Location, Location, Location - Where to set up your Biopharma or Therapeutics business in Europe?

Flying the flags for Life Science locations

A Country-by-Country Guide for Life Science Companies

Expanding into Europe is one of the most significant strategic decisions a biopharma or therapeutics company can make. With 27 EU member states plus the UK and Switzerland, the choices can feel overwhelming. But when you look closely at the data on R&D ecosystems, talent, regulatory infrastructure, clinical trial networks, and investment climate, a clear shortlist emerges.

This guide breaks down the top locations for therapeutics and biopharma companies looking to establish or expand a European presence, drawing on market intelligence, R&D spending data, and innovation benchmarking across the continent.

What Kind of Presence Do You Need?

Before choosing a country, it helps to define what you are actually trying to build. The optimal location varies significantly depending on your strategic objective:

Strategic Goal	Priority Factors
Clinical development& trials	Trail infastructure, patient access, resulatory speed
Biotech, R&D & Innovation	Talent, academic clusters, innovation ecosystems
Commercial launch & market access	Market size, reimbursement environment, payer landscape
Manufacturing & supply chain	Costs, infrastructure, logistics, incentives
Headquarters & holding structure	Tax environment, regulatory access, investor ecosystem

Most companies will need a combination. The countries below each offer a distinct value proposition, and many multinationals operate across several simultaneously.

The Leading Locations at a Glance

Europe’s therapeutic and biopharma landscape is anchored by a consistent core group of countries. France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Belgium repeatedly rank at the top across R&D spending, biotech company density, clinical trial volume, and pipeline strength.[^1][^2][^3] The Netherlands and Spain add further specialised strengths, particularly in cell and gene therapy and clinical trials respectively.[^4][^5]

Here is a closer look at each.

🇫🇷 France: Deep Pipeline, Strong Rare Disease and AI-Biotech Ecosystem

Best for: R&D partnerships, rare disease programmes, AI-enabled drug discovery, clinical trials in oncology.

France has the largest number of leading pharma and biotech companies among European countries in recent rankings, with 29 identified in a 2024 benchmarking exercise.[^1] It holds approximately 20% of all biomedicines under development in Europe, ranking second in Europe for preclinical pipeline strength and fourth for clinical-stage products.[^1]

France is a top three European country for clinical trial volume, with particular depth in oncology and rare diseases.[^1] The government has invested heavily in making France a destination for healthtech, AI-driven biotech, and advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs), through initiatives such as France 2030.[^1]

Key clusters: Paris-Saclay (largest science and technology hub in Europe), Lyon, Bordeaux, Toulouse

Why locate here:

• Strong public-private research infrastructure

• Government incentives including the Crédit d’Impôt Recherche (CIR), one of Europe’s most generous R&D tax credits

• Deep academic ecosystem with direct industry linkage

• Competitive talent pool in biomedical sciences

  
  

Hiring Talent in France

France produces a substantial pipeline of life science graduates through its grandes écoles system and research universities, particularly in Paris, Lyon, and Bordeaux. The country has deep pools of expertise in medicinal chemistry, immunology, computational biology, and clinical research. Paris-Saclay alone is home to over 15 major research institutions and a growing number of biotech spin-outs, creating a self-reinforcing talent ecosystem.

Hiring in France requires familiarity with French employment law, which offers strong worker protections and structured collective bargaining. Works councils (comités sociaux et économiques) are legally required in organisations above certain size thresholds. While this adds process complexity, France’s talent quality and the density of specialist skills in therapeutic areas such as oncology, rare diseases, and AI-driven drug discovery make it a compelling hiring market.

English proficiency is strong in the life science sector, and international candidates are increasingly attracted to Paris and Lyon as global cities with a high quality of life.

Watch out for: Reimbursement timelines and pricing negotiations can be complex for novel therapies, and administrative processes can be slower than in some neighbouring countries.

France - high quality talent pools across Oncology, Rare Disease, AI and more

🇩🇪 Germany: Scale, Market Access, and the EU’s Largest R&D Investor

Best for: Commercial headquarters, market access, large-scale clinical programmes, pharma manufacturing.

