06 March 2014, Brussels

The recently published EU Innovation scoreboard underlines that Europe risks becoming the world’s research hub while innovative products and processes and the jobs and growth  that go with their development, will be found elsewhere. In its recently released report, despite an improvement in terms of closing the innovation divide with the rest of the world, the Commission shows Europe still lagging behind single countries such as Japan, South Korea and the US.

The critical state of innovative industries such as the biotechnology industry in Europe today and the need for concrete action, go beyond the improvement of research and development funding which has taken place in Europe.

André Goig, EuropaBio Chairman commented: “The Commission has made great strides in terms of reformulating its Research Framework programmes to include e.g. Public Private Partnerships and instruments targeted specifically at SMEs, which go beyond standard research funding and move toward funding innovation. However, unless Europe can guarantee such improvements are coupled with science-based, predictable and workable regulatory systems for small and large companies, as well as tailored market pull measures for innovative products and faster and more equitable access to products for end users, similar to those available in other parts of the world, we are setting ourselves up to keep losing, not only on the scoreboard but most importantly in terms of jobs, growth and benefits for society.”

Later this month, on March 27th, EuropaBio will be launching its 2014-2019 Manifesto calling on Members of the European Parliament and Commissioners to tackle the main issues that are holding biotech and innovation back in Europe and unleash the region’s potential in this cutting edge area.

Media Contact:

Nathalie Moll, EuropaBio Secretary General
Email: n.moll@europabio.org
Ph: +32 (0) 2 7391175/ +32 (0) 473884578

About EuropaBio
EuropaBio is the European Association for Bioindustries, bringing together bioscience companies from all fields of research and development, testing, manufacturing and distribution of biotechnology products. It has 56 corporate members, 14 associate members and Bio Regions and 19 National Biotechnology Associations- representing some 1800 small and medium sized enterprises across Europe.