Communication - Biotechnology Mid term review of the Strategy on Life Sciences and Biotechnology

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Publications : Agriculture : Biological Conversion : Biotechnology : Policy



COM(2007) 175 final - COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS on the mid term review of the Strategy on Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Brussels, 10.4.2007

Download COM(2007) 175 Final (91Kb PDF)

The European Council and the European Parliament have recognised the importance of life sciences and biotechnology, and the Commission has put forward an action plan to address the challenges and opportunities involved. This Strategy on Life Sciences and Biotechnology , adopted by the Commission in 2002, proposed a 30 point action plan involving the Commission, the other European Institutions and other stakeholders. It runs until 2010.

The scope of the Strategy - the first of its kind at EU level - was originally very broad, to cover all possible relevant policy issues and facilitate the uptake of the technology in a wide range of different sectors. Action was proposed under four headings: harvesting the potential (research, access to capital etc), promoting governance (social dialogue, ethical scrutiny etc), answering global challenges (encourage scientific cooperation with developing countries etc) and ensuring coherence between the full range of policies concerned.

The implementation of the Strategy is now at its mid point. It is time to evaluate the progress achieved since 2002 and update the Strategy, to reflect new analysis of how this fast-moving sector could contribute to EU policies . This is the purpose of this Communication and the annexed Staff Working Paper.

The doccument includes the following detailsof the Refocused Life Sciences and Biotechnology Action Plan

1. Promote research and market development for life sciences and biotechnology applications and the KBBE. - Refocused action 3 :

• Generate new knowledge under FP7.
• In cooperation with industry, Member States and other funding bodies, mobilise public and private research funding and reinforce the coordination of research.
• Through a public-private partnership between European Commission and the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries Associations (EFPIA), implement the Joint Technology Initiative on Innovative Medicine under FP7.
• In cooperation with industry, Member States and other funding bodies, engage schemes to finance/promote the establishment of multi-functional pilot plants to demonstrate the potential of bio-based applications and facilitate their market penetration, subject to a proportionate impact assessment and in accordance with EC rules in the field of competition and internal market.
• Explore in cooperation with stakeholders lead market initiatives in the areas of eco-efficient bio-based products, subject to a proportionate impact assessment and in accordance with EC rules in the field of competition and internal market.

2. Foster competitiveness, knowledge transfer and innovation from the science base to industry. Refocused actions 5, 6 and 9:

• In cooperation with Member States, develop best practices in the responsible licensing of genetic inventions.
• In cooperation with Member States, promote knowledge transfer by improving links between research organisations and industry and incentives to innovation.
• Monitor the implementation of Directive 98/44/EC on the legal protection of biotechnological inventions and explore ways of facilitating the patenting system for SMEs.
• Encourage Member States to consider specific rules and/or incentives for Young Innovative Companies.
• Promote the use of EIF/EIB instruments and the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme to facilitate access to finance for biotechnology companies.
• In cooperation with the EIB, implement Risk-Sharing Finance Facilities co-funded by FP7 and the EIB.
• Support for the development and the integration of clusters and of regional networks.

3. Encourage societal debates on the benefits and risk of life sciences and biotechnology. Refocused actions 13, 14 and 16:

• Stimulate the possible establishment of an institutionalised interface with different stakeholders on benefits and risk of life sciences and biotechnology.
• Set up proposals on how to improve the cooperation with all relevant stakeholders to ensure input in the Commission's activities.
• In cooperation with Eurostat, Industry, Member States and OECD, set up a proposal for the establishment of international quantitative impact indicators (including social and economic) and structured collection of data.
• Adapt the action to the new FP7, and produce guidance for EC funded activities to address ethical issues.
• Anticipate the possible ethical and socio-economic impact of emerging scientific issues.

4. Ensure a sustainable contribution of modern biotechnology to agriculture. Refocused actions 1 7 and 23:

• Assess notified national and regional measures on co-existence and study applicable national civil liability systems.
• Re-evaluate by 2008 the possible need for further guidance on co-existence at EU level.
• In cooperation with Member States, support research and develop guidelines for crop-specific co-existence measures and exchange information on best practices among Member States.
• Adopt crop-specific labelling thresholds for seeds.
• Conduct studies and support related research activities on potential positive and negative long term effects of commercially available GMOs.
• Explore benefits and risks of GM crops used for industrial transformation or molecular farming.

5. Improve the implementation of the legislation and its impact on competitiveness. Refocused action 29:

• Reinforce the existing networks with Member States to monitor the implementation of the Strategy and address regulatory obstacles to competitiveness.
• Pursue foresight activities and the evaluation of the regulatory coverage on emerging issues.
• Improve policy coordination, including on cross cutting issues, with a particular focus on newly emerging issues.