Germany is Europe’s largest pharmaceutical market by revenue, generating approximately €69 billion in 2023.[^1] It accounts for around 23% of total EU pharmaceutical R&D, the single largest national share in the EU,[^6] and was Europe’s top pharma R&D spender with €8.477 billion invested in 2019.[^3]

For companies seeking commercial launch in Europe, Germany is often the first market chosen. Under the AMNOG system, new medicines receive immediate market access upon regulatory approval while benefit assessment and pricing negotiations proceed in parallel. This makes Germany unusually attractive compared with countries where reimbursement decisions must precede commercial availability.

Key clusters: Munich, Berlin, Rhine-Ruhr (Düsseldorf/Cologne/Bonn), Frankfurt, Hamburg

Why locate here:

• Largest EU pharma market with rapid access post-approval

• Headquarters to Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Merck KGaA and many mid-sized innovators

• Strong manufacturing infrastructure and engineering talent

• Robust investor base and proximity to EU institutions

  
  

Hiring Talent in Germany

Germany has one of Europe’s deepest and most technically skilled life science workforces. Its dual education system — combining university education with vocational training — produces highly capable professionals at every level, from laboratory technicians to senior scientists and medical affairs leaders.

The country has particular depth in process chemistry, bioprocess engineering, regulatory affairs, and pharmacovigilance, reflecting its strength in large-scale pharma manufacturing. Berlin has emerged as a major hub for digital health and biotech start-ups, attracting international talent at pace. Munich combines established pharma industry depth with a growing start-up and medtech ecosystem.

Germany’s labour market is well regulated, with co-determination (Mitbestimmung) giving employees meaningful representation at board level in larger organisations. Salary expectations are high relative to Southern and Eastern Europe but lower than Switzerland. German language proficiency is an asset, though not always essential in international companies, particularly in R&D and medical functions.

Watch out for: High operating costs, complex labour regulations, and a competitive talent market in major cities. Bureaucratic processes for company registration and regulatory submissions can be time-consuming.

Berlin-Brandenburg region hosts approx 300 biotechs

🇬🇧 United Kingdom: Europe’s Largest Biotech Hub and Innovation Ecosystem

Best for: Early-stage biotech, venture-backed R&D, immunotherapy and genomics, academic spin-outs

The UK hosts Europe’s largest biotech hub and, alongside France and Germany, accounts for roughly half of all European biotech companies.[^2] With just under 2,800 active biotech firms, it is one of the most densely populated life science ecosystems in the world.[^7]

Post-Brexit, the UK has repositioned itself as an innovation-first regulatory environment, with the MHRA increasingly operating independently of the EMA. The MHRA has introduced accelerated pathways for innovative medicines, and the UK’s Innovative Medicines Fund and early access to medicines schemes make it attractive for novel therapeutics.

Key clusters: London (including the Francis Crick Institute), Oxford-Cambridge Arc (“the Golden Triangle”), Edinburgh, Manchester

Why locate here:

• World-class academic institutions (Oxford, Cambridge, UCL, Imperial College London) with strong commercialisation track records

• Deep venture capital and growth equity ecosystem

• MHRA increasingly fast-tracking novel therapeutics

• English language and common-law legal system attractive for international companies

• Strong genomics and data infrastructure (UK Biobank, NHS datasets)

  
  

Hiring Talent in the United Kingdom

The UK has perhaps the most internationally diverse life science talent pool in Europe. Its world-leading universities generate exceptional graduates and postdoctoral researchers in fields spanning genomics, immunology, structural biology, computational drug discovery, clinical development, and regulatory science. The Golden Triangle — London, Oxford, Cambridge — is one of the most productive biomedical research corridors in the world.

The UK’s English-language environment and relatively flexible employment law make it easier to hire, onboard, and manage international teams compared with many continental European countries. Roles in medical affairs, clinical operations, market access, and commercial leadership are well served by an experienced pool of professionals who have worked across global pharma and emerging biotech.

Post-Brexit, hiring EU nationals requires visa sponsorship, which adds process overhead but is manageable for most organisations. The UK’s Global Talent visa provides a relatively accessible route for senior scientists and researchers. Competition for top talent in the Golden Triangle is fierce, and salary expectations in London and Cambridge are among the highest in Europe.

