Biotechnology: A “Key” Sector in the New 2024-2029 Agenda of the European Council
The agenda also emphasizes the need to promote research and innovation, as well as public procurement tools, in the field of emerging and enabling technologies such as biotechnology.
On June 27th, the European Council adopted the Strategic Agenda 2024-2029, a document that sets the priorities and policy guidelines that will shape the work carried out by the various community institutions, and in which biotechnology is identified as one of the key sectors for the future of the European Union.
The agenda, which will guide the future of the European Union over the next five years, aims to strengthen the foundation of long-term community competitiveness and improve the economic and social well-being of European citizens: "We will reinforce sovereignty in strategic sectors and make Europe a technological and industrial powerhouse (...) We will strengthen our economic security, reduce harmful dependencies, and diversify and secure key supply chains,” the document states.
In this context, the European Council has identified biotechnology as one of the main sectors for achieving these goals: “We will develop our own capacity in sensitive sectors and key future technologies such as defense, space, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, semiconductors, 5G/6G, health, biotechnology, net-zero materials, mobility, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and advanced materials."
The agenda also highlights the need to promote research and innovation, as well as public procurement tools, in the field of emerging and enabling technologies.
Europe's strategic autonomy has become one of Brussels' priorities, and biotechnology is a key piece. At the end of 2023, the European Commission began a review process focused on the risk of dependency in four areas deemed “crucial” for the future of the European Union, which included biotechnology, along with artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and quantum technology. This group of deep tech was selected not only for the risks of dependencies and threats but also for their transformative capacity and potential to drive radical changes.
Additionally, the Commission also highlighted biotechnology in its work agenda for the current year due to its “high potential for growth and labor productivity.”
At AseBio, we have worked in line with the steps set by Brussels, and as part of our “Life for Biotechnology” campaign, we led the request at the end of November 2023 to the Government for the creation of a High Commissioner for Deep Strategic Technologies. A proposal that laid the foundation for the new Deep Technologies Strategy announced last March by the Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities.