Peter WEHRHEIM

What Peter WEHRHEIM has said (3)

• “For instance, we have we are supporting the industrial biotechnology innovation and synthetic Biology Accelerated called Ibiza, which is a digital repository and service network which connects and supports academia, industry and authorities working on biotechnology and biomanufacturing. This is a very strong tool. We have um, also, for instance, the public private partnership called the circular Bio based Europe Joint Undertaking, which is an initiative, um, that has um, leveraged more than €2 billion between the EU and the bio based industries consortium. Um, again, funding projects on bio based materials and and products. We also have through Horizon Europe in the health area, the Innovative Health Initiative joint undertaking, which is a public private partnership, um, that has uh, given strong support on biotechnology to develop pharmaceuticals, vaccines, medical technologies. Um, the next steps for us are that we are working on various initiatives. We are working on a strategy for life science, an update of the EU bioeconomy strategy, and the already mentioned Biotech Act. And we look really forward to continue the engagement with you, the Committee in the European Parliament and many other stakeholders. We will also open public consultations soon. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Back to you.”
  EU support for bioeconomic applications · EU research funding
• “And in addition, these technologies also have a very important role to play in. To provide better health care for our citizens. And I think the Covid pandemic has also highlighted that given the huge growth potential, biotech and bio manufacturing is really a crucial sector for the EU. In 2018, it contributed to more than 31 billion to GDP, created more than 200,000 direct jobs in healthcare, industry and agriculture. Europe is strong on life science and leads on high quality publications covering health, agriculture and industrial biotech. But clearly many research results do not make it to the market and hence the technology transfer to the market is certainly one of the issues that needs to be addressed. The communication of last year identified various other additional challenges, some of which you have already mentioned, like regulatory complexity, access to finance skills, value chain obstacles, intellectual property rights, public acceptance, and economic security. These have to be addressed further, and we have also addressed in the communication of last year already a first set of actions. Let me specifically mention the actions related to research and innovation. As I'm working in DG Research Innovation and we have with Horizon Europe, the EU's framework programme, also a tool at hands with which we have done already a lot in support of biotechnology and biomanufacturing over the last years.”
  EU research funding · EU policy on ethical standards in biotechnology applications
• “Chairman. Thank you very much. Good morning. Honourable members of the Parliament. Ladies and gentlemen, Mrs. Bentler, thank you very much for your interest in this topic and for inviting the commission for this exchange. Biotechnology, bio manufacturing are really very important dossiers and various directorates general in the Commission work on this. I myself am from DG Research Innovation. We have worked on a biotechnology strategy, not myself but other colleagues already in 2001 and colleagues from DG, CRO, but also other DGS are working on this. So thanks very much for inviting us and we are pleased to engage in that crucial debate as we have crucial month for the development of biotechnology and biomanufacturing in the EU. We are working on various forward looking initiatives, which I will mention, but as indicated before by some of you, a first step was the adoption also of the communication Boosting Biotechnology and biomanufacturing in the EU, adopted by the College of Commissioners in March last year. And in this communication, we argued that biotechnology and biomanufacturing are really important enablers for also the wider bioeconomy, which provides various solutions in view of societal needs, support for the clean and digital transition, and a more Competitive and resilient industry, but also support to modernise our agriculture, forestry, energy, food and feed sectors.”
  EU support for bioeconomic applications · EU policy on ethical standards in biotechnology applications