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EuropaBio

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EuropaBio
Company typeEuropean association
IndustryBiotechnology
Founded1996
HeadquartersBrussels, Belgium
Key people
Steen Riisgaard (Novozymes), Chairman
Willy De Greef, Secretary General
Websitehttp://www.europabio.org

EuropaBio (The European Association for Bioindustries) was created in 1996. It represents the interests of the biotech industry at European level so that legislation encourages and enables biotechnology companies in Europe to innovate and provide for the society unmet needs.

EuropaBio represents the three traditional sectors of the biotech industry.

  • The white or industrial biotechnology is the application of biotechnology for industrial purposes, including manufacturing, alternative energy (or "bioenergy"), and biomaterials.
  • The red or healthcare biotechnology is the application of biotechnology for the production of medicines and therapies.
  • The green or agrifood biotechnology which is a collection of technologies using plant organisms and plant cells for the production or transformation of food, biomaterials and energy.

The association regularly publishes industry’s position papers, issues press releases, news on European biotechnology developments and political news impacting the technology on its website.

Activity & Goals

EuropaBio is engaged in dialogue with the European institutions and contribute to the creation of legislation for bioindustries. It ensures a steady flow of information about biotechnology to the European Parliament, the European Commission and the Council of Ministers.

EuropaBio:

  • promotes[1] an innovative and dynamic biotechnology-based industry in Europe,
  • advocates free and open markets and the removal of barriers to competitiveness with other areas of the world,
  • is committed to an open, informed dialogue with all stakeholders about the ethical, social and economic aspects of biotechnology and its applications and
  • champions the responsible use of biotechnology to ensure that its potential is fully used to the benefit of humans and their environment.

EuropaBio's primary focus is the European Union but because of the global character of the biotech business, it also represents its members in transatlantic and worldwide fora.

The association policy goals are:

  • the Policy Coherence Goal - Building policy consistency and predictable rules for all biotech sectors.
  • the Regulatory Goal - Improving the European regulatory environment for biotechnology.
  • the IPR Goal - Protecting Europe’s intellectual property – promoting a robust regime.
  • the Finance Goal - Funding the future – ensuring financing for Young Innovative Companies.
  • the Awareness Goal - Bridging the gap – building public awareness of the benefits of biotech.
  • the Research Goal - Supporting research excellence.
  • the Access Goal - patients and consumers have the right to fair and equitable access to the products and services issued from biotechnology.

Organisation

EuropaBio[2] has a board of management made up of representatives from among its members. In September 2007, Steen Riisgaard (President & CEO of Novozymes) was appointed for two years as Chair of the Board.

The Board is assisted by sectoral councils representing the main segments of EuropaBio - healthcare (red biotech), industrial (white biotech) and agriculture (green biotech).

Experts from member companies and national associations participate in EuropaBio's working groups which cover a very wide range of issues and areas of concern of biotech enterprises.

EuropaBio Secretary General is Mr. Willy De Greef [3].

Members

In April 2009[4], the association gathered 68 corporate members operating worldwide, 7 associate members including 4 BioRegions and 25 national biotechnology associations, representing some 1800 small and medium entreprises worldwide. Through the national associations, EuropaBio represents 1800 small and medium-sized enterprises involved in research, development, testing, manufacturing and commercialisation of biotechnology applications.

National Associations

Corporate Members

Associate Members

BioRegion Members

See also

References