On August 4, the European Commission opened a public consultation for a European Biotech Act. Until November 10, everyone can contribute ideas on what is needed to get biotechnology from lab to factory faster. The questions concern access to capital, licensing, skills, and the role of data and artificial intelligence. The consultation is the prelude to a legislative proposal intended to create an environment that does not hinder innovation but helps it cross over to the market.
Parliament sets out beacons
In July, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on the future of biotechnology and biomanufacturing. The goal is shorter and more predictable approval procedures, better alignment with international regulations, and a stronger foundation for intellectual property. The Parliament calls for sufficient capacity at the agencies that assess applications. The message is to accelerate without compromising safety and the environment.
Broader policy under construction
The consultation fits into an agenda that was already underway. In March 2024, the Commission presented an initiative aimed at boosting biotechnology and biomanufacturing. This document identified the sector as key to Europe's competitiveness and the transition away from fossil fuels. The Biotech Act is now being developed as a next step.
Opportunities and tests for practice
For entrepreneurs in green chemistry and biobased materials, this presents both an opportunity and a test. Well-known bottlenecks are being explicitly addressed, such as regulatory fragmentation, long lead times, and uncertainty surrounding product labeling. Parliament is pushing for clarity and acceleration, with room for pilot projects for new technologies and better guidance on market access.
Money for scaling up
Running in parallel is the European public-private CBE JU call of 2025. It is open until September 18 and features thirteen topics with a total budget of 172 million euros. The themes range from adapting existing facilities to using municipal waste as a raw material for valuable products. Those wishing to build the next step in the chain can apply now.
Impact on the Netherlands and the Benelux
The playing field for pilots and demonstrations is strong in this region, but many initiatives get stuck between demonstration and production. The consultation and the resolution in Strasbourg pinpoint this point. More coherent regulations, faster assessments, and access to larger capital flows are necessary for scaling up. The Commission aims for a legislative proposal to be finalized in 2026. This will provide time to address practical bottlenecks with concrete examples and data.
Getting started with input and projects
Provide input for the consultation by November 10th. Translate these same points into concrete projects in the CBE call or national regulations. This will bring policy closer to practice and allow biotechnology to contribute more quickly to a competitive bioeconomy in Europe.
More information: ec.europa.eu and CBE JU
Photo by Starder
