Periodic Reporting for period 1 - EHAB (European Hub for Advanced Therapies & Biomaterials)
Reporting period: 2023-12-01 to 2025-02-28
The ultimate goal of EHAB is to accelerate the delivery of innovative health techniques and products, in the area of advanced therapies/regenerative medicine and biomaterials to citizens and patients who need it. This innovative healthcare should be affordable for all and improve the quality of life of patients. With Advanced Therapies & Biomaterials it will be possible to have more effective and efficient healthcare for lots of common diseases, like orthopedics, cancer or cardiovascular. Currently it is very hard to bring these techniques to the market and companies face many barriers, from production challenges to regulation. Joint action at an EU level can make the difference. Ecosystems can work together to overcome the barriers of the companies to catalyze and speed up
the process of bringing innovative AT&B products to the market. The first step in creating this value chain is to capitalize and connect the assets with EU innovation ecosystems and lay the foundation for an excellent partnership from different European regions.
EHAB’s Vision is thus to strengthen the European landscape in advanced therapies and biomaterials (AT&B) by building a European interconnected value chain and powerhouse to making cell and tissue related therapies available to all European citizens, seizing
opportunities in key parts of the AT&B value chain, consolidating EU assets, notably SMEs and increasing its international competitiveness.
the process of bringing innovative AT&B products to the market. The first step in creating this value chain is to capitalize and connect the assets with EU innovation ecosystems and lay the foundation for an excellent partnership from different European regions.
EHAB’s Vision is thus to strengthen the European landscape in advanced therapies and biomaterials (AT&B) by building a European interconnected value chain and powerhouse to making cell and tissue related therapies available to all European citizens, seizing
opportunities in key parts of the AT&B value chain, consolidating EU assets, notably SMEs and increasing its international competitiveness.
EHAB’s Mission was to identify regional strengths, weaknesses, gaps and needs in a joint transregional AT&B value chain and to elaborate an action plan to strengthen the performance and capacity of the innovation ecosystems, their efficient interconnection and their alignment towards EU-level priorities, jointly tackling challenges at EU, national and regional level together with the quadruple helix stakeholders from the deeptech SME community, funding agencies, investors, academia, service providers, notified bodies, policy makers, patients. Key of EHAB was the mapping and gap analysis. We focus on companies in the field of ATMP & Biomaterials, not on the research institutes. We have established a Strategic Advisory Board to think with us in the gap analysis and the joint action plan.
After the mapping and the gap analysis we started working on facilitating activities like an inventory of funding for SME's in the biomaterials and regenerative medicine field. We also inventorized funding opportunities for a follow up project of EHAB.
Besides the creation of a joint action plan, we organised several activities like a matchmaking webinar, so that companies got in touch with companies and procesfacilities in other regions, a webinar with patient organisations and a hackathon to create new initiatives in the field of Biomaterials, ATMP's and Regenerative Medicines.
After the mapping and the gap analysis we started working on facilitating activities like an inventory of funding for SME's in the biomaterials and regenerative medicine field. We also inventorized funding opportunities for a follow up project of EHAB.
Besides the creation of a joint action plan, we organised several activities like a matchmaking webinar, so that companies got in touch with companies and procesfacilities in other regions, a webinar with patient organisations and a hackathon to create new initiatives in the field of Biomaterials, ATMP's and Regenerative Medicines.
The EHAB project has laid the foundation for a strong and resilient European ecosystem in Advanced Therapies & Biomanufacturing (AT&B). EHAB has developed a Joint Action Plan (JAP) structured around three key strategic lines:
1. Consolidating the AT&B value chain
2. Aligning EHAB with major European initiatives and policies
3. Ensuring complementarities between public policies and private sector interests
As part of the JAP validation process, the Strategic Advisory Board (SAB) was asked to prioritize key actions. The most critical priorities identified include:
• Expanding European regional involvement and enhancing SME support, particularly in accessing funding, navigating the pathway to market, and benefiting from research and commercialization efforts.
• Strengthening funding strategies for SMEs and clinical trials through advocacy and lobbying.
• Policy engagement, including training policymakers, harmonizing regulations, and establishing an advisory body to influence policy and regulation.
• Fostering talent development, capacity building, and stronger public-private collaboration, alongside improving visibility and coordination of AT&B initiatives across Europe.
Additionally, the JAP aligns with the EU Strategic Agenda 2024-2029 and the forthcoming European Biotechnology Law. By ensuring the effective implementation of this action plan, EHAB will contribute to building a robust, interconnected, and competitive European AT&B ecosystem—one that supports patient needs, accelerates technological advancements, and strengthens Europe's strategic autonomy in the life sciences sector.
1. Consolidating the AT&B value chain
2. Aligning EHAB with major European initiatives and policies
3. Ensuring complementarities between public policies and private sector interests
As part of the JAP validation process, the Strategic Advisory Board (SAB) was asked to prioritize key actions. The most critical priorities identified include:
• Expanding European regional involvement and enhancing SME support, particularly in accessing funding, navigating the pathway to market, and benefiting from research and commercialization efforts.
• Strengthening funding strategies for SMEs and clinical trials through advocacy and lobbying.
• Policy engagement, including training policymakers, harmonizing regulations, and establishing an advisory body to influence policy and regulation.
• Fostering talent development, capacity building, and stronger public-private collaboration, alongside improving visibility and coordination of AT&B initiatives across Europe.
Additionally, the JAP aligns with the EU Strategic Agenda 2024-2029 and the forthcoming European Biotechnology Law. By ensuring the effective implementation of this action plan, EHAB will contribute to building a robust, interconnected, and competitive European AT&B ecosystem—one that supports patient needs, accelerates technological advancements, and strengthens Europe's strategic autonomy in the life sciences sector.