Biotechnology for agro-industries and the bioeconomy

Research and innovation as competitiveness drivers of the European bioindustry

Biotechnologies are becoming a cornerstone of the European bioeconomy, supporting progress in agri-food systems, environmental sustainability, materials, chemicals and industrial innovation. Their strategic importance is now recognised at EU level through initiatives such as the 2024 Communication on boosting biotechnology and biomanufacturing, the EU Competitiveness Compass, and the 2025 “Choose Europe for Life Sciences” initiative, with the European Commission also announcing its intention to introduce an EU Biotech Act in 2026. These initiatives position biotechnology as a key driver of EU competitiveness and sovereignty.

Biotechnology is a crucial lever for EU scientific and industrial competitiveness and sovereignty. To create effective policies supporting biotechnology and biomanufacturing development, it is essential to understand the crosscutting industrial potential of this field.

To foster an ambitious European vision for this field, INRAE, together with IBISBA and the PEPR B-BEST, is organising a high-level event bringing together researchers, industry representatives, civil society and EU institutions. Across three dedicated sessions, discussions will address the crosscutting potential of biotechnology, including nature-based biomanufacturing, the enabling role of high-quality, FAIR, data and AI, and the importance of coordinated research and technology infrastructures to bridge the gap from scientific discovery to industrial deployment.

This event contributes directly to several priorities of INRAE 2030, including the transition to sustainable agri-food systems, the development of a circular bioeconomy, and the mobilisation of data and AI to support major environmental and technological transitions. It aims to capitalise on existing knowledge and help shape an ambitious future for this strategic field of innovation.