Bio Bridges to Europe: Greece Builds Innovation Bridges in the Field of Biotechnology

Bio Bridges to Europe: Greece Builds Innovation Bridges in the Field of Biotechnology

 

Athens, May 23, 2025 | Aiming to enhance extroversion, technological collaboration, and international networking, Enterprise Greece, in cooperation with the Hellenic Biocluster (HBio) and the Embassy of Greece in Belgium, successfully carried out a business mission in the rapidly growing biotechnology sector in Belgium, from May 6–9, 2025.

Seven (7) innovative Greek companies from the Health Sciences and Biotechnology sector participated in an intensive program of targeted activities, showcasing the potential of the Greek ecosystem and exploring opportunities for strategic collaborations at the European level.

The mission started with an official event at the Embassy of Greece in Brussels, attended by distinguished representatives of the Belgian and European biotechnology community. The event opened with a welcome address by the Greek Ambassador to Belgium, Ms. Sofia Grammata, followed by remarks from institutional and business stakeholders from Greece and the European Commission, including HBio, Enterprise Greece, as well as the European Commission’s DG GROW and DG BUDGET, and the European Innovation Council. The event highlighted prospects for international partnerships, focusing on scientific excellence, strengthening investment activity, and knowledge exchange in the biotechnology sector.

The participating Greek companies, listed alphabetically, were:

• Anacalypsis Therapeutics: Develops pharmaceutical molecules and biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
• Athens LifeTech Park (ALTP): The first Greek biotechnology park, aiming to enhance innovation and connect research institutions, startups, and investors in the life sciences sector.
• Galenica: A major Greek pharmaceutical company focused on the development of innovative drugs and nutritional supplements.
• Oncolipsy: Provides molecular in vitro diagnostic tests for oncology.
• Pharmassist CRO: Offers a full range of services in clinical trials, pharmacovigilance, and regulatory affairs, with international operations.
• Purposeful: Uses artificial intelligence to repurpose existing drugs, aiming to reduce the cost of developing treatments for rare diseases.
• ResQ Biotech: Develops cyclic peptides to treat diseases related to protein misfolding.

The program included visits and meetings with Belgium’s top biotech clusters — BioPark Charleroi in Wallonia and BioVIA in Flanders — where thematic sessions and presentations took place on topics such as oncology, neurodegenerative diseases, AI in diagnostics, clinical trials, and regenerative medicine. During meetings with ecosystem managers, synergies and opportunities for technological convergence were explored. Greek representatives, such as from Athens LifeTech Park (ALTP), had the opportunity to present initiatives linking research excellence with entrepreneurial innovation in life sciences and to discuss areas for knowledge exchange. Greek companies also presented their activities to peer companies based in Charleroi BioPark, strengthening networking and collaboration opportunities.

Participation in the premier conference “Knowledge for Growth” in Antwerp marked the highlight of the mission. The Greek companies had a national booth designed and implemented by Enterprise Greece, showcasing their innovative solutions at the heart of European biotech innovation, attracting investors, academics, and strategic partners. Greek companies engaged in over 50 targeted business-to-business (B2B) meetings during the conference.

A strategically significant visit was also made to IMEC (Leuven), one of the world’s leading research hubs in nanotechnology, life sciences, and digital health. With more than 6,000 researchers and an annual turnover exceeding €1 billion, IMEC is a model for translating research into economic value through the integration of academic and industrial expertise.

The health sciences sector in Greece is entering a dynamic new era. With high-level human capital, a mature research culture, and a strategic focus on technology production, intellectual property, and globally competitive solutions, Greece is emerging as a growing hub of bio-innovation in Southeastern Europe, supported by organizations such as Enterprise Greece and HBio.

Referring to the national participation, Enterprise Greece CEO Dr. Marinos Giannopoulos stated:
“The business mission to Belgium is part of a broader strategy to support Greek innovation and promote our country as a high-value partner on the international technology map. In the field of biotechnology and health sciences, Greece has all the prerequisites to take a leading role: specialized human capital, a strong research base, and a dynamically evolving business ecosystem. Our goal is to boost knowledge production, connect with advanced ecosystems, and transition to a development model based on extroversion and scientific excellence.”