Catalonia brings to the European Parliament the debate on the importance of personalized medicine and advanced therapy hubs for the future of the Union
- Biocat gathers more than 80 public and private stakeholders from Catalonia’s BioRegion and other European regions at the European Parliament to discuss how personalized medicine, advanced therapies, and regional ecosystems are key drivers of innovation, cohesion, and competitiveness in the Union.
- Authorities from the European Commission, Members of the European Parliament, representatives of regional governments, patients, industry, and research centers took part in the debate at the European Parliament, addressing issues such as the European Health Data Space (EHDS), pharmaceutical reform, biotechnology legislation, and territorial competitiveness.
- Catalonia strengthens its role as a European benchmark in advanced therapies and health digitalization, two fundamental components of personalized medicine.
Brussels / Barcelona, September 30, 2025.- Biocat, representing the health innovation sector in Catalonia, led at the European Parliament the event “Regions for Health Innovation: Personalised Medicine and ATMPs driving Europe’s Future” within the framework of the PRECISEU project, with the support of the Government of Catalonia. The session, hosted by MEP Nicolás González Casares (S&D), brought together more than 80 representatives from European institutions, regional governments, patients, industry, and research centers to discuss how personalised medicine, advanced therapies (ATMPs), and regional ecosystems can drive innovation, cohesion, and competitiveness in the EU. In this regard, Biocat, which chairs the Council of European BioRegions (CEBR) and is part of the steering committee of the European Cluster Alliance, reinforces its role in shaping European innovation structures, whose role will be one of the key topics of the event.
The meeting comes at a crucial moment for European health policy. The EHDS establishes a common regulatory framework to ensure that clinical data is shared securely and effectively for research and innovation. The pharmaceutical reform seeks to accelerate the arrival of medicines and avoid disruptions in the value chain, with special focus on rare diseases and equitable access. At the same time, the debate on advanced therapies highlights the need for common traceability and pharmacovigilance as well as the EU’s production capacity to shorten timelines and ensure equity in diagnostics and treatments.
What was said and why it matters
The session opened with remarks by the Delegate of the Government of Catalonia to the EU, Ms. Ester Borràs, and MEP Nikos Papandreou. In her speech, Borràs emphasized that "Catalonia has enormous potential to contribute to making Europe more resilient and innovative, especially in areas such as science, technology, industrial autonomy, and health. The goal is for these cross-border innovation initiatives to succeed through the alignment of policies at the regional, national, and European levels, and through investment frameworks that support start-ups, small and medium-sized enterprises, and scale-ups."
The keynote was delivered by Rainer Becker (Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety – DG SANTE), addressing how the Pharma Package and the European Health Data Space (EHDS) can streamline the regulatory framework, make it more patient-centered, and strengthen European competitiveness. The first roundtable, moderated by Montserrat Daban (Biocat, Director of Strategic Analysis and International Relations), with representatives from EFPIA, Asphalion and the Platform of Patient Organizations, discussed how the legislation under debate in the European Parliament can foster personalized medicine.
In the second part, the regions of Flanders, Catalonia, and Sweden shared how they are promoting their respective hubs for ATMPs (Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products), tackling the challenge of industrialization and scaling up so that therapies can reach patients sooner.
The final section, moderated by the representative of the ERRIN network, with the participation of the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation of the European Commission (DG RTD) and authorities from the Government of Catalonia and the Government of Navarre, focused on how innovative regional ecosystems boost European competitiveness, with emphasis on the Regional Innovation Valleys, the reform of the Cohesion Policy 2028–2034, and the future European Competitiveness Fund.
Of note was the participation in the roundtables of the Directors General of the Government of Catalonia, Antoni Plasència (Research and Innovation in Health) and Aleix Cubells (European Funds and State Aid), as well as the Director General of Biocat, Robert Fabregat, who ponted out that:
"The European Union is at a decisive moment. The emergence of personalized medicine and advanced therapies is redefining the way we prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases. These advances bring opportunities but also challenges: ensuring equitable access, establishing sustainable frameworks for reimbursement and regulation, strengthening supply chains, and competing in a global race for innovation. Catalonia is determined to play a proactive role in this European strategy."
Key presentations were delivered by Claire Skentelbery (EuropaBio), who opened the debate on the future of the European Biotechnology Law (Biotech Act), and MEP Nicolás González Casares (S&D), who shared ongoing strategic negotiations impacting the sector. In this context, the MEP highlighted that "we have the opportunity to strengthen all the capabilities we have in Europe, the talent, and also to attract innovation that reaches the regions and is key to achieving good outcomes in the use of biotechnology."
The closing remarks were given by MEP Laura Ballarín and Francesc Trillas, Secretary for Economic Affairs and European Funds of the Government of Catalonia.
