Interregional Biomanufacturing Interest Groups (IBIGs) are at the heart of the BRIDGE project’s collaborative approach to strengthening Europe’s biomanufacturing ecosystem. Rather than functioning as traditional thematic working groups, IBIGs bring together researchers, industry representatives, healthcare organisations, innovation agencies, SMEs, investors, public authorities and other ecosystem actors from Catalonia, Campania and Silesia to jointly identify strategic opportunities for interregional cooperation.
Over the past several months, IBIG members have engaged in an intensive entrepreneurial discovery process involving thematic workshops, expert meetings, brainstorming sessions, matchmaking activities and collaborative discussions focused on regional strengths, value-chain gaps, industrial needs and future investment opportunities. This process enabled participants not only to exchange knowledge but also to co-create innovative project concepts with genuine interregional added value.
Eight flagship initiatives emerge from a collaborative innovation process
The IBIG process generated 28 initial project ideas, reflecting the diversity of expertise and innovation potential across the three participating ecosystems. Through a structured process of expert discussions, refinement and collaborative development, these ideas gradually evolved into a portfolio of mature interregional initiatives.
Following several rounds of evaluation focused on strategic relevance, interregional cooperation potential, innovation maturity and future funding opportunities, eight flagship projects were selected for further development within the BRIDGE project.
Rather than representing the end of a selection process, these projects mark the beginning of the next phase of collaboration. Each initiative is now being further developed by international project teams supported by BRIDGE partners acting as mentors and facilitators. The objective is to transform these concepts into investment-ready interregional projects capable of attracting regional, national and European funding.
The selected initiatives cover a broad spectrum of biomanufacturing challenges, ranging from advanced bioprocesses and innovative therapies to manufacturing technologies, sustainable production, digital solutions and new cross-border value chains. Collectively, they demonstrate how interregional cooperation can accelerate innovation while addressing common challenges faced by Europe’s healthcare and biotechnology sectors.
More importantly, the selected projects illustrate the value of the IBIG methodology itself: bringing together complementary expertise from different regions to create partnerships that would not have emerged through traditional project development approaches. By fostering continuous dialogue between academia, industry, healthcare providers and innovation support organisations, IBIGs are laying the foundations for a sustainable European community capable of generating future collaborative investments well beyond the lifetime of the BRIDGE project.
The selected projects are:
- InterReg ATMP Accelerator: Distributed Bench-to-Bedside Platform: a cross-regional accelerator connecting expertise across the advanced therapies pathway – from preclinical validation in Campania, to GMP manufacturing in Catalonia and technology transfer in Silesia. The initiative aims to strengthen Europe’s capacity to bring next-generation therapies closer to patients.
- IBEEP-Biomanufacturing: Distributed Modular GMP Pilot Network: an interregional network of modular single-use GMP pilot plants enabling faster and more flexible biomanufacturing through standardised technology transfer, digital solutions and a “GMP-as-a-Service” approach supporting SMEs in scaling innovative solutions.
- DataBio-EU: Trusted Testing Environment for AI in Biomanufacturing: an interregional AI-enabled biotechnology environment designed to accelerate smarter and more efficient biomanufacturing through AI-driven optimisation, secure data exchange and regulatory innovation. The initiative brings together digital expertise and healthcare data capabilities to support faster translation of biotech solutions from research to application.
- EUWOUND: European Platform for Bioactive Wound Therapies (Dual-Use): an innovative platform advancing bioactive wound therapies through antimicrobial solutions, RNA-enabled biomaterials and collaborative healthcare networks. The initiative addresses major challenges such as antimicrobial resistance while strengthening Europe’s capacity to respond to both civilian and emergency healthcare needs.
- PDO-ATMP: Patient-Derived Organoids for the validation of advanced therapies: a translational platform using advanced organoid models to accelerate the development of cell and gene therapies and strengthen personalised medicine approaches. By connecting preclinical expertise with GMP and clinical capabilities across borders, the initiative aims to bring innovative treatments closer to patients.
- BURN-EU: Skin Bank & Tissue-Engineered Wound Care Network: a European network of skin banks and burn centres advancing tissue-engineered solutions for complex skin defects through cross-border collaboration and rapid response capabilities. The initiative supports both everyday clinical needs and Europe’s preparedness for large-scale emergencies.
- IB-Academy: Interregional Biomanufacturing Academy: an interregional academy building the future biomanufacturing workforce through hands-on training, cross-border knowledge exchange and industry-relevant skills development. The initiative will equip professionals with expertise in GMP, advanced therapies, digital technologies and regulatory innovation.
- ATMP Translational Platform: an accelerator programme supporting ATMP innovators with the skills, expertise and connections needed to move beyond research towards real-world impact. The initiative will foster collaboration between academia and industry, helping promising solutions progress through regulatory, investment and market pathways.
- VaxRapid: Distributed Network for Personalised Viral Vector Vaccines: a distributed vaccine innovation platform combining advanced manufacturing capabilities, next-generation delivery technologies and cross-border expertise to accelerate the development of personalised vaccines. The initiative aims to enhance Europe’s preparedness for emerging health challenges while opening new opportunities for therapeutic applications.
Together, these initiatives represent the ambition of IBIGs: creating spaces where complementary expertise, regional strengths and European perspectives can come together to generate solutions with wider impact.
“What makes the IBIG process unique is that it does not simply identify good project ideas – it creates them through collaboration. Over the past months, experts from Catalonia, Campania and Silesia have worked together to combine complementary expertise, identify shared industrial challenges and build genuine interregional partnerships. The eight selected initiatives are therefore not the final outcome, but the starting point for developing a strong pipeline of investment-ready projects that can strengthen Europe’s biomanufacturing ecosystem” says Aleksandra Szczerbak, representative of Upper Silesian Accelerator (GAPR), IBIGs Lead within the BRIDGE project.
From ideas to impact: the next phase of IBIGs collaboration
The selection of the eight projects marks the beginning of the next stage of the IBIGs journey. Over the coming months, project teams will further develop and refine their proposals with the support of BRIDGE consortium partners, benefiting from mentoring, knowledge exchange and access to expertise from across the European innovation ecosystem. Following this development phase, the three most promising proposals will be selected to progress further and unlock new opportunities for collaboration, growth and implementation.
The IBIGs model is built on openness and collaboration: while the selected teams will lead the development of their initiatives, the strength of each proposal will come from the diversity of perspectives and expertise contributing to its evolution. Stakeholders interested in supporting impactful solutions and bringing complementary knowledge to these emerging initiatives will have the opportunity to connect with the IBIGs community and explore potential collaboration opportunities.
“Strong communities are at the heart of healthcare innovation. When diverse actors come together around shared challenges, they create the trust, knowledge exchange and collective intelligence needed to transform ideas into solutions that benefit patients and society. Through initiatives such as IBIGs, we are strengthening Europe’s capacity to innovate by connecting people, ecosystems and expertise across borders.” – underlines Chiara Maiorino, representative of EIT Health.