I very much welcome the launch of European Biotechnology week. Crick and Watsons’ breakthrough discovery sixty years ago opened up a whole new area of scientific research. They laid the foundations for cutting edge European research that is now enabling scientists to develop medicines tailored to the specific needs of individual patients, to find more efficient ways to use scarce resources like water and to develop new ways of producing essential chemicals and materials while protecting our environment. Europe is in the lead in many of these areas, and our biotechnology industries have an important role to play in Europe’s economic growth and provision of high quality, long term employment across a range of sectors. This is why we support biotechnology research through the Framework Programme, and as a signal of continued support, biotechnology has been identified as one of the Key Enabling Technologies (KETs) that will be supported under Horizon 2020
Menu