IBISBA: Digitalisation to empower biotechnology and drive biomanufacturing

The European Union is currently engaged in an economic transition towards a circular bioeconomy that is expected to combine more sustainable growth with greater industrial sovereignty and resilience. Consequently, European competitiveness increasingly depends on the ability of advanced technologies, such as biotechnology, to provide the basis for manufacturing goods. These range from fuels and chemicals to biobased materials, advanced food ingredients, and a range of biopharmaceuticals. However, unlocking the potential of enabling technologies for the circular bioeconomy is a major undertaking. It involves harnessing the power of two game-changing technologies, biotechnology and advanced digital technologies (especially AI). To achieve this, it is imperative for Europe to bring together its knowledge, expertise, and infrastructure assets and to promote the concept of data federation. In this regard, Europe is fortunate to have European research infrastructures (RI) that provide ideal frameworks to achieve this. Here, a vision of how e-Infrastructures, such as the one embedded in the Infrastructure for Biotechnology Services for Biomanufacturing (IBISBA), can contribute to the digitalisation of biotechnology and catalyse the growth of biomanufacturing is presented. By advancing asset sharing, interoperability, federated modelling, and data-driven innovation, such RI can significantly accelerate both scientific discovery and industrial application.