Investment in indigenous BioPharmaChem sector crucial to maintaining multinational pharma investment in Ireland – BPCI

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• €1.1 billion equity financing gap currently facing scaling Irish BioPharma companies

BioPharmaChem Ireland (BPCI), the Ibec group representing the sector, has today launched a comprehensive strategy for the indigenous biopharma sector titled 'Together, for Others', providing a new roadmap to support the growth of Ireland’s indigenous biopharmachem ecosystem.

The report, which identifies over 130 homegrown companies operating in the indigenous biopharmachem ecosystem warn that Ireland must act to ensure that the economic value of its scientific innovation is retained domestically and invested in for the overall future substantiality of the sector. The report notes that indigenous sector is crucial to attracting and retaining multinational investment in the sector.

According to the report there is an estimated €1.1 billion equity financing gap currently facing scaling Irish enterprises, with the biopharmchem sector significantly impacted. This critical shortage of late-stage capital often forces high-potential firms to seek international ownership too early in their development.

Dr Sinead Keogh, Head of Sectors at Ibec and Director of BioPharmaChem Ireland, said: “Ireland is at a crossroads; we have proven we can manufacture for the world, but we must now ensure we have a voice in the policies that will shape this industry for decades. A truly resilient biopharmachem ecosystem is one where domestic discovery, world-leading services, and global manufacturing work in concert. We are calling on the Government to recognise the indigenous biopharmachem sector as a distinct strategic priority within the National Life Sciences Strategy.”

Paul McCabe, Group COO at APC & VLE Therapeutics and BPCI Board Member, said: “Our indigenous companies are already advancing novel RNA platforms and cancer therapies that will change patient treatment globally. However, when capital is not available at home, talent and ownership follow the money out of Ireland. By building capital structures suited to this sector’s long timelines, we make Ireland’s economic base more deeply rooted and resilient.”

To bridge these gaps, the strategy outlines eight critical 'asks' of Government:

1. Name the Sector: Formally designate the indigenous biopharmachem sector as a distinct strategic priority with its own accountability metrics.
2. Mandate an ISIF Evergreen Fund: Direct the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) to establish a ring-fenced evergreen vehicle where returns from successful exits are recycled back into the life sciences sector.
3. Establish a Pre-Seed Runway Fund: Create a dedicated fund providing €2m–€8m per company to bridge the 'valley of death' between early research and the first institutional funding round.
4. Mobilise Pension Capital: Introduce asymmetric risk-sharing to help unlock the estimated €1bn–€2bn in dormant domestic institutional capital identified as a solution for the national scaling gap.
5. Accelerate Clinical Trials: Set a formal target approval time for Phase I trials of ethical and regulatory stage to 30 days or less to remain internationally competitive with peers like Denmark, which has implemented 14-day tracks.
6. Fiscal Incentive Reform: Significantly expand Entrepreneur Relief beyond the current €1.5m limit and ring-fence a portion of corporation tax for a dedicated SME Growth Fund.
7. Establish an EU Capital Navigator: Launch a unit to help firms access Horizon Europe grants and EIB venture debt while shaping the EU Biotech Act during Ireland's 2026 Presidency.
8. National Drug Discovery Centre of Excellence: Commit to establishing a permanent structural anchor for drug discovery research by 2035.

Ella Kearns, BPCI Executive, Strategic Projects, added: "The 'Together, for Others' report provides a comprehensive roadmap for the sector, detailing a wide range of recommendations beyond these initial priority 'asks'. Our focus now shifts to the sustained advocacy required to translate this blueprint into impact, ensuring that Irish discovery and manufacturing are fully integrated into a resilient, high-value national ecosystem."

The report concludes that Ireland’s upcoming EU Council Presidency in July 2026 provides a unique six-month window to ensure European capital and regulatory structures support smaller, fast-growing ecosystems like Ireland's.

About BioPharmaChem Ireland

BioPharmaChem Ireland is the Ibec trade association representing the biopharma, pharmaceutical, and chemical sectors in Ireland. With over 100 member companies, its vision is to make Ireland a globally recognised centre of excellence for sustainable innovation and manufacturing.

www.ibec.ie/Together-for-others