“Innovation is always ahead of regulations. Changing or adopting regulations accordingly to innovation might be a lengthy and expensive process in Europe, but there are ways how to make things right. 
Getting data from experimentation and later implementing results to policy making is key to get levers moving. A Pan European Sandbox for Novel Foods would be a good example that Europe is moving in the right direction.”

“We did choose Europe first - and that choice has come at a significant cost. Our regulatory journey has taken more than twice as long as the EU’s own market approval timeline anticipates. In the meantime, we’ve had to enter other global markets just to remain viable while waiting for approval at home. Ironically, the interpretation of the transparency regulation has brough us less - not more - transparency as applicants. Like many others, we’re not asking for lower food-safety standards, but for a regulatory process in our home market that is efficient, predictable, and enables innovation to thrive.”

"Europe is at a turning point in biotechnology and sustainable food innovation. Creating spaces where new technologies can be tested safely and efficiently is key to strengthening Europe’s competitiveness in the biotechnologies field and fostering cross-border collaboration between research institutions, startups, industry, and investors. For Innovation Agency Lithuania, a national Life Sciences Sandbox is a first step and a strategic tool to bring this vision to life locally by supporting Lithuanian innovators, attracting international partnerships, and positioning Lithuania at the forefront of next-generation food and health solutions in Europe. However, we would much welcome the possibility of a pan-European regulatory sandbox approach.“

“Innovation-friendly regulation lies at the heart of European competitiveness. It has the power to make or break an industry. If we want biotechnology to be a central pillar of decarbonisation and our future industrial infrastructure, we need to regulate for this future. Biotechnology and biomanufacturing are already a reality. A coordinated European approach to regulatory sandboxes for the sector would enablemember states to collaborate and build on each other’s expertise. For us as an investor, this would help our portfolio companies to stay and scale up in Europe.”

“Effective regulation has a trickle-down effect. For example, in the case of the lengthy EU approval process for novel foods, this means that, once they have been established here, all our European assets leave the continent, because the time it takes to bring products to market is simply uncompetitive on an international comparison. The introduction of pan-European regulatory sandboxes would be a key mechanism for regulatory innovation, helping to close the European innovation gap - such as in novel foods.”

“Clearly, Europe is an attractive location for new companies in the food sector. Unfortunately, when it comes to bringing products to market, Europe is rarely the preferred option, due to the prolonged and unpredictable nature of its regulatory approval process for novel foods.”