On 2 July 2025, the European Commission (the Commission) unveiled its life sciences strategy for Europe under the telling title “Choose Europe for life sciences” (see, attachment). At a critical time that questions Europe’s future in a range of areas, the Commission seeks to capitalise on its “excellence in health, biotech, agriculture, food, and environmental science” (p. 1) to “position the EU as the world’s most attractive place for life sciences by 2030” (p. 6). It specifies that progress will be measured against tangible growth in the sector indicators of employment, value added, business expenditure in research and development, and the number of multi-country clinical trials.  
 
The Commission’s strategy is founded on three pillars that each mark a significant part of the value chain: 

• Optimising the ecosystem for research and innovation (R&I);
• Ensuring smooth and rapid market access for life sciences innovations; and
• Boosting the uptake and use of life science innovation. 

Optimising the ecosystem for R&I (p. 7)
    
The Commission focuses heavily on the creation of “new knowledge” (p. 7) by combining life science disciplines, stakeholders, and funding in R&I ecosystems. These include partnerships, missions and bioclusters and will result in (i) funding for research in and development of advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs) and the establishment in 2026 of a European Network of ATMP Centres of Excellence; (ii) additional support for clinical trials (specifically multi-country clinical trials); (iii) harmonised ethical standards (in reliance on the MedEthicsEU initiative); (iv) streamlining the interface between the rules governing clinical trials for medicines and those covering clinical trials for medical devices in the COMBINE programme; (v) creating a cross-sectoral, “holistic” approach to life sciences; (vi) unlocking the power of data and Artificial Intelligence to advance innovation; (vii) using life sciences as a driver for industrial sustainability; and (viii) strengthening life sciences skills and careers.

Ensuring smooth and rapid market access for life sciences innovations (p. 19)
 
The Commission says it is committed to boosting the innovation principle and will translate this in what it calls “innovation-responsive regulation”, an attempt to square the circle of research and innovation-friendly lighter regulation on the one hand and patient safety and scientific rigour on the other. Its efforts in this area will be exemplified in the upcoming EU Biotech Act (promised “at the latest” in 2026).
 
Additionally, the Commission will also unlock both public funding and private investment.
 
Boosting the uptake and use of life science innovation
 
Under this heading, the Commission categorises its efforts to promote public procurement as an instrument for uptaking innovation. At the same time, it will also build public trust by combatting misinformation and addressing the concerns and expectations of the public.
 
Still this year, the Commission will create a Life Sciences Coordination Group to enhance internal cooperation and increase the chances of creating coherent policies, funding, and activities. 

Representatives of the pharmaceutical industry such as EFPIA praised the Commission’s efforts as addressing “long-standing issues that have been hampering the region’s competitiveness and preventing European patients from accessing the latest advances in treatment”.