“By organizing the conference, we want to show the increasing importance of the biotechnology sector and how it increasingly influences the economy in various areas,” said Dr. Magdalena Kulczycka, managing director of the Association of Biotechnology Companies BioForum, opening the forum.

The forum was attended by Deputy Minister of Development and Technology Jacek Tomczak, who pointed to the growing impact of biotechnology on the modernization of European industry in areas such as food, materials and medicines. “The European Commission also sees the sector’s potential and considers it crucial, which is expressed in its strategic goals for the development of the industry,” he emphasized. He informed that the Polish biotechnology sector is worth approximately PLN 2 billion.

The Polish biotechnology market includes over 200 companies and employs several thousand employees. Biotechnology is currently playing an increasingly important role in the development of medicine, agriculture, waste disposal and the implementation of sustainable development goals.

Gene therapies, commercialization and fundraising

The main topics of discussion at the forum, with the participation of the most important companies from the biotechnology sector, included: issues of the use of cell and genetic therapies in the treatment of diseases and the development of biotechnological innovations – from the stage of laboratory research to market entry. They also talked about raising funds for operations, challenges related to bioproduction and commercialization of research, preparing the company for clinical trials, as well as the specifics of entering the British and American markets, which are crucial for the BioTech industry.

Dr. Claire Skentelbery, director general of EuropaBio – the European Bio-Industry Association, emphasized that biotechnology, along with artificial intelligence and quantum and chip technology, is treated as a critical technology of the European economy in the current time of geopolitical tensions. She pointed to Poland’s important role during our country’s planned presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2025, especially in the context of regulations regarding the pharmaceutical market (General Pharmaceutical Legislation), biotechnology production (Bio&Biomanufacturing Initiative), as well as New Genomic Techniques (NGT) in agriculture.

There were also issues related to the creation of biotechnological innovations that can support patients with rare diseases or those that are currently incurable. The panel on this topic was attended by representatives of: Novartis Gene Therapy & Rare Diseases, Medical Research Agency, PolTREG, Wardyński & Partners law firm and ExecMind.