The effective application of biotechnology plays a crucial role in building a sustainable European industry, in line with the EU Bioeconomy Strategy and its Progress Report, and contributing to the transformation of Europe outlined in the Green Deal. But despite the enormous potential of biotechnology for contributing to sustainable development in areas such as healthcare, materials, chemicals and food production, the technology is not widely accepted and supported by the general public. This leads to reluctance among industry to adopt and invest in biotechnological solutions, uncertainty among investors, and creates little incentive to eliminate regulatory barriers that prevent implementation. Recognising their concerns is therefore essential for improving the adoption of these technologies. The main objective of the B-TRUST project is thus to develop a transparent and inclusive governance model enabling the application of biotechnology to the bio-based and agri-food sector. More specifically, to (1) inform and create transparency related to consumer and environmental safety, (2) leverage engagement from citizens and other stakeholders, and (3) develop and exchange best practices. This model will be built based on the Theory of Change, to ensure impact while keeping all actors committed, and use co-creation trajectories with civil society and stakeholders as trust catalysts, leading to a set of measures and principles for building trust. The model will be developed and finetuned via four biotech use cases chosen to cover different types of concerns and benefits. Mapping out the real and perceived risks and benefits of these technologies will lead to a comprehensive assessment of the technologies, laying the foundations for general trust-building. Lastly, a forum will be created to deploy trainings and keep stakeholders engaged and informed, allowing the model to be replicated and sustained for further research and development, policy making and funding schemes.

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. EHAB’s Mission is 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.