Industry Outlook 2025: Fostering the Development of Biotech in Europe

During 2024, many European countries held political elections, resulting in shifts in leadership. “First of all, the commission, the member states, and some of the programs have highlighted the commitment to biotechnology,” says Miguel Forte, president of International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy (ISCT), board member of Alliance for Regenerative Medicine, and CEO of Kiji Therapeutics when commenting on how the political shifts may impact the bio/pharma industry. “Obviously, the evolving political landscape gets people worried about it, focused on that, and potentially leading to less attention to other aspects.”

Another potential outcome of a change in leadership for a member state may be their approach to deploying funding and support. “If we look at some more conservative approaches, they may be conducive to certain business perspectives but may be less conducive to certain other practices that would be important in terms of fostering the development of biotech in general, and cell and gene therapy in particular,” Forte explains.

Europe needs to be more competitive on the global platform within the field of biotech, Forte specifies, which has been recognized by relevant authorities across the region. “Take, for instance, [Europe’s stance] on cell and gene therapy, making it less of an exception and more of the mainstream, which I think is a recognition that [these therapies should be] part of our day to day,” he says.

However, it takes time for such changes to be fully realized and implemented, as various checks and balances need to be considered, Forte continues. “The key elements that to be to be considered [are] an investment in biotech and a recognition that we all need to work together to improve the competitiveness of Europe for the sake of the overall business, for the sake of the overall patient, and clearly, for the sake of us in Europe,” he summarizes.

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About the speaker

Miguel Forte, president of International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy, board member of Alliance for Regenerative Medicine, and CEO of Kiji Therapeutics

Miguel Forte is president of International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy, board member of Alliance for Regenerative Medicine, and CEO of Kiji Therapeutics—a company developing engineered cell therapies for inflammatory diseases. Miguel holds an MD and a Specialist in Infectious Diseases from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon, a PhD in Immunology from the University of Birmingham, and a certificate on Health Technology Economics from the Stockholm School of Economics. Additionally, he is Fellow of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine of the RCP in the UK.