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Panel 1: The EU Biotech Act - Europe's opportunity to reclaim innovation leadership

Time: 12:30 - 13:15 CET

Europe's life sciences sector remains one of the continent's greatest scientific assets, yet concerns continue to grow over its ability to compete with increasingly attractive innovation ecosystems in the United States and Asia. Investment decisions, research activity and clinical development programmes are increasingly shaped by global competition, raising questions about whether Europe is providing the right conditions for innovators to develop and scale breakthrough technologies.

The forthcoming EU Biotech Act is widely seen as an opportunity to strengthen Europe's position as a destination for research, development and investment. By addressing regulatory complexity, supporting innovation pathways and improving the framework conditions for emerging technologies, the Act could help create a more competitive environment for companies developing the next generation of medicines and health technologies.

Particular attention is being paid to clinical research. Lengthy and fragmented approval processes have often been cited as barriers to conducting clinical trials in Europe, limiting the region's attractiveness compared with other global markets. As policymakers seek to accelerate innovation while maintaining high standards of safety and quality, the Biotech Act may play a pivotal role in determining whether Europe can once again become a leading destination for biomedical innovation.

Questions to be addressed:

- Can the Biotech Act provide the regulatory certainty and investment signals needed to strengthen Europe's life sciences competitiveness?
- How can the EU improve the speed and attractiveness of clinical trials while maintaining trust and high regulatory standards?
- What would success look like for the Biotech Act five years after its implementation?

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Panel 2: Stronger Together? Member State Cooperation and Europe's Life Sciences Future

Time: 13:30 - 14:15 CET

As global competition in life sciences intensifies, European governments are increasingly exploring new forms of cooperation to strengthen the region's innovation ecosystem, improve preparedness and ensure access to medicines. Recent initiatives among groups of Member States, alongside broader discussions within the Council, reflect growing recognition that national action alone may not be sufficient to address the challenges facing Europe's health and life sciences sectors.

At a time when major economies are deploying industrial strategies to attract investment and build technological leadership, Europe faces the challenge of combining national competencies with greater coordination across the Single Market. Enhanced cooperation could help reduce fragmentation, improve the efficiency of research and innovation systems, strengthen resilience in supply chains and create a more attractive environment for investment.

Yet important questions remain about how cooperation should evolve, which policy areas offer the greatest opportunities for alignment, and how Europe can balance competitiveness objectives with diverse national healthcare priorities. As policymakers seek to define Europe's response to growing international pressure, the debate increasingly centres on whether closer collaboration can help create the scale and predictability needed to support a globally competitive life sciences sector.

Questions to be addressed:

- Which areas of life sciences policy would benefit most from deeper cooperation among Member States?
- How can Europe reduce fragmentation while respecting national healthcare and reimbursement competences?
- Can stronger Member State cooperation help Europe compete more effectively with the United States and Asia for investment, talent and innovation?

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