BIOSPAIN 2025: the role of the biotechnology industry in the EU's strategic autonomy

The Spanish Bioindustry Association (AseBio) and Biocat, in collaboration with the Government of Catalonia and Barcelona City Council, unveiled key updates for BIOSPAIN 2025 at a press conference this Monday. Beyond detailing the agenda for Spain’s premier biotech event — a global reference — the conference explored how Europe can consolidate its biotechnological sovereignty, the policies needed to drive it, and the critical role of public-private partnerships.

Under the theme “Global Crossroads, Local Vibes”, BIOSPAIN 2025 reaffirms its mission to connect Spanish biotechnology with the world while leveraging the strength and talent of its local ecosystem. Rocío Arroyo, President of AseBio, emphasized the BIOSPAIN 2025 role as a catalyst for investment and innovation. “BIOSPAIN 2025 not only solidifies its position as Spain’s flagship biotech event but also advances its ambition to become a major European hub for the sector. This year’s slogan reflects our commitment to projecting our ecosystem globally while staying rooted in the unique expertise and dynamism of our local community. Moreover, this edition will be pivotal in addressing the sector’s greatest challenges — from research to the commercialization of disruptive innovations — and how these demand collaborative, sustainable solutions”.

Biotechnology’s Role in EU Strategic Autonomy

A highlight of the presentation was the panel discussion “The Biotech Industry’s Role in Advancing the EU’s Strategic Autonomy”, moderated by Ion Arocena, CEO of AseBio. Experts underscored that in a globalized world marked by health crises, supply chain disruptions, and fierce technological competition, Europe must urgently innovate and lead in key sectors like healthcare, agri-food, and bioeconomy.

Panelists — including Carles Fàbrega (Managing Director, HIPRA Human Health), Isabel Portero (CEO, Biohope), and Marina Pollán (Director, Carlos III Health Institute) — debated how biotechnology can bolster EU autonomy, particularly in producing disruptive technological solutions, a cornerstone for industrial resilience and Europe’s innovation leadership.

HIPRA called for a stable, agile EU regulatory framework to enhance the sector’s competitiveness. “We need predictable regulations and better European coordination to scale innovation and strengthen domestic industrial capacity,” stated Fàbrega. 

At BIOSPAIN 2025, HIPRA will launch its new business unit, HIPRA Biotech Services, and showcase advances in vaccines and biologics: “We want BIOSPAIN to be a platform for strategic collaborations and to highlight Spanish biotech’s potential. The vaccine industry must be a political priority—it’s vital for health sovereignty and high-quality job creation”.

Marina Pollán, CEO of The Carlos III Health Institute (ISCIII), emphasized: “BIOSPAIN is a pivotal meeting point for biotech nationally and internationally. This year, our Institute will again actively participate, driving the transfer of scientific knowledge with real-world health impact. Translational health research only creates value when it delivers concrete solutions, and saves lives”. 

 The Carlos III Health Institute (ISCIII) will attend BIOSPAIN 2025 with its innovation network (CIBER Consortium, CNIO Foundation, and ITEMAS Platform), presenting programs to bridge market-ready technologies with industrial development and strategies to improve research translation: “BIOSPAIN enables us to forge industry connections and public-private synergies under Horizon Europe, underscoring our commitment to biotech innovation in healthcare”.

Isabel Portero framed BIOSPAIN as “a key forum for all stakeholders pursuing applied research toward innovative products—not just companies, but anyone advancing biotech solutions in Spain”. She noted that Biohope secured major collaborations at past editions.

Robert Fabregat, CEO of Biocat, outlined the sector’s challenges: “From accelerating advanced therapies and disruptive solutions in health, agri-food, and sustainability, to adapting to shifting regulations amid geopolitical uncertainty and integrating AI or synthetic biology—BIOSPAIN 2025 is the ideal venue to address these debates while unlocking unprecedented international collaboration, investment, and tech transfer opportunities. It reinforces our pledge to build alliances that advance Europe’s technological and health autonomy, with innovation as the engine for competitiveness and social well-being”.

Agenda Focused on Sector Challenges

BIOSPAIN 2025 will feature 60+ sessions on breakthroughs in genomics, gene editing (CRISPR), cancer therapies, immunotherapies, synthetic biology, AI’s impact on clinical research, regenerative agriculture biotech, and the EU regulatory landscape for New Genomic Techniques and pharmaceutical legislation.

BIOSPAIN will also prioritize networking, connecting attendees with companies, research centers, institutions, and investors worldwide. The 2025 edition aims to surpass 2023’s record numbers, with 2,200+ attendees from 1,000 companies across 34 countries, with 5,000+ one-to-one meetings.

Green Innovation Forum at BIOSPAIN

BIOSPAIN 2025 will feature the "Green Innovation Forum", a dedicated space for companies in agricultural, food and industrial biotechnology (green biotech). This represents an opportunity to showcase biotechnology's potential as a key tool for transitioning towards a more sustainable, carbon-neutral and ecological economic model.

This year, BIOSPAIN is strengthening this space by offering a specialized area where green biotech companies can exhibit their capabilities, products and services. The forum will also generate synergy opportunities among key players in this emerging and promising sector, facilitated by a partnering platform that enables scheduled meetings and presentations of innovative projects.

The "Green Innovation Forum at BIOSPAIN" will include an agenda of debates and roundtables addressing the most relevant aspects of innovation in biotechnology and the green economy. These sessions will seek medium- and long-term solutions to challenges such as climate change, industrial transformation, sustainable food systems, and bioproduct development, among others.

BIOSPAIN 2025 will take place from October 7–9 in Barcelona, Spain’s biotech capital and a leading European health innovation hub. After its successful 2023 edition, the city will also host future iterations in 2027 and 2029.