Watch out for: Post-Brexit dual regulatory burden if you need both UK and EU approvals. Access to the EU single market for products approved by MHRA requires a separate EMA process.

The UK's world-leading universities generate exceptional graduates and postdoctoral researchers

🇨🇭 Switzerland: Precision Medicine, Immunotherapy, and a World-Class R&D Environment

Best for: Advanced therapy development, immunotherapy, cell and gene therapy, high-value HQ functions, global holding structures

Switzerland punches far above its weight. Despite a population of fewer than 9 million, it is Europe’s second-largest pharma R&D spender, with €6.383 billion invested in 2019.[^3] It is highlighted as a European hot spot for immunotherapy and, alongside the Netherlands, a leading location for cell and gene therapy.[^4]

Switzerland’s biotech R&D intensity is among the highest in the world.[^8] It is home to Novartis and Roche, and a dense cluster of biotech firms, CROs, CDMOs, and medtech companies in the Basel-Zurich-Geneva corridor.

Key clusters: Basel (global pharma capital), Zurich, Zug, Geneva (Western Switzerland biotech corridor)

Why locate here:

• Unmatched density of pharma and biotech expertise

• Political stability, strong IP protection, and a predictable regulatory environment

• Attractive corporate tax environment, particularly in certain cantons

• Bilateral agreements with the EU maintain significant market access

  
  

Hiring Talent in Switzerland

Switzerland offers access to an exceptionally skilled and internationally experienced life science workforce, shaped by decades of proximity to Novartis, Roche, and a dense cluster of specialist biotechs. The talent pool is particularly deep in drug discovery, translational medicine, clinical development, global medical affairs, and regulatory strategy.

The country’s four national languages (German, French, Italian, and Romansh) and highly international workforce mean that English is the working language in most life science environments. ETH Zurich and EPFL in Lausanne are among Europe’s top technical universities and are prolific generators of life science innovation and talent.

The key challenge in Switzerland is cost. Salaries are among the highest in Europe — sometimes 30–50% above equivalent roles in Germany or France — and living costs in Basel, Zurich, and Geneva are significant. For companies setting up lean operations, this is a material consideration. However, for roles requiring the very highest level of scientific or clinical expertise, Switzerland’s talent density is unmatched.

Watch out for: Very high cost of living and operating costs. Switzerland is not in the EU or EEA, so regulatory submissions for the EU market still require EMA involvement.

Switzerland offers - Novartis, Roche, and a dense cluster of specialist biotechs.

🇧🇪 Belgium: Biotech Intensity, Vaccines, and a Strategic EU Gateway

Best for: Biotech R&D, vaccine development, EU regulatory strategy, central European HQ

Belgium is a top five European pharma R&D spender, with €3.846 billion invested in 2019,[^3] and its biotech R&D intensity exceeds 30%, reflecting a deliberate national strategy to position biotech as a core economic driver.[^8]

Belgium is home to UCB, a global biopharma leader in neurology and immunology, and was central to major COVID-19 vaccine development and manufacturing. Its position as the seat of EU institutions in Brussels makes it strategically valuable for companies focused on EU regulatory affairs and market access policy.

Key clusters: Ghent, Leuven, Brussels, Liège

Why locate here:

• One of the highest biotech R&D intensities in Europe

• Strong government support including IP income deduction and R&D investment incentives

• Multilingual, highly educated workforce

• Central logistics hub with excellent pan-European connectivity

• Deep expertise in biologics and vaccine manufacturing

  
  

Hiring Talent in Belgium

Belgium’s multilingual, highly educated workforce is one of its most underrated assets. Professionals routinely operate across French, Dutch, and English, making Belgian-based teams unusually versatile for pan-European roles covering regulatory affairs, medical affairs, market access, and clinical operations.

The Ghent-Leuven-Brussels triangle has developed a deep talent pool in biotech, biologics, and vaccine science, anchored by KU Leuven and Ghent University — both consistently ranked among Europe’s top research universities. Belgium’s relatively compact geography means talent is mobile within the country, and proximity to the Netherlands, Germany, France, and the UK allows companies to draw on a wider regional hiring catchment.

