On September 1st 2026, TransBioNet officially began, a new European project coordinated by CoLab AccelBio aimed at accelerating the valorisation of European drug discovery research. The project held its online kick-off meeting on September 14th, bringing together the full consortium for a first working session on the project's goals, structure, and next steps.
TransBioNet establishes the first pan-European network of knowledge valorisation intermediaries dedicated to drug discovery, bridging the gap between academic research and clinical application to strengthen Europe's biomedical competitiveness. The project is built around five specific objectives: aligning policy through a shared TransBioNet Charter, developing modular valorisation toolkits, mapping Europe's research infrastructure, launching a digital platform to connect stakeholders, and establishing a training community to build skills across the network. These objectives are supported by a set of strategic pillars spanning policy reshaping, infrastructure connection, community and skills growth, sustainability, science advancement, and the tools needed to put valorisation into practice.
Among its key deliverables, TransBioNet will develop a dedicated Digital Platform, a Valorisation Assessment Toolkit, a European Infrastructure Atlas, and a Digital Training Academy, resources designed to serve a wide range of stakeholders across the drug discovery ecosystem, including academia, SMEs, industry and pharma, technology transfer intermediaries, policymakers, and ultimately society and patients.
The consortium brings together partners including CoLAB AccelBio, Health & Life Sciences Cluster (Bulgaria), Danish Life Science Cluster (Denmark), EATRIS (Netherlands), EIT Health Innostars (Germany), Biocant Park (Portugal) and LithuaniaBio (Lithuania). As project coordinator, AccelBio leads the overall project management and coordination (WP1) as well as the work package on capacity building, mobility, and community development (WP4). DLSC leads the work on policy alignment for biomedical valorisation (WP2), EATRIS leads the development of the knowledge valorisation toolkit and digital platform (WP3), and EIT Health Innostars leads both the launch of Open Calls and the project's financial support scheme (WP5) and the communication, dissemination, and exploitation activities (WP6).
The kick-off meeting gave partners the opportunity to align on the project's challenges and objectives, review the flagship results expected from each work package, and discuss the governance, reporting, and management tools that will guide the consortium's work over the coming years. The session also included statements from the Project Officer and the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA), underscoring the European Commission's engagement with the project from its earliest stage.
With the consortium now aligned and its work packages underway, TransBioNet marks an important step in AccelBio's growing role in shaping European drug discovery valorisation, and CoLab AccelBio looks forward to leading this collaborative effort over the course of the project.
On June 16th, 2026, CoLAB AccelBio organized a Thematic Lab under the BIO-RED project, dedicated to "ATMP Development: Cell & Gene Therapy to GMP." The session brought together 45 participants including researchers, industry experts, and innovation stakeholders to discuss the challenges of translating cell and gene therapies from early-stage development to GMP-compliant manufacturing.
The Thematic Lab followed a structured, three-phase format designed to move from context-setting to concrete problem framing. Phase I, "Setting the Ground," opened with an overview and results of the BIO-RED project, followed by a problem-framing session led by Pascale Berthet, from CELL'ECTIV Consulting. Phase II, "Topics Discussion," featured a Q&A kick-off led by Lino Ferreira, from CIBB-UC, encouraging open exchange among participants on the technical and regulatory hurdles of advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs). In Phase III, participants voted on the challenges they considered most pressing, before the session concluded with a wrap-up and a look ahead to the next step: a Hackathon focused on turning the discussion's insights into actionable solutions. An optional matchmaking session followed, giving participants the chance to connect one-on-one and explore potential collaborations.
BIO-RED is a project funded by the European Union, and this Thematic Lab reflects CoLAB AccelBio's continued commitment to fostering dialogue between academia and industry on the practical challenges of bringing cell and gene therapies to patients. Building on the challenges identified during the session, the next step will be a Hackathon, to be held at Biocant Park, in Cantanhede, on September 29th, 2026, where participants will work hands-on to turn these insights into actionable solutions for ATMP development.
CoLab AccelBio held its annual Connecting Day on May 29th, 2026, at the Pavilhão de Portugal in Lisbon, bringing together researchers, innovators, policymakers, and partners from academia and industry for a day dedicated to translational research and collaboration in the life sciences.
The programme opened with an overview of CoLab AccelBio's growth, capacities, and assets by AccelBio's Management Team (Bárbara Gomes - CEO, Ricardo Viais - COO, Sílvia Almeida - CSO), followed by a keynote presentation on Translational Research by Bruno Dombrecht, Head of VIB Discovery Sciences. The day also featured two round table discussions: one exploring the challenges and opportunities of translational research in academia, and another examining the future of organoids in drug discovery.
Speakers included Bruno Dombrecht (VIB Discovery Sciences), Raúl Saraiva (3xP), João Leandro and Vânia Cardoso (CoLAB AccelBio); Aline Fernandes (OrganoStemTech), Raquel Cunha (CoLab TRIALS), Cláudia Miranda and Mariana Branco (CoLAB AccelBio).
