At the Informal Competitiveness Council held in Copenhagen, Spain’s Minister of Industry and Tourism, Jordi Hereu, called for biotechnology, entrepreneurship, and green industries to be placed at the centre of the EU’s industrial strategy.

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Spain urges the EU to boost biotechnology, entrepreneurship and green industries

Hereu emphasised biotechnology’s essential role in addressing challenges like climate change, the development of new therapies, and strengthening medical supply chains. He proposed supporting innovative SMEs, simplifying regulations without compromising safety, increasing the EU’s bioproduction capacity, and improving intellectual property protection.

He also advocated for a specific legal framework to accelerate market access and suggested a flexible European investment plan. Spain’s PROFARMA program was highlighted as a successful model for the EU to follow.

Regarding entrepreneurship, Hereu proposed a common EU framework for regulatory sandboxes that would safely test legal adaptations and encourage innovation, including temporary exemptions in R&D and production.

In the green industry, he argued that while initiatives such as the Net-Zero Industry Act are positive, they are not enough. Spain recommends strengthening internal demand through sustainable criteria in tenders, reinforcing critical infrastructure, combating unfair competition, and linking public support to sustainable and safe production within Europe.

Finally, he stressed the need to foster a favorable investment environment, ensure access to raw materials, and reinforce resilient value chains. “Europe has the chance to lead in green industrial capacity. We must not miss it,” he concluded.