First Congress of Biotechnology and Law
March 3, 2026. CNB-CSIC (Madrid)
Biotechnology is no longer just a field of research: it is a force that is transforming health, agriculture, industry, and ultimately, our way of life. We are advancing at unprecedented speed, with tools capable of editing genes, analyzing data on a massive scale, and opening doors that just a few years ago seemed like science fiction. But the more power innovation gains, the more essential a fundamental question becomes: how do we ensure that this progress is built responsibly, safely, and with respect for rights?
At that point, Law ceases to be a mere companion and becomes a pillar. Because all biotechnology—from research to its real-world application—is subject to Law: to the frameworks that determine what can be done, how it should be done, who is accountable, how data is protected, how ethics is ensured, and what guarantees society needs to trust. Far from hindering science, Law organizes, makes it viable, and protects it, turning technological advancement into legitimate and sustainable progress.
With this conviction, the I Congress on Biotechnology and Law is born, organized by ALPHABIOTECLEGAL, which we will hold in Madrid on March 3, 2026: a space where science and the legal world meet to rigorously discuss the challenges that are already here, and those that are coming with strength.
Throughout this day, we will gather key voices from the scientific, institutional, business, and legal fields to address decisive issues: geopolitics applied to biotechnology, intellectual property as a driver—and also as a battlefield—of innovation, the importance of Law in the growth of the sector, the criminal aspect in cases of impact, the situation of patents related to CRISPR, data protection, neuro-rights, labor challenges, arbitration, and the legal needs of those who embark on this ecosystem.
This congress does not aim to provide simple answers to complex questions. It aims for something more valuable: to create a space for rigorous conversation, where laboratory and society, discovery and guarantees, innovation and responsibility can look each other in the eye, understand each other, and collaborate. Because the future of biotechnology is not decided solely with talent and funding, but also with trust, clear rules, and a shared vision of the common good.
Round table: “The evolution of the amendment to the directive that should allow the use of CRISPR in crop plants in Europe”
As part of the I Congress of Biotechnology and Law, BIOVEGEN will participate in the round table “The evolution of the amendment to the directive that should allow the use of CRISPR in crop plants in Europe” that will take place from 12:30 to 13:00 hours, with the following participants:
Moderated by: Lluis Montoliu. Scientific Researcher at CSIC in CNB-CSIC
- Gonzaga Ruiz de Gauna. Manager at BIOVEGEN (Technological Platform for Plant Biotechnology).
- Ana Judith Martín. Area Coordinator and Secretary of the Interministerial Council of GMOs. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.