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Discovery and research, Finance and Investment

MeSH Counter: A Tool to Track Biomedical Research Trends

Venture investing in early-stage companies hinges on spotting transformative technologies before they become hyped. To support this, we built the MeSH Counter: an R-based tool that tracks monthly frequencies of specific terms in PubMed, allowing us to visualize trends in the life sciences. Publication trends are not the same as investment signals, yet the MeSH Counter can help efficiently map the research landscape, so investors can prioritize deeper, human-led diligence.

Bioprinting Living Tissues with BIO INX

Belgian startup BIO INX develops bioinks to 3D print cells into living tissues and organ-on-chip technologies. The company is working with academic and industry partners to develop products ranging from artificial corneas to cartilage. The aim: translate academic ideas into to real-world applications with tangible patient impact.

HERAN Partners Raises €90 Million Fund for European Healthtech

Belgian venture capital firm HERAN Partners has announced a €90 million close for its second healthtech-focused fund, HERAN HealthTech Fund II, and says it aims to scale to €110–120 million. The firm invests in early-stage medtech and healthtech companies across Europe, backing technologies designed to make healthcare and life sciences R&D more efficient, data-driven, and scalable.

Belgian Biotech Agomab Debuts on Nasdaq with a $200 Million IPO

Just weeks after announcing its plans for a U.S. listing, Belgium-based Agomab Therapeutics has gone public on Nasdaq, pricing its IPO at $16 per share to raise about $200 million. The stock is now trading under the ticker AGMB, putting the spotlight on fibrosis in what has been a billion-dollar week for biotech IPOs.

Hospitals and Belgian Companies Unite to Shape the Future of Healthcare

On 29 January 2026, 400 Belgian healthcare stakeholders — hospital executives, policymakers, and innovators — gathered in Brussels to help shape the future of healthcare. The objective was to connect hospital needs with the innovative technologies developed by Belgian companies. Two projects were honored during the event’s Innovation Awards: Baby Detect and SIM BLOOD.

MDR and IVDR Revisions Bode Well for European Medtech Innovation

In December 2025, the European Commission unveiled proposed revisions to the EU’s Medical Device Regulation (MDR) and In Vitro Diagnostic Regulation (IVDR). The changes aim to accelerate the path to market for medtech and digital health companies by making the rulebook easier to navigate without lowering the bar on patient safety. Innovators have greeted the announcement with cautious optimism.

Mind Over Money: US vs. European Investment Psychology in Biotech

Early-stage biotech investing has always demanded a high tolerance for uncertainty, and an uncanny ability to predict which fledgling technologies will one day reshape health. But one silent force shapes investment outcomes more often than we admit: psychology. At the intersection of capital and culture, we find a compelling and underexplored story — the differences between investors in the US and Europe, and how these contrasts play out in biotech.

European Biotech Act: New initiative to mobilize €10 billion investment for Europe’s biotech sector

The European Commission and the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group have announced an initiative to mobilize €10 billion in investment in 2026-27 into the biotech and life sciences sector. The project aims to give a significant boost to the EU's competitiveness in biotechnology, by addressing the EU's current investment gap and mobilizing public-private investment into promising new health solutions.

Celebrating the Pitch Winners of HealthTech Investor Summit 2025

Europe’s healthtech pipeline was on full display at the HealthTech Investor Summit 2025 in Utrecht, with the regions brightest rising stars in the spotlight. From surgical robotics and implantable devices to bioelectronics and next-generation diagnostics, here are the pitching companies that stood out to both the judges and audience.

The FDA Reset and its Ripple Effect on European Biotech

In the past two years, a rapid succession of FDA policy shifts has fundamentally reshaped the regulatory landscape. These changes have created uncertainty for biotech companies around the world — lengthening development timelines, increasing demands for upfront capital, and amplifying modality-specific risks. European investors should now consider explicit regulatory strategies as essential to the success of their portfolio.

Healthtech Success: An Investor’s Perspective

Europe’s healthtech scene is buzzing, with innovators racing to re-shape how we prevent, diagnose and treat disease. Many of the field’s brightest stars will gather at the HealthTech Investor Summit in December to connect, compare notes and compete for attention. Ahead of the event, we asked one of the participating investors, Vlaamse Investeringsmaatschappij Vlaanderen (PMV) what they’re scouting for in Europe’s future healthtech champions.

A Champions League of European Health Innovation Clusters

Recently at the Medicon Valley Alliance Summit in Copenhagen, the spotlight was on European competitiveness. In a keynote, panelists from four of Europe’s leading life sciences hubs shared their intention to establish a “Champions League” of clusters, working as a team to strengthen health innovation for Europe as a whole.

ATB Therapeutics: Antibody Seeker Missiles for Cancer and Autoimmune Diseases

Antibodies have long held promise as a ‘magic bullet’ for cancer therapies, yet many antibody-drug conjugates face issues with toxicity and resistance. Belgian startup ATB Therapeutics is producing a new type of weaponized antibodies, using plants as mini factories for safe, effective cancer and autoimmune treatments.

Personalized medicine: Europe’s seeds are sown but not yet grown

To truly improve patients’ lives through personalized medicine, the seeds of innovation must be sown, and its capacity must be grown. Europe undoubtedly excels as an R&D hub, yet we fall behind when transforming ideas into tangible products and services. So how can we create an environment where personalized medicine can flourish and deliver real solutions for patients? That question was the focus of a recent meeting at the European Parliament where the PRECISEU consortium brought together key stakeholders to discuss the future of the field.

Improving biotech decisions by fostering team debate

What makes a biotech company soar or crash? Usually, people cite a combination of cutting-edge science, experienced team, smart business strategy and adequate funding. But there is another less obvious factor that is equally critical for company performance: the internal dynamics of the team. So how can a company create a culture of constructive disagreement to foster better decision-making?