Speaker:
Alexander Brown, Senior Analyst, MERICS
China is promoting biotechnology as one of the areas that will define future competitiveness, and as a result the government is investing heavily, from basic science to commercialisation. These efforts have paid off, and China’s innovation capabilities – measured by publications and patents – have risen rapidly and are similar to Europe in areas such as synthetic biology, pharmaceuticals and gene editing.
China’s rapid rise in biotechnology is reshaping the strategic landscape for Europe, which brings with it a set of dilemmas. China is no longer just a market — it is increasingly a necessary partner and is on track to emerge as a powerful competitor. Today, European companies and universities view Chinese stakeholders as important partners in drug discovery, clinical trials, and both basic and applied research. At the same time, European companies face intensifying global competition, while access to the Chinese market remains restricted due to pricing mechanisms, procurement models, and regulatory barriers. The EU is responding with defensive instruments aimed at protecting European industry.
What factors explain China’s successes so far in biotech and life sciences? How does Europe balance openness and protection—industry and state interests? How do European companies compete with Chinese firms globally while managing shrinking opportunities in China? And how can collaboration with China be rethought as a strategic necessity, without undermining Europe’s long-term competitiveness and security?
Presentation by Alexander followed followed by an open discussion.
The Chatham House Rule will apply.
