Biotechnology policy in European countries: An assessment

Abstract

For more than 20 years, all major European governments have put biotechnology as a priority on their innovation policy agendas. How did each of the three big countries – France, the UK and Germany – manage their biotechnology policy, and what results have they achieved? A project funded by the European Commission tried to find out by assessing, over the period 1994–2001, the development of the knowledge base, patent activities, technology transfer measures, regulatory policy, industry promotion measure and public opinion. By adding data from other sources, the author presents a dynamic picture of each country's policy and development up to 2003.