Innovation Meets Industry

In a European environment where pharmaceutical policy is being reshaped around sustainable financing, equitable and timely access to innovation, and the strengthening of health system resilience and strategic autonomy, Greece is called upon to address structural challenges that impact the competitiveness of its pharmaceutical sector. These challenges include fiscal pressures, delays in access to innovative therapies, and the need for a more predictable and investment-friendly environment.

In this context, the “Innovation Meets Industry” initiative by SFEE establishes a structured dialogue platform bringing together the State, the pharmaceutical industry, the academic and research community, and the broader innovation ecosystem. Its objective is to align strategic priorities and shape a coherent policy framework that supports the sustainable development of pharmaceutical innovation in Greece.

Greece possesses significant comparative advantages, including a strong and outward-looking pharmaceutical industry, a rapidly growing health tech and biotech startup ecosystem, and a highly skilled scientific and research workforce. However, the limited institutional and operational connectivity among these pillars continues to hinder the translation of knowledge and innovation into measurable economic, investment and social value.

Innovation Meets Industry aims to address this gap by operating as a policy-shaping platform, with the objective to:

identify and align common strategic priorities among key stakeholders,
bridge the gap between research, innovation and market application, and
formulate actionable, evidence-based policy recommendations that enhance the competitiveness of the pharmaceutical sector and accelerate patient access to innovative therapies.

Specifically, the initiative seeks to:

map and prioritize innovation needs in healthcare and pharmaceuticals, in alignment with European developments,
strengthen collaboration across research, entrepreneurship and the pharmaceutical industry,
develop targeted policy interventions to improve the regulatory and investment environment for R&D, clinical trials and manufacturing, and
accelerate patient access to innovative and effective treatments.

Τhrough this strategic approach, SFEE seeks to actively contribute to the transition from fragmented interventions to a more coherent, predictable and sustainable development model for the healthcare sector. The initiative aspires to position Greece dynamically on the global map of pharmaceutical innovation, creating the conditions for attracting investment, strengthening the productive base, and delivering meaningful improvements in health outcomes