Who are we?

We are an international coalition of leading industry organisations in different European countries all united by a common goal: advancing biosolutions for the good of Europe.

The European Biosolutions Coalition consists of leading industry organizations representing a significant share of Europe’s biosolutions companies. Our mission is to elevate biosolutions on the European agenda, ensuring the sector plays a central role in driving the green transition and strengthening Europe’s resilience. We advocate better conditions and opportunities to unlock innovation, accelerate the shift toward a climate-neutral economy, and enhance Europe’s global competitiveness in a rapidly changing world.

As of 2026, the Coalition has expanded to include Knowledge Partners - some of Europe’s leading universities and research institutions, where groundbreaking biosolutions innovation originates. This addition enables EBC to connect research, innovation and industrial deployment to ensure a more integrated and future-oriented ecosystem.  

The Coalition is supported by the Novo Nordisk Foundation and Danish Industry.

Industry Partners in the Coalition

Austria

The Federation of Austrian Industries (IV) is the voluntary and independent representation of the interests of the Austrian industry and its related sectors. Since 1946, the IV has taken part in all legislative processes as a recognised partner of politics. A federal organisation, nine regional groups and the IV office in Brussels represent the issues of more than 4,500 members from the manufacturing sector, credit and insurance, infrastructure and industry-oriented services in Austria and Europe.

Belgium

The Federation of Enterprises in Belgium (VBO FEB) is Belgium’s largest employers’ organization. VBO FEB represents more than 50,000 companies and more than 75% of the total private sector employment in Belgium. Their work spans more than 40 different sectorial federations such as waste and recycling, security, commerce and services and food. VBO FEB covers business activity at national, European, and international levels at 17 different broad areas of activity, including social security, economy and government and politics.

Denmark

Danish Industry (DI) is a private business and employers’ organisation representing more than 20,000 companies in Denmark across a wide range of industries. DI works to provide the best possible business conditions for its members and supports them on employer and political matters, both locally and globally.

France

MEDEF is France’s largest business network and the main representative of French companies. As a central voice for business, it engages closely with policymakers and public authorities. MEDEF brings together more than 200,000 companies through an extensive network of territorial organisations, federations, and partner associations, the majority of which are SMEs. Over half of France’s private sector employees work in companies affiliated with its network.

Germany

BIO Deutschland is the association of the German biotechnology industry, representing close to 400 member companies. It serves as the voice of innovative medium-sized enterprises in the sector and works to support and promote the development of a strong, innovation-driven industry based on modern biosciences.

Italy

The Italian Association for the Development of Biotechnology (Assobiotec), part of Federchimica, represents around 130 companies as well as science and technology parks active in healthcare and the broader bioeconomy, including agriculture, industry, and the environment. Federchimica Assobiotec was first established in 1986 as part of Federchimica, the Italian Federation of the Chemical Industry. Its mission is to promote and support biotech innovation and the development of a strong, science-based bioeconomy in Italy.

Lithuania

The Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists (LPK) is a major association in Lithuania which represents the interests of large industrialists and employers. The Confederation is an umbrella organization uniting 55 branch and 7 regional associations which comprise over 4000 medium and large enterprises from various public and private sectors. It covers all main sectors of industry and unites over a third of the Lithuanian work force. LPK's mission is to create an optimal economic environment for Lithuanian business representing their interest nationally and internationally.

Netherlands

The Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers (VNO-NCW) is the largest employers' organisation in the Netherlands. VNO-NCW represents the common interests of Dutch business, both at home and abroad. Over 160 (branch) associations are members, representing more than 185,000 enterprises. They cover almost all sectors of the economy, including more than 80% of all medium-sized companies in the Netherlands and nearly all larger corporate institutions.

Norway

The Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise (NHO) is a leading trade association in Norway, representing over 600 members across a diverse range of sectors. NHO works to foster innovation and sustainable growth in Norway's business environment.

Romania

Concordia Employers’ Confederation represents key sectors of the Romanian economy and companies employing more than 350,000 people. It serves as a social dialogue partner across areas such as labour markets, education, digitalisation, and the circular economy, and represents its members at European and international level.

Sweden

IKEM – Innovation and Chemical Industries in Sweden is an industry and employers’ organisation representing over 1,200 companies across the chemical industry value chain. It works to ensure strong framework conditions and supports its members on employer and advocacy matters in Sweden and internationally.

Switzerland

economiesuisse, the Swiss business federation is the largest umbrella organisation representing the Swiss economy. It has the support of more than 30,000 businesses of all sizes, which employ a total of 1.5 million people in Switzerland. Its mission is to create an optimal economic environment for Swiss businesses.

Switzerland

scienceindustries is the Swiss Business Association for the Chemistry, Pharma, and Life Sciences sectors. It represents over 250 companies. The organization is a prominent member of economiesuisse, the umbrella organization of the Swiss economy.

United Kingdom

The BioIndustry Association (BIA) is the voice of the UK life sciences and biotech sector. It connects and supports the UK ecosystem, enabling businesses to start, grow, and deliver transformative innovation. Established in 1989, BIA has over 600 members and plays a leading role across key areas including policy, finance, science, regulation, and talent, with a strong focus on engineering biology and biotech.

