“Pharma & Biotech –
What SMEs Need When it Comes to Fighting COVID-19?”

The outbreak of COVID-19, a disease for which there are no vaccines on the market yet, is challenging the world economically and socially. SMEs operating in the BioTech and Pharma industry are at the forefront of this fight against COVID-19 and, now more than ever, working closely is vital to enable a quick and common response to the virus across Europe. In order to enable their full potential, unnecessary administrative and financial burdens need to be eliminated. European and national institutions should facilitate the deployment of the full capability of Pharma and BioTech SMEs to combat the outbreak across all sectors, whether it be developing new medicines such as vaccines, researching treatments, or ensuring the viability of vital supply chains like medicine and personal protective equipment. SME Connect and SME Europe of the EPP have invited high-level associations from the sector in order to create an informative and sustainable discussion that will open further dialogue regarding the needs of Pharma and BioTech SMEs in fighting this pandemic crisis.