NEWSLETTER - JULY 2026

7 days ago
5 min read

Dear FIB Stakeholder,

June got off to a flying start as I began in my new role as the Managing Director of FIB. I am very excited and honoured to take on this role, and I look forward to working closely with Finnish Bioindustries members and stakeholders to support the growth and success of Finnish biotechnology. In this stakeholder newsletter, we have gathered current and relevant updates for you on events, funding, advocacy and visibility.

Our goal is to strengthen FIB’s role as the common voice of Finnish biotechnology, increase the visibility of our members in national and European decision-making, and build even stronger connections between companies, research, funders and international networks.

This summer has been active from a biotechnology perspective. New EU initiatives related to biotechnology are under preparation, including Biotech Act I and II; funding opportunities for industrial biotechnology are becoming stronger; and we are also already looking ahead to the Finnish Parliamentary election advocacy and upcoming international events.

During the autumn, our key priorities will include EU advocacy, biotechnology funding and growth opportunities, the internationalisation of companies, and the development of FIB’s member services. We hope to maintain an active dialogue with our members and stakeholders.

I wish you an enjoyable read and an energising summer.

Below you will find current updates and news:

ADVOCACY

Biotech Act I and II: advocacy update

EU biotechnology policy is currently progressing on two parallel tracks. Biotech Act I focuses in particular on health biotechnology, accelerating market access for innovations, streamlining regulation, strengthening funding, and making use of artificial intelligence and data. According to the European Commission, the objective of the Biotech Act is to strengthen the EU biotechnology and biomanufacturing sectors and improve the competitiveness of the sector.

Biotech Act II, in turn, broadens the perspective to industrial biotechnology, biomanufacturing and bio-based products. The Commission’s consultation was open in June 2026, and the initiative is expected to support in particular investments, scale-up, market access and Europe’s strategic autonomy.

Read FIB’s consultation response here: FIB response to the Biotech Act II consultation

FIB’s key message for the preparation of Biotech Act II is that the initiative must be an ambitious industrial and competitiveness policy instrument. It should broadly cover the bioeconomy, industrial biotechnology, biomanufacturing, bio-based chemicals and materials, and sustainable carbon sources. In addition, Europe needs lead markets, smoother authorisation procedures, predictable regulation, better access to investment, and stronger skills development.

FIB is closely monitoring the progress of Biotech Act I and II together with European partners. Members’ views are important to ensure that the needs of Finnish biotechnology are visible in both national and EU-level advocacy.

MEMBERS

We are happy to welcome new members on a continuous flow to the Finnish Bioindustries family. The newest members are Onni Biotechnologies Oy and Vactech Oy.

Please read the inspiring story behind Onni Biotechnologies, and stay in tune for the upcoming story on Vactech.

Onni Biotechnologies: engineering natural killer cells for the next generation of cancer therapy (https://www.suomenbioteollisuus.fi/post/onni-biotechnologies-engineering-natural-killer-cells-for-the-next-generation-of-cancer-therapy)

Are you thinking about becoming a member? Want to know more about member benefits? Kindly reach out to Johanna or fill in your application at https://www.suomenbioteollisuus.fi/fib-membership and we will process it in our board meetings.

EVENTS

HealthBio in Turku, 2–3 September 2026

This two-day Finnish health biotechnology event will bring together entrepreneurs, researchers, funders and other stakeholders in early September. I hope to meet many of you there.

Further information and registration: HealthBio 2026

Nordic Life Science Days in Stockholm, 8–9 September 2026SwedenBIO invites Nordic biotechnology companies to come together once again at Nordic Life Science Days in Stockholm. Further information, registration: https://nlsdays.com/

Members only: FIB members receive special discount codes for different international events and special delegation activities.

Members only: Webinar on the opportunities of high-performance computing and artificial intelligence for chemistry and bioindustry companies.

Save the Date: Premiere of Planet of the Microbes and launch event for FIB’s messages for the Finnish Parliamentary election

You are warmly welcome to the premiere of the documentary film Planet of the Microbes and the launch event for FIB’s messages for the Finnish Parliamentary elections on Thursday 1 October at 17.30–20.00. Further information and registration will follow in August.

BIO-Europe in Cologne, 9–11 November 2026

BIO-Europe will take place in Cologne on 9–11 November 2026. The event is one of Europe’s key partnering events for the biopharma and life sciences sectors. In 2026, the programme will expand towards a more strategic focus, with regulatory strategy also emerging as one of the themes.

FIB is preparing a delegation around the event to provide Finnish biotechnology companies with stronger visibility and practical support for internationalisation.

Members only: FIB members receive special discount codes for different international events and special delegation activities.

FUNDING

IPCEI: biotechnology funding call is now open

Business Finland’s biotechnology IPCEI call is open from 15 June to 6 September 2026. The aim of the call is to support the creation of European value chains and address market failures in strategic areas of biotechnology. The call focuses on three themes: bio-based materials, bio-based chemicals, and bio-based food and feed ingredients.

The call covers research and development projects as well as investments related to first industrial deployment. FIB encourages member companies to familiarise themselves with the call without delay and assess whether their projects could be suitable for IPCEI preparation.

Further information: Business Finland IPCEI call page: (https://www.businessfinland.fi/en/services/Financing/calls/2026/biotechnology-ipcei-call-2026/)

Webinar recording on the biotechnology IPCEI call: Business Finland webinar recording

Application period: 15 June–6 September 2026 at 16.00.

More info: Business Finland biotechnology IPCEI funding call 2026

CBE JU: Circular Bio-based Europe funding call

The 2026 call of the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking is now open. According to CBE JU, the total budget for the 2026 call is EUR 170.7 million. The call opened on 23 April 2026 and the deadline is 22 September 2026 at 17.00 CET.

The call topics cover, among other things, strengthening the competitiveness of biorefineries, biotechnological routes for the valorisation of residual biomass, bio-based chemicals and materials, circular packaging, textile fibres, and actions supporting the uptake of bio-based products and processes.

The call offers interesting opportunities for companies, research organisations and consortia developing sustainable, competitive and scalable bio-based solutions for the European market.

Further information: CBE JU call page (https://www.cbe.europa.eu/open-calls-proposals )

Webinar recording on the call: CBE JU Info Day 2026

Application period: 23 April–22 September 2026 at 17.00 CET.

More info: https://www.cbe.europa.eu/

Before the summer break

As you will have noticed, there is a great deal going on — and even more for our members. FIB’s goal is to make Finnish biotechnology more visible, influential and international. During the autumn, we will strengthen member cooperation, EU advocacy and communications on opportunities relevant to company growth.

Would you like to interact with our members or hear more about our advocacy? We are open for different collaborations, funding opportunities as well as networking.

I hope each of you will also have the chance to enjoy a relaxing and joyful summer in the meantime.