Biotechnology and competitive advantage. Europe’s firms and the US challenge

This book investigates the development of biotechnology in Europe and the United States and examines why Europe has fallen behind in applying biotechnology, when its scientific capabilities are largely comparable to those in the US. It also sheds new light on the wider context of the theory of growth of new technologies.

The editor brings together a wide range of material concerning socio-economic aspects of the development of biotechnology in Europe and the US, discussing European policy for biotechnology in individual countries and at European Union level, risk regulation, the formation and roles of biotechnology firms in Europe and the US, gene therapy development in Europe and the US and the impact on Europe of overseas biotechnology research by European multinationals. It argues in favour of developing an integrated research and development system which will strengthen the research and development capabilities of all the actors involved.

The debate is aimed at science policy-makers, businesses and academics studying the development of biotechnology as well as students of economics and business studies throughout Europe and the US.