The event also welcomed three members of CoLAB AccelBio's International Advisory Board — Ivo Lorenz, Katie Ellias, and Molly Harper — who travelled from the United States to Lisbon to share their perspective and guidance with the community.
The quality of the conversations throughout the day underscored the importance of building strong partnerships between academia and industry to drive meaningful progress in the life sciences. Beyond the discussions themselves, Connecting Day continues to serve as a space for partnering among academic, non-academic, and industry players. CoLab AccelBio's goal for the event is not only to foster genuine dialogue, but also to reinforce existing partnerships and establish new ones that help grow the Portuguese biotech ecosystem.
CoLab AccelBio would like to thank all speakers, its International Advisory Board members, the whole AccelBio team, and everyone who attended and helped make the day memorable. The organization looks forward to continuing these collaborations in the years ahead.
CoLab AccelBio was featured in the April 2026 issue (No. 196) of Portugalglobal, the magazine published by AICEP – Portugal's Trade & Investment Agency, in an article on Health and Life Sciences titled "A bridge between research and industry to create new drugs."
The article traces CoLab AccelBio's journey since its founding in 2021: a non-profit association bringing together academic institutions, biotech companies, an investment fund and a technology park, positioned as an intermediary in the early stages of new drug development. Its work focuses on the pre-clinical phase, from target validation through to clinical-trial readiness, aiming to increase the number and quality of drug candidates with therapeutic and market potential.
As Ricardo Viais, Chief Operations Officer of CoLab AccelBio, notes in the piece: "Our mission is to accelerate the pre-clinical phases of drug discovery, translating scientific discoveries into assets with clinical and investment potential."
Over three years, CoLab AccelBio has supported 14 projects spanning neurological disease, immunity, infection, gastric cancer and obesity, raising more than €2 million in competitive funding in addition to core funding under the Missão Interface programme. The team now numbers 20 people, mostly PhD holders.
The article also highlights a strong 2025 — with growth in services to national and international partners and six new projects approved — as well as the two technology platforms underpinning CoLab AccelBio's work: a medicinal chemistry platform using computation and AI, and an organoid platform based on lab-grown organ models for pre-clinical testing, reducing reliance on animal models.
Internationally, the piece points to CoLab AccelBio's involvement in European networks and initiatives such as the EU-funded BIO-RED project, as well as its role in bringing BioEurope Spring 2026 to Lisbon, reinforcing Portugal's international visibility in biotechnology.
Looking ahead to 2026, Ricardo Viais anticipates accelerating ongoing projects, launching a new Open Call, expanding services, and strengthening national and international partnerships.
Read the full article (PT) in the April 2026 issue (No. 196) of Portugalglobal, available here: https://www.revista.portugalglobal.pt/AICEP/PortugalGlobal/portugalglobal-n196-abr26/?page=22
P-BIO, AccelBio, and Biocant Park are the Host Committee of BIO-Europe Spring 2026, one of Europe’s leading biotechnology partnering events, taking place in Lisbon, 23–25 March.
Portugal has always been defined by its spirit of connection and collaboration. Throughout our history, we have built bridges between continents, cultures, and communities. That same legacy inspires our biotechnology ecosystem today – where researchers, companies, and institutions work together to transform scientific discovery into real world solutions.
In this spirit, the Host Committee is coordinating a Portugal National Booth, designed to boost international visibility for the Portuguese ecosystem, foster partnerships and investment, and accelerate the journey from research to market. This national initiative brings together the country’s most innovative companies, research centers, and regional authorities in a unified platform to showcase Portugal’s strengths in biotechnology and life sciences.
BIO-Europe Spring attracts around 4,000 attendees, representing 1,500+ companies from 50+ countries, including 3,700+ leaders and innovators in a partnering environment that enables thousands of meetings between clients, companies, and investors, providing for an excellent opportunity for funding or international expansion.
The Portugal Booth is supported by the following organizations:
Beat Therapeutics; Bial; Bluepharma; Braga City Council; Cantanhede City Council; Lisbon City Council; Oeiras City Council; CoLAB Trials; LxBio; Rodon Biologics; Stemmatters; TargTex; Valvian; and Vector B2B.
This diverse group of supporters represents the collaborative nature of Portugal’s biotech ecosystem – spanning pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology startups, research institutions, and regional governments all united by a common goal: positioning Portugal as a hub for innovation and partnership.
We invite companies and organizations interested in exploring opportunities at the event to connect with us. Whether you’re looking for partnership opportunities or investment possibilities, we welcome the chance to discuss how we can work together to achieve shared goals.
CoLAB AccelBio joined BIO-RED partners in Paris for an in-person meeting hosted by Medicen Paris Region (12–13 January).
Over two days, partners advanced discussions around:
We thank Medicen Paris Region for hosting and all partners for the productive exchanges supporting sustainable and impactful biotech innovation across Europe.
