1903028 Europabio Annual Report BW.Indd
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INNOVATIVE BIOTECHNOLOGY BENEFITTING PEOPLE AND PLANET ANNUAL REPORT 2018-2019 FOREWORD As we approach 2030, Europe and the wider world face a broad range of challenges on the journey towards delivering on the UN Sustainable Development Goals. With increasing demands on natural resources, an aging demographic with complex healthcare needs and the threat of climate change, new solutions are needed now more than ever. The European biotech industry is uniquely positioned to deliver and, with the right support, it will create a new spectrum of biotech products and processes, to help meet current and future needs, benefitting people and planet. Tjerk de Ruiter, The European biotech industry has already been EuropaBio Chair, CEO of Corbion. central to the development of new therapies to treat unmet medical needs, producing more food on less land with less dependence society, industry, policy makers, interest groups on resources and significantly reducing GHG and other thought leaders in order to create an emissions across many industrial sectors. innovation-based framework that enables safe and beneficial therapies and products to reach But in order to fulfil the potential of EU Biotech patients and consumers in a timely way. and usher in a new age of ‘’biologicalisation’’, alongside digitalisation, a collective EU The new European Parliament and Commission commitment to a proportionate, fit-for-purpose, have the opportunity to capture the potential science-based policy approach, is essential. of innovative, value adding technologies such as biotech in Europe. Through bold political In recent years, huge progress has been made leadership, that defines and commits to in biotech with advances in genome editing the EU’s ambitions for healthier people and and gene therapy offering up new hope in planet, fostering Europe’s strengths, rather tackling some of our most devastating diseases than restricting them, they can rise to this and planetary challenges. These advances are challenge. EuropaBio and the growing European potentially game-changing, but the science community of scientists, experts, innovators has evolved much faster than policy. Open and students, working across the breadth of and inclusive dialogue is now needed with civil biotech, stand ready to support this ambition. TABLE OF CONTENTS 6 30 Cross-sector Industrial biotech 16 38 Healthcare Our team biotech 22 40 Agricultural Our members biotech CROSS-SECTOR HIGHLIGHTS In addition to priorities in the healthcare, Our Vision & Mission industrial and agricultural biotech sectors, • Our Vision & Mission EuropaBio, with the support of its National Associations, works on a number of • One technology - united in industry-wide initiatives to strengthen Our vision is of: purpose biotechnology in Europe. These include intellectual property, SMEs, genome Innovative biotechnology benefi tting people and planet • Biotechnology Industry editing and outreach projects to raise the Manifesto 2019 profi le of European biotechnology among policymakers and the general public. Our mission is for EuropaBio, the European Association for Bioindustries, to be the recognised • Our position on Genome Editing voice of the European biotech community, championing world-class solutions for society’s challenges. • 6th European Biotech Week celebrated across the continent EuropaBio and its members are committed to the socially responsible use of biotechnology to improve quality of life, to prevent, diagnose, treat and cure diseases, to improve the quality and • Promoting biotech innovation quantity of food and feedstuff s and to move towards a bio-based and zero-waste economy. from European SMEs • Excelling in social media One technology - united in purpose In addition to our healthcare, agricultural and industrial biotech goals, EuropaBio continues to work cross-sectorally in promoting thought leadership in three core areas: ANNUAL REPORT 2018-2019 2018-2019 REPORT ANNUAL I 9 1 2 3 Developing a new Establishing a Supporting the narrative on the science-based creation of a new benefi ts of biotech now predictable approach EU Life Sciences and and for the future to genome editing biotechnology strategy CROSS-SECTOR • a fact-based platform for dialogue, information sharing and trust building to be set up by the Biotechnology Industry Manifesto 2019 European Commission that brings together policy makers, public researchers, civil society and industry. In 2019, EuropaBio developed its new manifesto with the aim of: Resetting the ambition for biotechnology in the EU 6th European Biotech Week celebrated We promote fi ve guiding principles for a competitive EU biotechnology industry: across the continent 1. Sound science-based policy making 2. Fast and equitable