The ICBA advocates for public policies that support the growth and connection of the innovative biotechnology industry worldwide.
Biotechnology promises to revolutionize our everyday lives. BBC StoryWorks Commercial Productions, in partnership with the ICBA, uncovers these stories in the newly launched series, Nature’s Building Blocks.
Biotechnology Worldwide
United States
% of GDP Spent on Biotech R&D: 2.81 i
# of Biotech Companies: 2,272 ii
Distribution of Biotech Companies by Sector:
National Association(s):
- Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO)
United Kingdom
% of GDP Spent on Biotech R&D: 1.63 i
# of Biotech Companies: 1194 ii
Distribution of Biotech Companies by Sector:
National Association(s):
- UK BioIndustry Association (BIA)
Taiwan
% of GDP Spent on Biotech R&D: N/A i
# of Biotech Companies: 188 ii
Distribution of Biotech Companies by Sector:
National Association(s):
- Taiwan Bio Industry Association
Switzerland
% of GDP Spent on Biotech R&D: 2.96 i
# of Biotech Companies: 900 ii
National Association(s):
- Swiss Biotech Association (SBA)
Sweden
% of GDP Spent on Biotech R&D: 3.33 i
# of Biotech Companies: 285 ii
Distribution of Biotech Companies by Sector:
National Association(s):
- Sweden BIO
Spain
% of GDP Spent on Biotech R&D: 1.3 i
# of Biotech Companies: 650 ii
Distribution of Biotech Companies by Sector:
National Association(s):
- The Spanish Bioindustry Association (ASEBIO)
South Korea
% of GDP Spent on Biotech R&D: .4 i
# of Biotech Companies: 978 ii
Distribution of Biotech Companies by Sector:
National Association(s):
- KoreaBIO
South Africa
% of GDP Spent on Biotech R&D: .73 i
# of Biotech Companies: 15 ii
Distribution of Biotech Companies by Sector:
National Association(s):
- Africa BIO
Portugal
% of GDP Spent on Biotech R&D: 1.38 i
# of Biotech Companies: 30 ii
Distribution of Biotech Companies by Sector:
National Association(s):
- Portugal’s Biotechnology Industry Organization (P-BIO)
Peru
% of GDP Spent on Biotech R&D: 0.12 i
# of Biotech Companies: 5 ii
Distribution of Biotech Companies by Sector:
National Association(s):
- PeruBiotec
New Zealand
% of GDP Spent on Biotech R&D: 1.25 i
# of Biotech Companies: 25 ii
Distribution of Biotech Companies by Sector:
National Association(s):
- BIOTech New Zealand (BIOTechNZ)
Netherlands
% of GDP Spent on Biotech R&D: 1.27 i
# of Biotech Companies: 466 ii
Distribution of Biotech Companies by Sector:
National Association(s):
- Holland BIO
Japan
% of GDP Spent on Biotech R&D: 3.34 i
# of Biotech Companies: 414 ii
Distribution of Biotech Companies by Sector:
National Association(s):
- Japan BioIndustry Association (JBA)
Italy
% of GDP Spent on Biotech R&D: 1.27 i
# of Biotech Companies: 553 ii
Distribution of Biotech Companies by Sector:
National Association(s):
- Italian Association for the Development of Biotechnology (Assobiotec)
Ireland
% of GDP Spent on Biotech R&D: 1.58 i
# of Biotech Companies: 84 ii
Distribution of Biotech Companies by Sector:
National Association(s):
- BioPharmaChem Ireland
India
% of GDP Spent on Biotech R&D: 0.82 i
# of Biotech Companies: 442 ii
Distribution of Biotech Companies by Sector:
National Association(s):
- Association of Biotech-Led Enterprises (ABLE)
Hungary
% of GDP Spent on Biotech R&D: 1.37 i
# of Biotech Companies: 74 ii
Distribution of Biotech Companies by Sector:
National Association(s):
- Hungarian Biotechnology Association
Hong Kong
% of GDP Spent on Biotech R&D: 2.7 i
# of Biotech Companies: 300 ii
Distribution of Biotech Companies by Sector:
National Association(s):
- Hong Kong Biotechnology Association
Greece
% of GDP Spent on Biotech R&D: 0.69 i
# of Biotech Companies: 32 ii
Distribution of Biotech Companies by Sector:
National Association(s):
- The Greek Initiative on the Bioeconomy
Germany
% of GDP Spent on Biotech R&D: 2.87 i
# of Biotech Companies: 756 ii
Distribution of Biotech Companies by Sector:
National Association(s):
- BIO Deutschland
- German Association of Biotechnology Industries (DIB)
France
% of GDP Spent on Biotech R&D: 2.19 i
# of Biotech Companies: 720 ii
Distribution of Biotech Companies by Sector:
National Association(s):
- France Biotech
Finland
% of GDP Spent on Biotech R&D: 2.8 i
# of Biotech Companies: 72 ii
Distribution of Biotech Companies by Sector:
National Association(s):
- Finnish BioIndustries
Czech Republic
% of GDP Spent on Biotech R&D: 1.79 i
# of Biotech Companies: 73 ii
Distribution of Biotech Companies by Sector:
National Association(s):
- Czech Bio
Costa Rica
% of GDP Spent on Biotech R&D: 0.3 i
# of Biotech Companies: 8 ii
Distribution of Biotech Companies by Sector:
National Association(s):
- CRbiomed
Canada
% of GDP Spent on Biotech R&D: 1.71 i
# of Biotech Companies: 870 ii
Distribution of Biotech Companies by Sector:
National Association(s):
- BIOTECanada
Belgium
% of GDP Spent on Biotech R&D: 2.24 i
# of Biotech Companies: 220 ii
Distribution of Biotech Companies by Sector:
National Association(s):
- Bio.be/Essenscia
Australia
% of GDP Spent on Biotech R&D: 2.25 i
# of Biotech Companies: 1017 ii
Distribution of Biotech Companies by Sector:
National Association(s):
- AusBiotech
Argentina
% of GDP Spent on Biotech R&D: .63 i
# of Biotech Companies: 150 ii
Distribution of Biotech Companies by Sector:
National Association(s):
- Foro Argentino de Biotecnologia
Singapore
% of GDP Spent on Biotech R&D: 2 i
Mexico
% of GDP Spent on Biotech R&D: 0.43 i
Israel
% of GDP Spent on Biotech R&D: 4.25 i
China
% of GDP Spent on Biotech R&D: 1.93 i
ICBA Members
Africa
Asia
Europe
North America
Oceania
South America
i. Ratio of R&D Spending to GDP: This figure shows the percentage of business and government spending that goes to Research and Development (R&D). This is a crucial indicator of the markets potential for future growth in the biotechnology industry as the more spent on R&D increases the potential for the development of innovative products. This data is derived from UNESCO.
ii. Number of Public and Private Biotechnology Companies: This figure represents the number of micro, small, medium and large-sized companies operating in each market. The figure includes companies working in all three biotechnology sectors: Health (Pharmaceutical, Therapeutics and Diagnostics and R&D Services); Food and Agriculture; and Industrial and Environmental.
iii. % of Biotechnology Companies by Sector: This chart depicts the percentage of biotechnology companies in each market broken down by sector (Health, Food and Agriculture, and Industrial and Environmental). For more information, click here.