Public Affairs: The Roadmap That Will Shape the Future of Biotechnology

In highly regulated industries with a significant impact on the economy and society, public affairs are a key role in management. This is particularly true in biotechnology, where the success of an innovation depends not only on its scientific and technical feasibility; but also, on its adoption and scalability in the market, a clear and favorable regulatory framework that supports its development, and social acceptance -especially for advances with ethical or social implications-. These are crucial factors for achieving real impact.

This presents challenges that go beyond research and commercial viability. For an innovation in this field to become an effective and relevant solution, it must overcome regulatory barriers, secure funding, and operate in an environment suitable for implementation. Moreover, it is not enough for society to be aware of its benefits; it must also perceive it as a legitimate response aligned with its expectations and needs. In other words, without trust and social support, even the most disruptive developments may face resistance and struggle to gain adoption.

In this context, public affairs management goes beyond institutional dialogue or merely considering biotechnology priorities in government agendas. Its scope is much broader and more strategic: it focuses on fostering synergies among companies, public institutions, investors, scientific communities and society. By shaping a more cohesive and innovation-friendly ecosystem, public affairs facilitate its integration into the productive sector and strengthens its connection with society.

BIOIB has incorporated this vision into its strategy for the positioning and growth of biotechnology in the Balearic Islands, as well as into its action plans, through the development of an innovative communication and public affairs model framed within a doctoral research project. Its purpose is to accelerate the cluster's strategic objectives and drive a transformative impact on the region’s production model.

Based on this experience, the initiative aims to establish itself as a success story that highlights the value of integrating public affairs into cluster corporate strategies, emphasizing its role in enhacing reputation, competitiveness and sustainable growth of the biotechnology sector.

This model aspires to become a benchmark within the Spanish innovation ecosystem, fostering a more strategic approach to manage relationships among its different stakeholders. Its evolution will depend not only on scientific advances, but also on its capacity to influence public policy, strengthen trust in the sector and contribute to economic development and collective well-being.