access to innovative biotechnology products and processes 3. Fair and sustainable IntellectualResetting Property the ambition systems for biotechnology in the EU The 2018 European Biotech Week, which took place between 24-30 INTRODUCTION Over the coming decades, it will 4. A supportive and predictable fundingbe essential to innovate towards framework delivering sustainable solutions to TIME TO ENGAGE IN the broad range of challenges that A NEW DIALOGUE Europe is facing. The biotech industry AND EMBRACE September, gathered further momentum with over 135 events can help tackle several of these THE POTENTIAL OF signifi cantly, contributing to a more resource effi cient, climate neutral and BIOTECHNOLOGY IN innovation driven knowledge-based EUROPE 5. A highly-skilled workforce in alleconomy that improvesMember the health States and well-being of people and planet. The complexity of Biotechnology is one of the key the technology, 2 Build trust taking place in 18 diff erent countries. The #BiotechWeek was enabling technologies driving the combined with BIOTECHNOLOGY guiding principles for a competitive fourth industrial revolution. It has misinformation delivered huge advances in many and a backlash against INDUSTRY MANIFESTO 2019 EU biotechnology industry a. Make a step change in risk communication: the Commission and other authorities sectors, including healthcare, science, academia and 5 should prioritise delivering the forthcoming ‘general plan for risk communication’ on industrial processes and agriculture. With its own specifi c biotech expertise have created food safety. To help achieve the UN Sustainable ecosystem, Europe can take the misunderstandings and unfounded b. Combat the spread and sources of misinformation. 1 Sound science-based policy making applying the precautionary principle Development Goals by 2030, a global lead by sustainably developing concerns about biotech. To be c. Engage in active discussions on ethical aspects of innovation by fostering a as intended, fully implementing the innovation principle, and ensuring proportionate, fi t-for-purpose and its economy, to protect the successful, Europe’s core values of dialogue with industry, consumers, patients, farmers, media, investors, purchasers celebrated by a great diversity of participants, from researchers and effi cient product authorisation systems. science-based approach to modern environment, secure jobs, improve the progress and solidarity need to be and policy makers. technologies, such as innovative health, life expectancy and well-being applied. An open and transparent INNOVATIVE BIOTECHNOLOGY BENEFITTING PEOPLE AND PLANET biotechnology, is essential. of European citizens. dialogue is critical to reinstating trust in 2 Fast and equitable access to innovative biotechnology products and sound science and policy making. processes to the benefi t of patients, consumers and farmers, refl ecting a Our call to action asks policy makers andBiotechnology is part of our everydaystakeholders to: EuropaBio, the European Association for Bioindustries, is the recognised voice of the EU biotech community, championing world-class fully functioning single market. 3 Protect intellectual property lives and off ers citizens concrete The new mandate of the European solutions for society’s challenges. EuropaBio and its members are committed to the responsible use of biotechnology to improve quality solutions. However, regulatory Parliament and Commission for 2019- of life, to prevent, diagnose, treat and cure diseases, to improve the quality and quantity of food and feedstuff s and to move towards 3 Fair and sustainable Intellectual Property systems, supporting research a. Maintain the biotech patents directive in its current form, which is already fi t roadblocks such as slow and 2024 will represent an opportunity to a bio-based and zero-waste economy. and development of biotechnology-derived products and processes. for purpose. professionals to curious students, across all age groups. politicised authorisation systems reset the ambition for biotechnology b. Strive to off er the most internationally competitive suite of IP incentives in order for some biotech applications are in Europe. We encourage all decision Very few other sectors enhance quality of life, knowledge, innovation, productivity and environmental protection like biotechnology. 4 A supportive and predictable funding framework which includes a focus to attract investment and stimulate future innovation in the context of lengthy blunting Europe’s competitive edge makers at European and national level From new drugs that can address unmet medical needs and fi ght epidemics and rare diseases, to industrial processes that use renewable on building a stronger SME and start-up biotech ecosystem and facilitating product authorisation processes.