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.
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.
AccelBio was represented at BIO-Europe in Vienna by Ricardo Viais and Bárbara Gomes.
Following a productive event, Portugal’s life sciences presence continues to grow—through broader participation, stronger pipelines, improved infrastructure, and an increasingly collaborative approach to delivery. We also highlight the excellent Portugal booth delivered by AICEP Portugal Global at this autumn edition.
We are honoured that BIO-Europe Spring 2026 will be hosted in Lisbon, with AccelBio, Biocant Park and P-BIO serving as the Host Committee. We look forward to welcoming partners, showcasing capabilities, and accelerating impactful collaborations.
The IMPACT EU consortium gathered in Milan on 9–10 October 2025 for its 2nd Year Meeting, hosted by Consorzio Italbiotec.
Partners shared results, reviewed progress, and aligned on upcoming activities focused on arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM). Bárbara Gomes presented AccelBio and our role in supporting biomedical innovation, while Mariana de Araújo Branco showcased how the organoids under development will contribute to identifying new therapeutic targets and therapies for ACM.
We are proud to be part of this journey toward more precise and effective therapies for cardiovascular disease.
AccelBio joined a Portuguese delegation in the EIT Health InnoStars Mission: Deep Dive into the UK Healthcare Innovation Ecosystem (28–29 April).
The delegation included partners from Universidade Nova de Lisboa, University of Lisbon, University of Coimbra, ULS de Coimbra, and CoLAB AccelBio, alongside representatives from the Executive Board of NHS Portugal and AICIB.
Organised by EIT Health InnoStars, supported by the British Embassy Lisbon, and hosted by King’s College London and the London Institute for Healthcare Engineering, the mission provided a high-value opportunity to explore the UK’s healthcare innovation landscape, connect with leading institutions, and identify collaboration pathways.
Want to explore UK–Portugal collaboration opportunities? Reach out to AccelBio.
