Discovering the Biotech Industry
In the recent publication "Building the future with nature: Boosting Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing in the EU", the European Commission wrote: "Biotechnology and its application to manufacturing bio-based products, biomanufacturing can be part of the solution to address many societal and environmental challenges, such as climate mitigation and adaptation, access to and sustainable use of natural resources, restoration of vital nature systems, food supply and security, and human health.
Biotechnology and biomanufacturing are key for the competitiveness and the modernisation of our economy due to their high growth potential and increased labour productivity. They also strongly enhance the EU’s open strategic autonomy and resilience by reducing industry’s dependency on fossil-based input and other sources of raw materials, and increase circularity. They help advance the European Health Union and achieve the European Green Deal objectives. Biotechnology has also been identified as a critical technology from the economic security perspective, given its cross-cutting nature. It is also one of the technologies prioritised in the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) regulation".
In 2018 in the EU, biotechnology contributed directly EUR 31 billion to its overall GDP. Between 2008 and 2018, the biotechnology industry grew more than twice as fast as the overall economy, making it one of the fastest growing innovative industries in the EU. The products and solutions that biotechnology and biomanufacturing companies are creating can have a significant impact in different areas of application.
The value of biosolutions
Biosolutions are enablers to achieving net-zero in 2050.
As Europen Biosolutions Coalition wrote in its Manifesto: "By applying the biosolutions we know today, we can reduce global CO2-emissions by 8%. Biosolutions hold a vast potential for reducing food waste and for producing food for a growing global population, using a smaller land acreage than today and, in addition, creating the opportunity to turn the tide for biodiversity.
If 10% of the world’s animal proteins were replaced with sustainable proteins from microbiological production, we will save 700 million tons of CO2. Additionally, 900,000 km2 of agricultural land will be free for other purposes – for example restoration of nature and biodiversity. Biosolutions hold the promise of a bio-based economy with safe, high-quality jobs and more efficient and resilient value chains, covering everything from construction to food production".
Characteristics of Italian biotech firms
Biotechnology companies play a very important role in the application development of biotechnologies, which explains their impact on the total number of companies in the most advanced countries.
The main characteristics and roles of Italian biotech companies include:
• High technical-scientific content to which close relationships with the basic research of universities and research bodies contribute;
• Willingness to establish flexible relationships with integrated companies (joint ventures, contract research, etc.);
• Aptitude for the discovery of new products and processes