Five Facts to Know: EU Life Sciences Strategy
The European Commission has launched its most ambitious life sciences blueprint yet. The “Choose Europe for life sciences: A strategy to position the EU as the world’s most attractive place for life sciences by 2030” (The EU LSS) outlines a bold roadmap to make the EU the world’s leading hub for innovation in biotech, healthcare, food systems, and green manufacturing by 2030.
With a reinforced coordination of Commission services and deep stakeholder engagement, the LSS connects regulation, investment, research and innovation (R&I), and public trust in one strategic vision. For companies and institutions working in and around health and science, it’s a major moment and a call to align early. Here are five fast facts you need to know:
1. The EU is going all in on innovation
The LSS significantly scales up support for R&I to position Europe at the forefront of global health and biotech innovation. This includes:
- New incentives for long-term, multi-country clinical trials and rare disease research
- Strategic investment in Advanced Therapy Medicines Products (ATMPs)
- Strengthened bioclusters and Centres of Excellence across Member States.
With Horizon Europe, public-private partnerships, and targeted pilot funding, the EU is aiming to close the gap between research and real-world application.
“The EU Life Sciences Strategy is a clear signal that Europe wants to lead on innovation, on its own terms. For companies and institutions in this space, this is the moment to engage not just with policy, but with purpose. It’s not only about getting to market faster; it’s about aligning with Europe’s vision of science that serves people, planet, and prosperity.”
― Jamie Wilkinson, Managing Director Europe Health, Edelman Public & Government Affairs
2. A new Biotech Act is on its way
To compete globally, the Commission will introduce an EU Biotech Act, a major regulatory harmonization effort. The goals are to:
- Cut red tape across fragmented Member State pathways
- Accelerate approval timelines for novel foods, diagnostics, and medical devices
- Make it easier for startups and SMEs to bring innovations to market.
This Act will be central to scaling biotech and life sciences in Europe. It will be flanked by regulatory sandboxes, AI-powered advisory tools, and close monitoring of the clinical trial regulation.
3. AI + data = health innovation
The LSS places big bets on digital transformation. With healthcare expected to account for over one-third of global data by the end of 2025, the Commission is acting to:
- Launch a Life Sciences R&I Data Assembly
- Improve access to interoperable, large-scale, high-quality datasets
- Tackle legal fragmentation to boost AI uptake in drug discovery and diagnostics.
Combined with the European Health Data Space and a forthcoming AI in Science Strategy, the LSS gives data-driven innovators a serious leg up.
4. Public procurement gets a green makeover
Innovation won’t just be funded, it’ll be purchased and deployed. The EU will commit approximately EUR 300 million to support procurement of cutting-edge life science solutions in areas like:
- Cancer care
- Next-generation vaccines
- Climate adaptation technologies.
The LSS also links-up with the Clean Industrial Deal and bioeconomy efforts, signaling that green biotech is no longer niche, it’s the new strategic norm.
5. Public trust is a strategic priority
The Commission acknowledges that innovation means little without trust. The LSS puts forward robust measures to combat misinformation, increase transparency, and ensure ethical oversight, including:
- A new repository of tools for risk and science communication
- Expanded use of citizen science and societal engagement pilots.
- As tech and science move faster, trust becomes a cornerstone, not a side issue, in European policy.
Why this matters
The EU’s Life Sciences Strategy is more than a roadmap, it’s a strategic repositioning. For life science organizations, health innovators, and sustainability leaders, it creates:
- A clearer and faster path to market and funding
- Stronger alignment with policy and procurement priorities
- Greater pressure to build public trust and transparent narratives.
Stakeholders who engage early, on compliance, communication, and coalition building, will be best placed to lead in the LSS era.
Materials presented by Edelman's public & government affairs experts. For additional information, reach out to Jamie.Wilkinson@Edelman.com