Salary levels are competitive but lower than Switzerland or the UK, and Belgium’s social security system, while comprehensive, adds employer cost overhead that should be factored into workforce planning.

Watch out for: Political complexity across federal and regional government layers can create administrative challenges for employers.

Belgium - Highly skilled, educated and multilingual workforce

🇳🇱 Netherlands: Cell and Gene Therapy, Data, and Logistics Excellence

Best for: Cell and gene therapy development, clinical operations, European distribution HQ, data-driven research

The Netherlands is identified as a key European hot spot for cell and gene therapy,[^4] supported by world-class academic medical centres and a highly developed translational research infrastructure. Its innovation box tax regime and logistics capabilities make it attractive for both R&D-focused and operationally oriented organisations.

Key clusters: Amsterdam, Utrecht (Utrecht Science Park), Leiden (Leiden Bio Science Park), Eindhoven

Why locate here:

• Specialist strength in cell and gene therapy, regenerative medicine, and rare diseases

• Favourable innovation box tax regime

• English widely spoken; highly international workforce

• Strong clinical trial infrastructure and patient registries

Hiring Talent in the Netherlands

The Netherlands is one of the easiest countries in Europe to hire English-speaking talent into life science roles. English proficiency is near-universal among professional workers, and the country has a long tradition of attracting international professionals, supported by a favourable expatriate tax regime (the 30% ruling for highly skilled migrants).

Dutch universities — Leiden, Utrecht, Amsterdam, Erasmus — produce strong graduates in pharmacology, biomedical sciences, clinical research, and regulatory affairs. The country’s concentration of cell and gene therapy expertise, built around academic medical centres and companies such as uniQure and Forge Biologics’ European partners, creates genuine specialist depth in ATMPs.

Amsterdam and Utrecht in particular have become attractive destinations for international life science professionals seeking a high quality of life, strong public services, and an English-speaking environment. Competition for senior talent is increasing as more companies establish Dutch operations, but the hiring market remains less overheated than London or Zurich.

Watch out for: Housing costs in Amsterdam and Utrecht have risen sharply, creating challenges for talent attraction and retention.

Amsterdam and Utrecht - attractive destinations for international life science professionals

🇪🇸 Spain: Clinical Trial Powerhouse and Emerging Innovation Hub

Best for: Clinical trial operations, oncology studies, late-phase development, cost-effective European presence.

Spain currently ranks first in Europe for active clinical trials,[^9] with a large, diverse patient population, well-networked hospital research infrastructure, experienced investigators, and competitive operating costs. Barcelona is developing rapidly as a hub for biomedical research and emerging biotech.

Key clusters: Barcelona (Barcelona Biomedical Research Park, VHIO), Madrid, Valencia

Why locate here:

• Number one in Europe for active clinical trials[^9]

• Large and genetically diverse patient population

• Experienced clinical investigators and well-organised hospital networks

• Lower operating costs compared with France, Germany, Switzerland, or the UK

  
  

Hiring Talent in Spain

Spain offers an increasingly attractive hiring environment for life science companies, particularly for clinical operations, medical science liaisons, pharmacovigilance, and regulatory affairs roles.

Barcelona has emerged as a genuine biomedical talent hub, with the Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology and associated research centres generating a strong pipeline of scientific talent.

Salary expectations in Spain are significantly lower than in Northern and Western Europe, making it a cost-effective location for building clinical, medical, and operational teams without compromising on quality. The country’s clinical trial leadership has generated a generation of highly experienced CRAs, clinical project managers, and data managers who are in demand across Europe.

English proficiency in the life science sector is solid and improving, though Spanish-language capability remains important for roles interfacing with healthcare professionals and hospital networks. Remote and hybrid working norms are well established, and Spain’s quality of life continues to attract international talent.

Watch out for: Commercial market access and reimbursement operate regionally as well as nationally, complicating launch strategies. Reimbursement timelines for novel therapies can be lengthy.

