, fragmented rules, or funding gaps holding back biotech innovation in Europe? Now is your chance to speak up! The European Commission is preparing the new EU Biotech Act (expected Q3 2026) and wants to hear from you: what’s blocking biotech progress, and what needs to change? Until November 10th, everyone—entrepreneurs, researchers, consumers, policymakers—can share their experiences through a public consultation covering topics like regulation, funding, manufacturing, talent, and more. To make things easier, we’re sharing our draft input for this consultation. Feel free to use hollandbio’s answers as inspiration for your own submission or send us your feedback and suggestions. Together, we can help shape smarter rules, better funding, and a stronger biotech ecosystem in Europe. Act now, fill in the consultation, and help make Europe a leader in biotech innovation again!
https://www.hollandbio.nl/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/HollandBIO_logo.svg00Idalia Dlugoszhttps://www.hollandbio.nl/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/HollandBIO_logo.svgIdalia Dlugosz2025-10-14 16:10:022025-10-14 16:10:05Use our input to have your say in the EU Biotech Act Public Consultation