AseBio celebrates 25 years: a quarter-century driving the biotechnology sector in Spain

AseBio will celebrate its 25th anniversary next November. This significant milestone will guide the association's work throughout 2024, aiming to emphasize its crucial role in the development and promotion of the biotechnology sector in Spain.

Over the past 25 years, biotechnological advancements have contributed to progress, societal well-being, and the sustainability of the planet. Biotechnology, as a deep tech field, is transforming the world through technologies such as advanced therapies, the microbiome, precision nutrition, CRISPR, waste valorization, and RNA. These innovations facilitated the development of vaccines against Covid-19, enabling the world to return to normalcy after the greatest health crisis of the last 100 years.

AseBio has been a pivotal player in the journey of biotechnology in Spain over this last quarter-century, positioning itself as a strategic agent facing the challenges and prospects ahead. The association represents and brings together the interests of over 300 companies, associations, foundations, universities, and technological and research centers engaged in biotechnology in Spain.

AseBio collaborates closely with regional, national, and European administrations, aiming to achieve positive changes in policies and economies that promote and drive the growth of the Spanish biotechnology sector. Over these 25 years, this effort has transformed the country's culture by highlighting research, development, and innovation in biotechnology for the benefit of society and the competitiveness of the Spanish economy, especially at a critical juncture for the future of our country and Europe.

"In its 25-year history, the association has achieved something unique for the Spanish biotechnology sector: creating an increasingly connected community and a meeting point for all of us dedicated to biotechnology. Congratulations to the AseBio team for their efforts over the years in transforming our country's growth model, enhancing people's lives, and ensuring the planet's sustainability," stated AseBio's president, Rocío Arroyo.

AseBio, Advocate for Spanish Biotechnology in Europe

The strategic dependencies highlighted by international events such as the pandemic, the war in Ukraine, or the climate crisis necessitate a global approach that promotes deep technologies. This ensures the resilience of our economy and secures our international position in cutting-edge areas, with a focus on strategic autonomy.

In this context, the European Commission began a review in late 2023 of the existing dependency risks in four areas deemed crucial for Europe's future, including biotechnology. Furthermore, Brussels has emphasized biotechnology on its agenda for the current year due to its "high potential for growth and labor productivity."

Deep technologies like biotechnology present an opportunity to address these challenges. Given its scientific and technological potential, Spain has the responsibility to boost key deep tech sectors to ensure strategic autonomy and respond to Brussels' demands.

In this regard, AseBio launched the "Vida a la biotecnología (Breathing Life into Biotechnology)" campaign last September. This initiative calls for a national effort to rejuvenate Spain's commitment to the biotechnology sector through a Commitment seeking to recognize biotechnology as a key sector for Spain and Europe's strategic autonomy. This involves establishing a fund for deep strategic technologies, accelerating the market entry of biotechnological innovations, promoting talent for the future biotech industry, encouraging biotechnological R&D through collaborative models and appropriate incentives, and strengthening the role of the public administration as an innovation driver.

Within the framework of the "Vida a la biotecnología (Breathing Life into Biotechnology)" campaign and in collaboration with associations representing other technologies identified by Brussels as crucial for achieving strategic autonomy, AseBio has urged the Government to establish a High Commissioner for Deep Strategic Technologies. This would serve as a coordination tool for policies, regulations, and instruments to promote critical technologies like biotechnology in our country.

Moreover, AseBio is a member of EuropaBio, the European Association for Bioindustries, which comprises nearly a hundred business organizations and, collectively, represents the interests of over 1,800 European companies.

Throughout these 25 years, AseBio has cultivated a community committed to science and innovation as drivers of sustainable economic development and social well-being. It's an inclusive ecosystem, open to all, aimed at finding innovative solutions for the social and generational challenges ahead of us.