Greek Biotechnology on the Global Stage at BIO International Convention 2026 in the USA

Enterprise Greece, in cooperation with the Hellenic BioCluster (HBio), organized Greece’s national participation at BIO International Convention 2026, held in San Diego, USA, from 22 to 25 June.

Greece’s presence was structured around a national pavilion featuring eight HBio member companies, showcasing the ongoing maturation of the Greek biotechnology and health sciences ecosystem, as well as its capacity to develop international partnerships with investors, pharmaceutical and biotech companies, research institutions, and innovation stakeholders.

During the Convention, Greek companies held more than 200 targeted business meetings, seeking strategic partnerships, investment opportunities, commercial contacts, and research synergies. At the same time, the Greek delegation actively participated in the European program of activities, strengthening Greece’s visibility as an emerging innovation hub in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, digital health, and precision medicine.

Participating Greek companies:

1. Anacalypsis Therapeutics – A biotechnology company in precision neurology, focusing on therapeutic solutions and biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Parkinson’s disease.
2. Athens LifeTech Park – The first specialized biotechnology park in Southeastern Europe, offering wet lab facilities, a startup incubator, CRO services, and support capabilities for emerging and growing biotech companies.
3. Galenica – A Greek pharmaceutical company active in innovative therapeutic products, licensing-in, contract manufacturing, exports, and EU-GMP/FDA-approved production facilities.
4. Pharmassist – A full-service CRO providing clinical research, pharmacovigilance, regulatory and medical affairs services for pharmaceutical, biotech, and medtech companies in Europe, the USA, and globally.
5. Oncolipsy (powered by Pharmassist) – Offering an innovative CE-IVD molecular diagnostics portfolio for tissue and liquid biopsy, enabling non-invasive biomarker detection and personalized therapy monitoring in precision oncology.
6. PhosPrint – A regenerative medicine and laser bioprinting company, developing the first in vivo bioprinting platform for surgical use and clinical application in neobladder reconstruction.
7. Purposeful – A company specializing in in silico drug repurposing, leveraging AI, machine learning, and computational approaches to identify new therapeutic uses for existing drugs.
8. ResQ Biotech – A preclinical-stage drug discovery company with the proprietary CycloFINDER platform for developing small cyclic peptides targeting protein misfolding-related diseases.

Three thematic sessions were held at the Greek pavilion, highlighting key aspects of modern biotechnology and health sciences: precision medicine, biomarkers, cell and gene therapies, AI applications in drug discovery and diagnostics, Greece’s investment proposition, the growing biotech ecosystem, available incentives, clinical research infrastructure, access to European markets, and HBio’s role. Special emphasis was placed on the transition from scientific innovation to international growth, including scale-up financing, partnerships with pharma and biotech companies, and expansion into the US, European, and global markets.

European Pavilion Participation

Greece’s presence was further strengthened through participation in the European Innovation Council / European Pavilion, where Greek representatives contributed to discussions on the integration of AI and digital biology into real-world applications, and on the role of national and regional biotech ecosystems in enhancing European competitiveness, innovation, and international collaboration — with active involvement from Enterprise Greece.

A highlight of the mission was Greece’s participation in the European Night Reception on Tuesday, 23 June 2026, as one of the honored European delegations alongside Switzerland and Catalonia. The event showcased the geographical and technological diversity of European biotechnology, focusing on international collaboration opportunities, the dynamism of emerging ecosystems, investment and scale-up prospects, and Europe’s role as a global innovation partner in health sciences.

On Thursday, 25 June 2026, members of the Greek delegation participated in informational and exploratory visits to BIOCOM California, a key representative body of California’s life sciences ecosystem, and to Lilly Gateway Labs / Lilly Group in San Diego, an innovation hub supporting emerging biotech companies through laboratory infrastructure, expertise, and access to Lilly’s global network. These visits aimed to deepen the understanding of the US biotechnology ecosystem, to facilitate knowledge exchange, and to explore potential collaboration pathways.

The mission concluded on 26 June 2026 in San Francisco with an investment event hosted at the Consulate General of Greece.

The event attracted more than 60 participants, including members of the Greek diaspora, the Bay Area innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem, investors, biotech executives, and representatives of the research and academic community. The American Hellenic Chamber of Commerce USA also contributed with a brief intervention and outreach support. During the event, the eight Greek companies presented their activities, technological solutions, and international growth prospects through short corporate pitches to the American audience. The goal was to promote Greece as an emerging destination for investment and collaboration in health sciences and to connect Greek companies with selected stakeholders in the US market.

Dr. Marinos Giannopoulos, CEO of Enterprise Greece, stated: “Greece’s participation in BIO International Convention 2026 demonstrated that the country is now entering the global health sciences landscape with confidence. Greece possesses exceptionally strong scientific talent, a mature pharmaceutical and research base, and emerging companies with clear international orientation and high ambitions. At the same time, innovation support structures and the organized Greek cluster create a cohesive ecosystem that connects science with entrepreneurship, investment, and global markets. Greece’s presence this year confirms that the country now has the capabilities, infrastructure, and vision to claim an active role in the international biotechnology community.”

Dr. Ioanna Koukli, President of Hellenic BioCluster (HBio), stated: “Greece’s participation in BIO International Convention 2026 proved that our country now has a mature, outward-looking, and dynamically developing biotechnology ecosystem capable of standing on equal footing internationally. At HBio, we work systematically to act as a catalyst for collaboration among companies, research institutions, investors, and public organizations, creating the conditions for more Greek innovations to translate into international partnerships, investments, and products with real impact on health. This mission is not an isolated event but part of a long-term strategy to establish Greece as a reliable European hub for biotechnology and life sciences.”