BIOSPAIN 2026

Europe has no shortage of ambitious strategies for biotechnology. The challenge now is implementation.
Delivering a competitive, resilient and sustainable European agri-food biotechnology ecosystem will require coordinated action across industry, startups, academia, investors, farmers, policymakers and innovation organisations. No single stakeholder can deliver this transformation alone.
This roundtable will build on the key insights and recommendations collected by the EU Agri-Food Biotech Alliance from representatives from across the entire value chain—including the European Commission, EFSA, industry leaders, startups, investors, research organisations, farmers, retailers and ecosystem partners—to identify the priorities and actions needed to accelerate biotechnology adoption in Europe.
The discussion will focus on how organisations can work together to reduce fragmentation, align around common priorities, launch collaborative initiatives and create greater impact through collective action. The session will conclude with a call for organisations across the value chain to join the effort and help shape a stronger, more connected European agri-food biotechnology ecosystem.

Engineered living materials (ELMs) are composed, either entirely or partly, of living cells. ELMs entirely composed of living cells are called biological ELMs and they self-assemble via a bottom-up process – e.g. synthetic morphogenesis for organoids’ production. ELMs only partly composed of living cells are called hybrid living materials (HLMs) and are built with a top-down process with integrated polymers or scaffolds. In both cases, the cellular components extract energy from the environment to form or assemble the material itself, and to adapt its morphology and function to environmental stimuli. This endows these materials with a combination of properties not present in any non-living material: self-regeneration, adaptation to environmental clues, longevity and environmental sustainability. By being alive, ELMs represent a fundamental change in materials’ production and performance, enabling new, better or similar functionalities, compared to traditional materials but with decreased costs and environmental impact. ELMs have the potential to transform virtually every modern endeavour from healthcare to infrastructures to transportation.


Possible speakers

• Biotech Alliance members

This round table brings together perspectives from across the bioprocessing and biomanufacturing value chain. The discussion will explore major technological breakthroughs, including single-use systems, process intensification, automation, continuous bioprocessing, advanced analytics, AI and digitalization, while examining their real-world impact on process development and manufacturing. Speakers from SEDA Manufacturing Development Services, Celltoki, Lonza, Alfa Laval and Agilent will address the challenges of translating innovative processes from development to GMP and commercial scale, including technology transfer, process robustness, data quality, analytical control and manufacturing efficiency. The roundtable will also consider how new equipment, smarter analytics and more sustainable processing technologies can improve productivity and flexibility. A key part of the conversation will focus on the evolving CMO/CDMO business model, including integrated development and manufacturing services, flexible capacity, strategic partnerships and risk-sharing approaches. By bringing together technology providers, process specialists and manufacturing organizations, the session aims to provide a balanced view of the opportunities and bottlenecks shaping the future of biomanufacturing.

SEDA Pharmaceutical Development Services Development-to-manufacturing integration, CMC, manufacturability, clinical supply and flexible outsourced development models

Alfa Laval. Analytical technologies, process understanding, characterization, quality and data-driven manufacturing

Fishing in the Atlantic Marine Biotech Innovation Ecosystem: A Comprehensive Examination of Emerging Scientific and Technological Potential, Pathways for Development and Commercialization, Policy and Governance Challenges, and the Tangible Societal Impacts on Coastal Economies, Public Health, Biodiversity Conservation, and Community Resilience This expanded formulation frames a broad, multi-dimensional exploration of the Atlantic marine biotechnology and fisheries landscape — tracing how basic research and nascent technologies move through translational development, entrepreneurship, and regulatory systems into real-world applications. It highlights interconnected topics such as sustainable resource management, value-chain innovation (from bioprospecting to bio-based products), equity and livelihoods for coastal communities, environmental and biodiversity considerations, and measurable benefits to public health, regional economies, and social well-being. The emphasis is on understanding not just the scientific potential but also the institutional, economic, and societal mechanisms that determine whether innovations deliver meaningful, equitable impact.

