European Commission launches strategy to become global leader in life sciences by 2030

The European Commission has introduced a new strategy to make Europe “the most attractive place in the world” for life sciences by 2030.

The EU has the ambition to become the global beacon for sciences within the next five years, offering an ecosystem where innovation thrives and breakthroughs in health, food, and sustainability improve lives.

“Life sciences are at the heart of Europe’s ability to improve lives, grow a competitive economy, and protect the planet,” the European Commission says in its strategy report.

Life sciences drive innovation in medicine, food, and sustainable production. They add approximately €1.5 trillion in value to the EU economy and create and support almost 29 million jobs across the EU.

“Europe’s excellence in health, biotech, agriculture, food, and environmental science must be further supported by targeted investments and better coordination across sectors, regions, and scientific disciplines. The tangible advantages can be multiple: from accelerating medical innovations to preventing and treating disease, personalizing care, and strengthening health systems,” the European Commission continues.

Brussels backs life sciences by more than €10 billion annually as it aims to accelerate innovation, facilitate market access, and build public trust in new technologies. Both citizens and businesses profit from these investments.

“Science changes lives, but only if we back the people behind it. With this strategy, Europe is doing just that - funding life sciences from lab to market, supporting startups, accelerating market access, and building trust. We’re making sure bold ideas do not stay in the lab, they improve lives, right here in Europe,” Ekaterina Zaharieva, Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation, says in a statement.

According to Olivér Várhelyi, Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare, strengthening research and promoting groundbreaking innovations will not only advance health and well-being, it also create jobs and promote economic growth. “We are paving the way for a healthier, smarter Europe,” he adds.