Hello readers! You know, when you view the biotechnology landscape from a Brussels perspective, you can very easily get stuck looking at the bad bits meddling politicians, poor science reporting, insane funding decisions. Goodness knows I have had to solve the euro crisis already this year, and most months I have something or other to moan about.
A promising transition to Horizon 2020 for SMEs
OpinionThe end of the FP7 process has been a busy one, with a rush to grab the last EC funds before we all get thirsty in the break between FP7 and the launch of Horizon 2020 in 2014.
Derrick Williams: Fostering collaboration and R&D quality
OpinionIn an era when Member States are doing their utmost to limit national exposure in the EU budget, making the right choices has become more crucial than ever before to shaping Europe’s future.
Patents dancing in the spring
OpinionAll the hard work I invested in 2012 to rescue the Eurozone with biotechnology has reaped a new reward in 2013, as the European Parliament and Council finally approved the European patent in December.
Serge Bernasconi: Getting regulation right for patients and innovation
OpinionThe revision of the EU Medical Devices Directives (MDD) could not have come at a more critical moment. The recent PIP breast implant incident has made it crystal clear that healthcare actors must pull together to ensure similar cases of fraud never happen again.
Why biotech needs Europe and Europe needs biotech
OpinionIt’s getting a little boring listening to conversations about the 2014-2020 budget. As citizens, we’re subjected to endless national bickering and point-scoring as national leaders look to secure their own positions through sounding tough on Europe’, as if the EU was a strange alien beast designed to steal their money and straighten all their bananas.
Nigel Sheail: Partnering for innovative healthcare solutions
OpinionPartnering and even open innovation is becoming increasingly important for our industry in a world where health systems are undergoing profound transformations.
When scientists have to strike at their own
OpinionWe all read with dismay but not a huge amount of surprise the October paper from French researchers led by Gilles-Eric Séralini on the two-year rat-feeding study looking at the effects of glyphosate-treated GM maize.
Regina Revilla/Emilio Munoz: The Importance of innovation in weak economics
OpinionSince the beginning of the year, there have been numerous government initiatives in the most advanced countries to implement and strengthen policies to support biotechnology.
When science makes you smile
OpinionHello readers! You know, when you view the biotechnology landscape from a Brussels perspective, you can very easily get stuck looking at the bad bits meddling politicians, poor science reporting, insane funding decisions. Goodness knows I have had to solve the euro crisis already this year, and most months I have something or other to moan about.
Andrea Rappagliosi: Challenges and answers: HTA in the economic crisis
OpinionDuring the last thirty years, healthcare expenditure has been growing much more rapidly than GDP in OECD countries, causing increasing concerns about the long-term sustainability of current trends. As we have seen with the global impact of the financial crisis, economic realities are moving faster than political ones.