Brussels, Belgium
May 14, 2009
EuropaBio, the European
biotech industry association, applauds the report “IB
2025: Maximising UK Opportunities from Industrial Biotechnology
in a Low Carbon Economy” released today by the UK’s
Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR).
The biotech industry welcomes the report which is completely in
line with
the EU’s Lead Market Initiative for Biobased Products.
EuropaBio is also pleased to note that the report also embraces
EuropaBio’s policy recommendations* developed to help the EU
realise the vision of a Knowledge-Based Bio-Economy (KBBE).
"A competitive European Knowledge-based Bioeconomy can only be
realised when the European Union and the member states put a
coherent policy framework in place. What has been done in the UK
will motivate industry to continue investment in this emerging
and innovative industrial sector" said Dirk Carrez, EuropaBio’s
Director, Industrial Biotechnology.
Over the last two years the biotech industry has supported the
European Commission to work out a set of concrete steps to
realise the vision of a Knowledge-Based Bio-Economy (KBBE),
where biotechnology's new, clean, energy-efficient processes and
innovative biobased products create a sustainable industrial
base to ensure Europe's future prosperity. EuropaBio's
"Industrial Biotechnology Policy Agenda for Europe" (3) produced
an outline of policy recommendations to develop a competitive
KBBE in Europe, but recognized that in order for these
recommendations to be implemented, political support was needed.
“EuropaBio is pleased to note the support these recommendations
have received from the UK government” said Willy De Greef,
EuropaBio’s Secretary General. “Developing an innovation driven
economy is at the core of the Lisbon partnership. It is only
with support of the member states that the vision to support
growth and jobs in Europe by stimulating innovation can be
realized.”
*
Industrial Biotechnology Policy Agenda for Europe
EuropaBio is the European Association for Bioindustries,
solely and uniquely bringing together bioscience companies from
all fields of research and development, testing, manufacturing
and distribution of biotechnology products. It has 68 corporate
and 7 associated members, 4 BioRegions and 25 national
biotechnology associations representing some 1800 small and
medium sized enterprises involved in research. |
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