The establishment of the Baltic Biotechnology Hub is an ambitious initiative involving life science and biotech organisations from Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. Its goal is to unite the region’s biotechnology sector and position the Baltic States as leaders in innovation. This hub will serve as a dynamic platform for collaboration among businesses, academia, policymakers, and society, fostering international partnerships, resource-sharing, and boosting the region’s competitiveness on the global stage.
What Will This Hub Bring?
- Accelerating Innovation: By connecting talents and resources across the three countries, the hub will drive the development of new biotechnological solutions to address global challenges, such as climate change and public health.
- Talent Development: In collaboration with universities and research centres, new educational programmes and initiatives will be established to attract and nurture highly skilled professionals in the biotechnology field.
- Attracting Investment: The hub will capitalise on the region’s potential to become an attractive destination for investors seeking to support promising biotechnology projects.
- Building a Unified Regulatory Voice: A coordinated approach in EU regulatory discussions will significantly amplify the region’s influence. When the three countries align their positions and actively engage in discussions, they form a stronger voice. The aim is not only to participate in regulatory debates but also to advocate for a unified regulatory stance that reflects the interests and needs of the Baltic biotech sector.
- Engaging Society: Through public events, seminars, and awareness campaigns, the hub will raise public understanding of the importance and benefits of biotechnology in everyday life.
Tomas Andrejauskas, President of the LithuaniaBIO Association, highlights the regional collaboration:
“The Baltic Biotechnology Hub—an initiative born out of the BIOCONNECT project—has brought together representatives from industry, academia, policymaking, and society across Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. Its main goal is to stimulate innovation, enhance the region’s visibility, and ensure competitiveness in the global market.”
The BIOCONNECT Project
Launched at the end of 2023, the BIOCONNECT project, funded under the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme, laid the foundation for developing the region’s biotechnology ecosystem. On January 30, 2025, in Tartu, Estonia, a comprehensive action plan was presented, outlining over 40 initiatives aimed at fostering economic growth and boosting the Baltic region’s international visibility. Additionally, a publicly accessible mapping of companies, research institutions, and clusters across the Baltic States was introduced.
The Baltic Biotechnology Hub is more than just an infrastructure project—it represents a new vision that integrates the region into a unified innovation space. This is a place where solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges are developed, and a sustainable future for the Baltic States is shaped. This initiative marks an exciting beginning, with the potential to define the biotechnology sector of the region for decades to come.
Project Partners and Funding
The BIOCONNECT project brings together key stakeholders from across the Baltic region, including:
- Latvia: Biocatalyst Foundation, Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis
- Lithuania: LithuaniaBIO Association, Vilnius University Life Sciences Centre
- Estonia: Estonian Centre for BioSustainability, Tallinn University of Technology
- Finland: Synbio Powerlabs
The BIOCONNECT project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement 101134908.
The views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency.