The European Commission and the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group have jointly announced a new initiative, BioTechEU, aimed at mobilising €10 billion in investments during 2026–2027 for the biotechnology and life sciences sector. The project seeks to address Europe’s current investment gap in biotech and strengthen the EU’s global competitiveness by directing public and private funds toward promising health innovations.
Biotechnology holds transformative potential for healthcare, offering advanced treatments such as AI-driven cardiac sensors for monitoring heart failure, mRNA therapies, monoclonal antibodies, gene therapies, personalised medicine, and biopharmaceuticals like synthetic insulin. By supporting these breakthroughs, BioTechEU aims to accelerate the development and accessibility of cutting-edge medical solutions for patients.
BioTechEU will operate under the EIB Group’s TechEU programme, leveraging instruments like the InvestEU guarantee. The initiative builds on the EIB Group’s existing life sciences venture debt portfolio, which totals around €3.5 billion across 135 projects and is recognised for its catalytic impact. Additionally, the European Investment Fund’s (EIF) annual venture capital investments of approximately €800 million provide long-standing support for European biotech innovation. BioTechEU may also pave the way for a new EU Health Biotech Investment Pilot to attract private investors and stimulate market growth.
Olivér Várhelyi, Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare, highlighted that under-investment remains a significant barrier for Europe’s biotech startups and innovative companies. He emphasised that BioTechEU will provide the financial support needed to grow the sector and ensure that new treatments reach patients efficiently.
Nadia Calviño, President of the EIB, added that Europe’s biotech sector is rich in talent and ideas, and the initiative aims to unlock €10 billion in investment, enabling local breakthroughs to scale successfully within Europe.
