In a context where global technological rivalry and fragile supply chains highlight the need to strengthen autonomy, the president of the Spanish Association of Bioenterprises (AseBio), Rocío Arroyo, emphasizes the essential role that biotechnology can play.

According to Arroyo, Spain has the opportunity to strengthen its biotech sector to respond resiliently to future health, energy, or food crises, becoming a driver of competitiveness and sustainability for Europe. 

The urgency to ensure prosperity and security in a volatile world is reflected in the reconfiguration of global value chains and pressure on European industry.

The Draghi report highlights the need for massive investment and regulatory reforms to strengthen the industrial base and innovation capacity of the continent. For Spain and Europe, this is not optional but a requirement to remain competitive. 

Spain possesses a solid and dynamic biotech sector, which could become a pillar of European sovereignty. According to AseBio, Spain ranks ninth worldwide in scientific production in biotechnology, with 2.49% of global output and publications cited 20% more than the world average.

This knowledge translates into economic impact: the sector contributes 1.1% of GDP and generates over 131,000 highly skilled jobs. The European biotech industry grows at 5.3% annually, twice the rate of the EU economy, demonstrating its driving capacity. 

The applications of biotechnology in Spain include human health (48.7%), food (32.4%), agriculture (17%), and industrial biotech (10%).

The role of Spanish companies

National companies lead clinical trials and excel in advanced therapies, bioeconomy, and future food. The pandemic and energy crisis have shown that strategic autonomy relies on the ability to produce medicines, vaccines, and safe food locally, and biotechnology drives this capacity. 

To fully unlock this potential, challenges such as access to financing, agile regulatory frameworks, and strengthened infrastructure and talent must be overcome. Despite a historic record of private capital in 2023, many biotech companies still face difficulties scaling and industrializing projects.

Mobilizing public-private capital and creating specialized industrial hubs is key, as is attracting and training talent in bioinformatics, production, and biotech management. 

Additionally, regulation must keep pace with innovation: streamlining advanced therapies or genomic technique regulations would accelerate the impact of biotechnology on the economy and health.

Strengthening this sector ensures that Spain and Europe can respond resiliently to future crises, consolidating a competitive and sustainable economy.