Brussels, 10 October 2012

EuropaBio warmly welcomes the European Commission’s new proposal on industrial policy for growth and economic recovery.  Launched today by Vice President Tajani, following extensive consultation and analysis, the Communication builds on the work of the Lead Market Initiative (LMI) and highlights biobased product markets as one of six key priority action lines with the greatest potential for delivering new products and for increasing productivity.  In addition, markets for Key Enabling Technologies (KETs), including Industrial Biotech, are highlighted as another of the six priority action lines destined for greater uptake through member state technology policies and European Innovation Partnerships (EIPs).

Commenting on the Communication, Joanna Dupont-Inglis, Director for Industrial Biotech at EuropaBio said: “We are delighted to see not only priority action lines on markets for KETs but also for biobased products, reflecting the real potential of this sector. The alignment of the six priority actions with sectors for smart specialisation, defined for cohesion policy in the member states, is also an important aspect.”

The Communication highlights the key role of Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) for Europe as a way of strengthening competitiveness, laying the foundations for the reindustrialisation of the economy, eliminating bottlenecks and getting innovation to market faster across the EU.  The importance of proposals for a Sustainable Process Industry PPP (SPIRE) and for a Biobased Industries PPP are also emphasised.

Lars Hansen, Chair of EuropaBio’s Industrial Biotech Council and President of Novozymes Europe summed up “Industrial biotech has been clearly identified by this communication as one of Europe’s leading technologies poised to deliver smart and sustainable jobs and growth.  The good news is that the gap remaining between high tech research and innovative, commercial competitiveness can be bridged to deliver the kind of economic recovery we need to see and feel. Investments in biorefinery demonstration facilities, through initiatives such as SPIRE and BioBased Industries PPPs, are now of paramount importance in order to develop thriving biobased product markets. For that, we need collective commitment and timely implementation of the joined-up policy making outlined by today’s Communication.” 

Click here to read the Commission’s press release

For more information please contact:

Joanna Dupont-Inglis

Director, Industrial Biotechnology, EuropaBio

Tel: +32 2 739 11 84; GSM: +32 476 60 71 35 Email: j.dupont@europabio.org

Rosalind Travers

Manager, Communications & National Associations

Tel: +32 2 739 1173; GSM: +32 478 680 301 Email: r.travers@europabio.org

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.