Seven innovative Greek companies in the Health Sciences and Biotechnology sectors took part in an intensive program during a business mission to Belgium, focusing on the rapidly expanding biotechnology industry.
Led by Enterprise Greece in collaboration with the Hellenic Biocluster (HBio) and the Greek Embassy in Belgium, the mission aimed to enhance the international outreach, technological collaboration, and networking of Greek biotech firms. Participants explored opportunities for strategic partnerships across Europe while showcasing the potential of the Greek ecosystem. Notably, the Greek delegation featured a national pavilion at the “Knowledge for Growth” conference in Antwerp, organized by Enterprise Greece, where they presented their innovative solutions at the heart of European biotechnology, attracting interest from investors, academics, and strategic partners. During the conference, Greek companies engaged in over 50 targeted business-to-business meetings.
A significant highlight was a strategic visit to IMEC in Leuven, a leading international research center in nanotechnology, life sciences, and digital health. With over 6,000 researchers and an annual turnover exceeding 1 billion euros, IMEC exemplifies the transformation of research into economic value by merging academic and industrial expertise. According to the mission organizers, “the Health Sciences sector in Greece is entering a dynamic new era. With a wealth of high-skilled talent, a robust research culture, and a strategic emphasis on technology development, intellectual property, and globally competitive solutions, Greece is positioning itself as a burgeoning bio-innovation hub in Southeastern Europe, supported by organizations such as Enterprise Greece and HBio.”
The participating Greek companies in the mission, listed in alphabetical order, were:
- Anacalypsis Therapeutics: Developing pharmaceutical molecules and biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
- Athens LifeTech Park (ALTP): Greece’s first biotechnology park, aimed at fostering innovation and collaboration among research institutions, startups, and investors in life sciences.
- Galenica: A major Greek pharmaceutical company focused on innovative medicines and nutritional supplements.
- Oncolipsy: Offering molecular in vitro diagnostic tests for oncology.
- Pharmassist CRO: Providing a comprehensive range of services in clinical trials, pharmacovigilance, and regulatory affairs with international reach.
- Purposeful: Utilizing artificial intelligence to redefine drugs, aiming to lower the cost of developing treatments for rare diseases.
- ResQ Biotech: Developing cyclic peptides for diseases associated with protein misfolding.