Knowledge Partners in the Coalition

Aarhus University (Denmark)

The Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering of AU specialises in living systems, organism biology, and the efficient production and transformation of chemicals, materials and energy. Its expertise spans biotech, food and environmental technologies, chemical and electrochemical engineering, and related fields, translating scientific knowledge into technologies with commercial and societal value. Activities are often driven by innovation needs from companies and public organisations. Close collaboration with these partners ensures that knowledge and technologies are grounded in real-world challenges to generate tangible benefits.

Bioeconomy Austria (Austria)

Bioeconomy Austria is the country's central hub for its bioeconomy, connecting actors from business, research, politics, as well as civil society and media. With over 400 network partners across sectors and regions, the network drives innovation, strengthens regional value chains, and supports the competitive transition towards renewable, bio-based resources. Bioeconomy Austria bridges stakeholders horizontally across industries and locations, and vertically from local practice to the European policy level.

Fraunhofer IGB (Germany)

Fraunhofer IGB develops technologies, and products in the areas of health, food and feed, sustainable chemistry, as well as environmental and climate protection. Its work combines biotechnology and process engineering to advance human well-being, a sustainable economy, and a bio-based, integrated systems approach. At its Leuna branch, the Fraunhofer Center for Chemical-Biotechnological Processes (CBP) focuses on developing and integrating biotechnological and chemical processes. With pilot-scale facilities, it bridges the gap between lab and industry, enabling partners to scale up processes using renewable and petrochemical raw materials.

IBISBA (France)

IBISBA is a pan-European research infrastructure dedicated to industrial biotechnology, envisioning a world where Europe’s industrial biotechnology drives a circular bioeconomy transition globally. IBISBA has been building this research community with the goal of advancing industrial biotechnology in Europe since 2017. It aims to overcome many of the sector’s obstacles by facilitating knowledge-sharing, promoting best business practices, and accelerating R&D.

Lund University (Sweden)

Lund University, was founded in 1666. Today, its broad research portfolio includes biotechnology and applied microbiology, with strong focus on areas such as precision fermentation, enzymes, and enzymatic processes. With modern facilities and a strong emphasis on applied research, Lund places significant focus on internationalisation, creating extensive touchpoints for researchers and students alike.

Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (Norway)

NIBIO is one of Norway's largest research institutes. The institute contributes to food security and safety, sustainable resource management, innovation, and value creation through research and knowledge production within the food, forestry, and other bio-based sectors.

Oxford Engineering Biology (UK)

The University of Oxford has led research and education for centuries. Today, its work at the interface of biology and engineering is building the foundational capabilities required to unlock biology’s potential for sustainable industrial innovation. Through the EEBio programme, Oxford brings together researchers from leading UK universities to develop the tools, methods and knowledge needed to advance early-stage technologies and enable safe, resilient, and scalable biosolutions.

Technical University of Denmark (Denmark)

Just North of Copenhagen lies the internationally recognized, leading Technical University of Denmark (DTU). One of the highest ranked technical universities in Europe, it offers a specialization in biosolutions, and has been a leader in biotechnology, food, and the use of biosolutions to solve industrial challenges for decades. DTU conducts groundbreaking research on biosolutions within areas such as development of alternative protein sources, the use of microorganisms, bio-based pesticides and biofertilizers.

University of Bristol (UK)

The University of Bristol is among the forerunners in synthetic and engineering biology research, teaching, and innovation. With applications ranging from health to food, security, and defence, it combines pioneering synthetic biology approaches with understanding biomolecular systems, and engineers these for useful purposes. This is enabled by multidisciplinary research, which brings together postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers, academics, policy makers and industry, whilst also engaging the public with emerging solutions to global challenges.

University of Copenhagen (Denmark)

UCPH has offered students a chance to seek higher education and to better the world for over 500 years. The Faculty of Science offers research and education activities in Biosolutions, including a dedicated MSc programme in the field. As Scandinavia's largest science education and research institution, and EBC's largest knowledge partner from Denmark, UCPH contributes with solutions and new knowledge in collaboration with both companies and organisations. Their work across biosolutions spans agriculture, environment, industry, as well as food and ingredients.

Université libre de Bruxelles (Belgium)

The Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB) is one of Belgium’s leading research universities and it is particularly recognised for its strong research capacity. Sustainability is strongly embedded across its activities, from cutting-edge research to education and external engagement. With expertise spanning biotechnology and the circular bioeconomy, ULB plays an important role in advancing bio-based solutions that can contribute to Europe’s green transition and strengthen its competitiveness and resilience.

Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie (Belgium)

VIB is a leading entrepreneurial research institute active across multiple domains, including plant biology, microbiology, and human health. With a community of over 2,000 researchers and cooperation with the major Flemish universities, VIB accelerates the pathway from research to application. By transforming breakthrough science into tangible biosolutions through the creation and support of spin-off companies, VIB ensures that cutting-edge research is effectively mobilized to address global challenges such as resilient agriculture, sustainable food systems, and environmental health.

Wageningen University & Research (The Netherlands)

Wageningen University & Research (WUR), was founded in 1918. Today, it explores the potential of nature to improve the quality of life. Its applied research spans widely, ranging from food and bio-based solutions and food safety to plant- and environmental research. WUR advances sustainable food systems, biodiversity and resilient ecosystems, as well as a bio-based and circular society for a climate-proof future.