BIO-RED: Strengthening Biotech and Pharma Innovation Across Europe

We are pleased to announce our participation in the BIO-RED consortium, a European initiative focused on strengthening innovation in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals through interregional collaboration, investment readiness, and capacity building.

The project is coordinated by Comunidade Intermunicipal da Região de Coimbra (Portugal) and brings together a strong consortium of partners from seven EU countries, ensuring broad regional coverage combined with deep sectoral expertise.

A Two-Year Mission to Boost Regional Innovation

BIO-RED is funded under the EU’s I3-2023 Capacity Building Strand 2b and will run for 24 months and focuses on red biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, with particular attention to strengthening innovation capacity in less-developed regions. The project’s key objectives are to strengthen regional innovation ecosystems, foster interregional cooperation and knowledge exchange, and improve investment readiness and access to finance for emerging companies. A strong emphasis is placed on digital innovation and sustainable, green technologies, ensuring long-term impact and alignment with EU strategic priorities.

A core element of BIO-RED is the Biotech & Pharma Accelerator, designed to support companies in developing investment-ready business cases. The accelerator will offer tailored mentorship and expert guidance, access to funding opportunities and investor networks, as well as infrastructure and scaling support. By helping early-stage innovations progress towards market readiness, the accelerator will strengthen regional competitiveness and attract private investment.

BIO-RED will promote interregional collaboration through thematic labs, staff exchanges, hackathons, and policy roundtables. These activities will facilitate knowledge-sharing, policy alignment, and joint problem-solving, contributing to a more connected, resilient, and future-oriented European innovation ecosystem.

EIT Health InnoStars: Driving Impact Across Regions

As a consortium partner, EIT Health InnoStars plays a strategic role in maximising the project’s impact by conducting multidimensional ecosystem mapping, benchmarking, and future trend analysis across participating regions. This includes stakeholder identification, business landscape analysis, and the assessment of investment and financing opportunities. High-potential business cases identified through this process will be directly channelled to the BIO-RED Biotech & Pharma Accelerator.

Building on its Europe-wide network, InnoStars also supports the development of the accelerator programme, contributes to regional policy alignment through dedicated roundtables, and leads the Communication and Dissemination Work Package, ensuring strong visibility, stakeholder engagement, and the long-term sustainability of BIO-RED’s results.

Stay connected for updates on upcoming activities and key milestones.