Slow progress for EU biotech

The slow and partial implementation of EU legislation by some member states remains a major obstacle to the development of the EU life sciences and biotechnology sector, according to the latest progress report on the European Commission's Life Sciences and Biotechnology Strategy.

This is severely hampering the biotech industry's development, discouraging innovators and the potential investors whose finance is so desperately needed, claims the report, released earlier this month.

That feeling is echoed by the industry itself. EuropaBio, the European Association for Bioindustries, commented in a statement: “Sadly, this year's progress report is not reporting much progress.”

“We need to keep hammering on the nail of asking the European Union to keep its promises,” Johan Vanhemelrijck, EuropaBio's secretary general, told The Scientist. “One thing that is very distressing is that many of the key [EU actions] involve stimulating research... but if the research that costs a lot...