In recent years, several EU policy initiatives have emphasised the importance of investing in biotechnology to strengthen European autonomy, accelerate commercialisation of research outcomes, and support scaling-up of biotechnologies.
In Vitro Biotechnology (IVB) is a rapidly expanding sector that leverages biological materials, instruments, software, and services to create advanced in vitro models for a wide variety of applications, such as biomedical research, food science, and pharmaceutical development. In 2023, Europe was a leader in 3D cell-based IVB and held the second largest share of the global IVB market after the USA. At the international level, Asia is emerging as a strong competitor with the fastest rate of growth in the IVB sector.
Despite its potential, EU IVB faces several challenges, including high implementation costs, limited technology transfer and scalability, and low end-user confidence. Addressing these barriers requires targeted interventions, such as dedicated funding for technology transfer and implementation of standards, enhanced data sharing, and strategic investment in centralised IVB research and technology infrastructures.
Strengthening the IVB industrial ecosystem will not only boost the EU’s competitiveness but will also accelerate the transition towards more sustainable and human-relevant research and development, delivering products and services with higher economic and societal impact.
MENNECOZZI Milena;
PIERGIOVANNI Monica;
SELFA ASPIROZ Lucia;
WHELAN Maurice;
2025-12-23
Publications Office of the European Union
JRC144606
978-92-68-35309-7 (online),
1831-9424 (online),
EUR 40593,
OP KJ-01-25-673-EN-N (online),
https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC144606,
10.2760/4626875 (online),