New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) are transforming the way drugs, medical products, and chemicals are evaluated by providing more predictive, human-relevant, and sustainable alternatives to traditional testing approaches. By integrating advanced in vitro models, computational tools, artificial intelligence, in silico toxicology, and innovative preclinical strategies, NAMs offer new opportunities to improve safety assessment, reduce development timelines, lower costs, and support regulatory decision-making.
This round table will bring together leading experts from industry and technology providers to explore the current state and future potential of NAMs across the life sciences sector. The discussion will examine how emerging methodologies are being implemented in research and development workflows, the scientific and regulatory challenges that remain, and the collaborative efforts needed to accelerate adoption.
Representatives from CMG MedDev, ProtoQSAR, Labcorp and IVT Becytes will share their perspectives on the role of digital technologies, predictive modeling, advanced biological systems, and regulatory science in shaping the next generation of safety and efficacy assessment.
The session will address key questions including:

• How can NAMs improve the predictivity and translational value of preclinical testing?
• What role do AI, computational toxicology, and in silico approaches play in modern risk assessment?
• How are regulators responding to the growing adoption of NAMs?
• What barriers are limiting broader implementation, and how can they be overcome?
• How can collaboration between biotechnology companies, technology developers, regulators, and investors accelerate the transition toward human-relevant innovation?

Attendees will gain practical insights into the opportunities and challenges associated with NAMs, as well as a forward-looking view of how these technologies are reshaping drug development, chemical safety assessment, and the broader bioeconomy.

Imagine a kitchen where tiny, tireless chefs—yeast, bacteria, or fungi—are taught new recipes at the molecular level. That is precision fermentation: a carefully controlled, biology-driven process that programs microorganisms to churn out specific food ingredients, from enzymes and flavor molecules to structurally complex proteins. Using modern genetic and metabolic engineering, these microbial artisans produce high-purity molecules that once came only from animals or cumbersome extraction processes, offering a platform that’s predictable, scalable, and potentially kinder to the planet.

One of the clearest and most evocative examples of this approach is the creation of recombinant caseins. Caseins—the alpha, beta and kappa family members that give milk its character—are the architect proteins that assemble into micelles, creating milk’s texture, emulsifying power, and its ability to be turned into curds for cheese.

That said, the path from fermenter to supermarket shelf has practical hurdles: regulatory approval pathways, production economics, downstream processing and quality control, supply-chain integration, and consumer acceptance all matter. Overcoming these requires engineering, rigorous testing, smart economics, and clear communication about safety and benefits.

The European Union has positioned the bioeconomy as a cornerstone of its competitiveness, sustainability, and strategic autonomy agenda. The recently launched Strategy for a Competitive and Sustainable EU Bioeconomy seeks to accelerate the transition from innovation to industrial deployment by removing regulatory barriers, scaling investment, creating lead markets for bio-based solutions, and strengthening sustainable biomass value chains.

This roundtable will explore how Europe's new policy framework can translate into growth opportunities for biotechnology companies, investors, industrial partners, and regional innovation ecosystems. Discussions will focus on the practical implications of the strategy's four pillars: accelerating innovation and scale-up, developing markets for bio-based products and technologies, securing sustainable feedstocks and circular value chains, and strengthening Europe's global leadership in the bioeconomy.

Bringing together representatives from industry, policymakers, investors, and innovation organizations, the session will examine the actions needed to move bio-based innovations from the laboratory to commercial deployment. Particular attention will be given to regulatory modernization, industrial financing, public procurement, advanced biomanufacturing, and the creation of demand for sustainable bio-based solutions.

As Europe seeks to build resilient value chains and reduce dependence on fossil-based resources, this discussion will highlight how biotechnology can become a key driver of industrial transformation, economic growth, and environmental sustainability across the continent.

Key discussion questions:

• How can Europe accelerate the scale-up and commercialization of bio-based innovations?
• What regulatory and financing mechanisms are needed to strengthen industrial biotechnology competitiveness?
• How can lead markets be created for bio-based materials, chemicals, food ingredients, and advanced biomanufacturing solutions?
• What role should public procurement and industrial partnerships play in driving demand?
• How can Europe strengthen its strategic autonomy while ensuring sustainable and circular biomass value chains?

This framing aligns much more closely with the European Commission's 2025 Bioeconomy Strategy and AseBio's advocacy around regulatory streamlining, industrial scale-up, investment mobilization, and market creation.

Ya he contactado con estos y estos pendiente de su contestación, excepto ASINCAR que ya ha dado el ok.

• Celignis, Irlanda, SME, Agrifood
• Decathlon, Francia, Industria, Textil
• Novamont, Italia, Industria, Bioplasticos