Tag Archive for: EU

A month after China publicly revealed its bioeconomy priorities under its 15th Five Year Plan, the European Commission released an updated EU Bioeconomy Strategy — and the contrast could hardly be sharper. While China bets on a bold mix of AI, bioengineering and synthetic biology to replace fossil based industrial products with recombinant and cell free systems, the EU remains anchored in a more traditional vision focused on the valorisation of agricultural output and industrial waste. By contrast, the UK has taken a more modern approach, heavily investing in engineering biology — the use of reprogrammed microorganisms to produce industrial goods — as a key pillar of its biotech and bioeconomy strategy.

Experts from the six science academies united in EASAC have called for the immediate establishment of a transparent framework across the EU for the production of biotechnologically manufactured meat alternatives.

In the ongoing dispute over US import tariffs on European pharmaceuticals, the European Commission has acquiesced to a 15% tariff on EU pharmaceutical exports to the United States, as well as to the imposition of the same rate on EU investments exceeding US$600m in the US, without formal resistance. Industry associations have reacted with strong criticism.

The British Food Standards Agency (FSA) has formally accepted an application by French start-up Gourmey SAS for regulatory approval of its cultivated foie gras, a product developed using cellular agriculture techniques. The submission was initially lodged on 26 July 2024 and was made in parallel across five jurisdictions: the European Union, United States, Singapore, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

The UK government has unveiled a new industrial strategy that includes a commitment to invest £380m in engineering biology. The package comprises an initial £196m for research and development, and a further £184m for the expansion and modernisation of pilot and scale-up infrastructure.

Cultivated meat is expected to reach price parity with conventional meat sooner than previously forecast, according to a new analysis by technology foresight specialist GetFocus.

With a 7.7% lead, the incoming Christian Democrat Chancellor Friedrich Merz has put the radical right-wing AfD in its place. Before forming a government in Germany, Merz emphasised that Germany wants to strengthen the EU’s self-sufficiency, although the role of biotechnology seems to be of secondary importance to him.

One day after presenting its competition strategy, the EU Commission has launched an EU Biotech and Biomanufacturing Hub. The collection of information is intended to help biotech start-ups navigate through the jungle of EU funding measures and provide access to networks that help with patenting, product authorisation and compliance with EU regulations.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has revealed her nominees for new commissioners to lead the bloc for the next term from 2024 to 2029.

Ion Arocena; General Manager Asebio; © Asebio

Born with the aim of harmonising the application, evaluation, and supervision process of clinical trials conducted in EU countries, there is much room for improvement for the Clinical Trial Information System CTIS, particularly with regard to SMEs and translational researchers.