Today, the EU Commission announced the publication of its second progress report on the EU’s life sciences and biotechnology strategy, tracking developments since the Commission put in place a comprehensive strategy in January 2002 to reap the social and economic benefits from biotechnology.  The strategy was subsequently adopted by the Prime Ministers and Heads of State as part the Lisbon plan to become the most competitive knowledge based economy in the world by 2010.  “Sadly, this year’s progress report is not reporting much progress,” says Feike Sijbesma, Chairman of EuropaBio – the European association for bioindustries. “It is repeating yet again that Member States have to implement rules they agreed a long time ago.”

Still seven Member States have not implemented the biotech patent’s directive (98/44), eight Member States have not implemented the directive on GMOs (2001/18), the target of 15% of biotech SMEs in the EU research framework  programme has not been met, and still there is no progress on the Community Patent.  “We acknowledge the EU Commission’s efforts in trying to strengthen the scientific and technological basis of Europe and to improve its global competitiveness,” says Johan Vanhemelrijck, EuropaBio Secretary General.  “The institution has played an important role in concluding the recent major review of the pharmaceutical rules, which has given the world the first framework legislation for biosimilar medical products.  The € 500 million venture capital transfer from the EIB to finance innovative biotechnology firms is a concrete support measure also piloted through by the Commission. But Member States need to give more support to the Commission’s efforts.”

Europe needs real progress in the field of the Community Patent, the moratorium, the patents directive, and the fostering of young enterprises.  According to Johan Vanhemelrijck “This will help national biotech communities across Europe to prosper throughout the new Europe and not only limit its development to confined regions.”

Because some Member States are not adopting EU wide rules, EU wide measures are losing out to certain national policies.  More and more Member States are not waiting for Europe, fiscal measures to promote the “brain-gain” like the French Innovative Company status and the most recent Belgian initiative to lure the private sector to spend more on research are good examples of concrete measures that really make a difference. “The lack of an EU wide approach will put Member States in competition.  While this could result in a two speed Europe, it may also help create leading economies to lift the overall competitiveness of Europe.”

The Competitiveness in Biotechnology Advisory Group (CBAG) advising the Commission on the EU life’s science strategy calls for an EU wide stock market to improve the access of private biotech companies to finance.  “This is another topic of crucial importance to innovative, yet fragile industries and policy makers need to have the courage to tackle it urgently,” says Johan Vanhemelrijck.

EuropaBio, the European Association for Bioindustries, has 35 corporate members operating worldwide and 23 national biotechnology associations representing some 1200 small and medium sized enterprises involved in research and development, testing, manufacturing and distribution of biotechnology products.