A forum to accelerate the development of biosolutions in Denmark — through smarter and faster regulation.
Chair of the Steering Committee
"We have legal tools that can help us regulate smarter — so the EU doesn't miss out on growth, jobs, and innovative solutions."
Linda Nielsen
University of Copenhagen
What is Biosolutions Forum+?
Biosolutions Forum+ is a strategic public-private forum established under Alliance for Biosolutions with support from the Novo Nordisk Foundation. We champion innovation-friendly and future-oriented framework conditions for the biosolutions industry.
The forum contributes to knowledge sharing on best practices and identifies needs for innovation-friendly interpretations and regulations across the biosolutions sector.
By mobilising companies and researchers, the forum ensures sandbox proposals are thoroughly prepared with legal expertise before official submission to authorities.
The forum translates its work into concrete recommendations to political decision-makers nationally and in the EU — paving the way for a regulatory paradigm shift.
Regulatory sandboxes
In the 2024 Entrepreneur Agreement, the Danish government allocated DKK 25 million to establish regulatory sandboxes within Danish areas of strongholds — including biosolutions.
Biosolutions Forum+ will support this initiative throughout 2025–2027 by mobilising companies and researchers, and ensuring that sandbox proposals are carefully prepared with legal expertise before submission to the authorities.
The goal: give sustainable products a faster route to market — and strengthen Denmark's position in the global competition.
What is a regulatory sandbox?
A regulatory sandbox is a controlled experimental space where companies can test new products and technologies under adapted rules — while maintaining high safety standards.
It is a new instrument that allows national authorities to fine-tune mechanisms before full EU-scale implementation.
EU Net-Zero Industry Act
requires all member states to establish national contact points for regulatory sandboxes for net-zero technologies. Denmark implements this via the Danish Business Authority.
Entrepreneur Agreement 2024
Biosolutions could generate over 600,000 European jobs by 2035 – both direct and indirect jobs if the right policy framework is in place.
Government Growth Team
Expected to publish recommendations for a national biosolutions strategy, including a dedicated regulatory track.
News and press
Stay informed on regulatory developments, sandbox initiatives, and the latest from the Biosolutions Forum+ steering committee.
Steering Committee
Biosolutions Forum+ is led by a steering commitee consisting of businesses, academia,
and civil society.
The challenge
An accelerating climate crisis, rising food prices and a growing population have created an acute need for new innovative solutions. Biosolutions can deliver them — but lengthy EU approval processes are a serious barrier.
The path from application of a new "novel food" to approval can take up to 3–5 years in the EU—compared to 1–2 years in the US. For biologicals EU approval can take up to 8–10 years, as they are categorised identically to conventional pesticides in the regulatory framework.
Novel food approval time in EU
Compared to just 1–2 years in the United States
Biocontrol approval time in EU
Categorised the same as conventional pesticides
Novel foods approved in 9 months
Added to the EU novel food list, Q1–Q3 2025
"We need to pick up the pace, and ensure that EU rules keep up with the pace of innovation without compromising high safety standards."
Anne Lerche
Managing Director, Alliance for Biosolutions
Timeline
Get involved
Biosolutions Forum+ welcomes all interested stakeholders — companies, researchers, authorities, and organisations — who wish to work with regulatory sandboxes within biosolutions.
