Boosting industrial biotech in the EU: France to host IBISBA, a research infrastructure managed by INRAE

Coordinated by INRAE, IBISBA-France is composed of six partner organizations that perform R&D focused in a variety of application areas. These include bioenergy, chemicals and materials manufacturing, food and feed ingredients, cosmetic compounds, pharmaceutical and phytosanitary products, environmental services, treatment of liquid and solid wastes, and the recycling of various materials and residues.

In 2026, IBISBA-ERIC aims to become operational with a mandate to support R&D in biotech by federating the strengths of a variety of European stakeholders. IBISBA serves as a single access point for a rich array of services provided by its expert R&D partners present in 11 European countries: France, Belgium, Finland, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

In March 2024, the European Commission published a series of actions to boost biotechnology and biomanufacturing. In its communication, the European Commission cited IBISBA, stating that it is expected to play a key role in increasing EU competitiveness in the biotech industry, notably by providing a service network and digital repository to support R&D activities. By providing new impetus and driving innovation, the European Commission intends to encourage long-term investment in infrastructure, skill building, and job creation, while striving to eliminate scientific, technological, and legislative barriers.

IBISBA—a key part of the European Commission’s initiative “Building the future with nature: boosting biotechnology and biomanufacturing in the EU”