The EU Biotech Act marks a significant step in shaping Europe’s biotechnology landscape, but what does it mean for UK life sciences companies?
This webinar with EuropaBio will explore the first phase of the EU Biotech Act, with a focus on key areas including clinical trials, investment, and supplementary protection certificates (SPCs). We’ll also touch on what’s coming next in Biotech Act 2, and how this sits alongside other major EU legislative developments such as the pharma package, Critical Medicines Act, and Industrial Accelerator Act.
Join us for a practical overview of the evolving policy landscape, what it signals for competitiveness and collaboration, and what UK companies should be paying attention to. The session will include a short presentation followed by an opportunity to put your questions directly to the EuropaBio Director General, Claire Skentelbery.
Claire Skentelbery
Claire has worked in the development of scientific networks and associations for over 20 years. Following a degree in agriculture and a PhD in crop science, she worked in scientific communications and as a biotechnology National Contact Point for Framework Programme Five. Her work took her to the fast growing Cambridge (UK) biotechnology cluster in 2000, where she was part of her first business association (now One Nucleus) from where, as part of a Europe-wide founding team, she launched the Council of European BioRegions (CEBR), a network of biotechnology clusters.
Her role as Network Manager for CEBR brought her to Brussels in 2009, where she also became Secretary General of the European Biotechnology Network, a network with the mission to build collaboration for exploitation of science. Through EBN she became involved in the Innovatove Medicines Initiative (IMI) within the ENABLE project, which developed novel Gram negative antibacterial candidates.
In 2016, Claire took on a global role as Director General of the Nanotechnology Industries Association (NIA), representing nanomaterials across sectors, with focus on the emerging regulatory frameworks worldwide and the positioning of nanomaterials in advanced products and processes.
In 2020, she joined EuropaBio as Director General, representing biotechnology across sectors and helping to shape the role that it plays in Europe’s delivery of a sustainable and healthy future.
Jane Wall
What does your role at BIA involve?
Strategic leadership of the organisation and oversight of P&L to ensure that BIA is a sustainable, successful, and ever-evolving association. Serving the needs of existing members, growing new communities, and increasing member benefit; producing sector-leading thought leadership and events, growing influence, reach and impact.
Previous experience & achievements
25 years of experience managing teams in academic publishing and membership organisations: providing strategic and editorial direction combined with business acumen; driving operational, organisational and community development, profitability, and innovation. Previous roles at Oxford University Press, Taylor & Francis (Informa PLC), Oxford Brookes University, Fire Protection Association and Food and Drink Federation. Jane holds a first degree in Italian and European Literature from Warwick University, MA in Social Anthropology from SOAS and MBA from Oxford Brookes Business School.
If you could invite any scientist to dinner, who would it be?
Galileo Galilei: having been slightly obsessed with Italian culture and the Renaissance, I was fascinated by Florence, the Medicis and their patronage of artists and scientists. I am always in awe of the bravery and foresight of individuals willing to push human understanding beyond what was/is generally acceptable at the time: Galileo was willing to risk the ire of the Inquisition and to live condemned as a heretic in times when the punishment was extreme – to become the ‘father of modern science’.
Rosie Lindup
What does your role at BIA involve?
Rosie leads the BIA’s policy work on access to medicines, rare diseases, cell and gene therapies and antimicrobial resistance. This involves providing the secretariat for the BIA’s Cell and Gene Therapy Advisory Committee (CGTAC) and Rare Disease Industry Group (RDIG). She is also responsible for organising the BIA’s annual Parliament Day, which brings CEOs and senior representatives from BIA member companies to Westminster to meet with politicians and policymakers.
Previous experience
Previously, Rosie worked as a Senior Research Consultant at a Westminster-based public affairs agency, where she supported clients from a range of sectors, including pharmaceuticals, technology and financial services. Prior to that, Rosie worked as a Management Consultant at KPMG, where she assisted on financial and regulatory projects with large corporate clients. She has a BA in Human, Social and Political Sciences from the University of Cambridge.
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