Life Sciences continues to build in Spain check out Barcelona, Valencia and Madrid

How to Choose: A Framework for Decision-Making

Rather than picking one country, most biopharma companies building a meaningful European presence end up with a hub-and-spoke model: one or two primary locations for R&D or commercial headquarters, complemented by targeted presences in countries with clinical trial strength or specific market importance.

A practical framework:

Step 1 – Define your primary strategic need

Is it market access? R&D? Clinical development? Regulatory strategy? Let that drive your anchor country selection.

Step 2 – Map your therapeutic area to regional strengths

• Oncology and rare diseases → France, UK, Spain (trials), Germany (market)

• Cell and gene therapy → Netherlands, Switzerland, UK

• Immunotherapy → Switzerland, UK, Belgium

• Vaccines and biologics → Belgium, France, UK

• AI-enabled drug discovery → UK, France, Germany

  
  

Step 3 – Assess operational practicalities

Talent availability, cost base, language, legal system, and tax environment all matter for day-to-day operations. Switzerland and the UK offer English-language environments; Belgium and the Netherlands are highly multilingual.

Step 4 – Consider regulatory access

If EU regulatory approval via EMA is central to your strategy, being inside the EU (France, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Spain) simplifies things. Switzerland and the UK offer excellent regulatory environments but require separate processes for EU market access.

Step 5 – Think about talent first, not last

Location decisions are often driven by tax or regulatory considerations, but the single most important factor for long-term success is whether you can hire, develop, and retain the people you need. Map your talent requirements — by function, seniority, and specialism — before finalising your country selection. A favourable tax environment is no advantage if the talent you need does not exist in that market.

Talent: The Factor That Should Drive Your Location Decision

Across every country in this guide, one theme is consistent: the quality, depth, and availability of life science talent is the decisive factor in whether a European operation succeeds.

Europe has extraordinary scientific and commercial talent, but it is not evenly distributed. Each country has genuine specialisms:

Understanding these talent maps — and working with partners who know them deeply — is what separates companies that build effective European teams from those that struggle to translate ambition into capability.

• Ready to Build Your European Team?

  
  

  Choosing where to set up in Europe is just the beginning.! The real challenge — and the real competitive advantage — lies in finding, attracting, and retaining the right people in markets where the best talent has choices.

  
  

  Market Intelligence & Mapping is a important tool

  
  

  Data-driven insight before you hire:

  • Where the talent is (by country, hub, and function)

  • What they earn (salary and total compensation benchmarks)

  • Who you’re competing with (who they hire, how they position roles)

    
    

  You get clear market maps, pay ranges, and practical recommendations on where and how to hire.

  
  

If you are planning a European expansion — or already in market and struggling to hire — reach out for a discussion.

References

[^1]: European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA). A Comparative Analysis of Biopharmaceutical Strategies in 10 Countries. EFPIA; 2023. Available from: https://www.efpia.eu/media/sr3fpeqh/a-comparative-analysis-of-biopharmaceutical-strategies-in-10-countries.pdf

[^2]: McKinsey & Company. Biotech Hot Spots in a Fragmented European Landscape [Infographic]. McKinsey & Company; 2023. Available from: https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/life-sciences/our-insights/infographic-biotech-hot-spots-in-a-fragmented-european-landscape

[^3]: Pharma Boardroom. Top 5 Pharma R&D Spenders in Europe. Pharma Boardroom; 2020. Available from: https://pharmaboardroom.com/articles/top-5-pharma-rd-spenders-in-europe/

[^4]: McKinsey & Company. Biotech in Europe: A Strong Foundation for Growth and Innovation. McKinsey & Company; 2023. Available from: https://www.mckinsey.com/~/media/McKinsey/Industries/Pharmaceuticals and Medical Products/Our Insights/Biotech in Europe A strong foundation for growth and innovation/Biotech-in-Europe-A-strong-foundation-for-growth-and-innovation.pdf

[^5]: Statista. Number of Pharmaceutical and Biotech Companies in Selected European Countries. Statista; 2024. Available from: https://www.statista.com/statistics/439492/pharmaceutical-and-biotech-companies-in-selected-european-countries/

[^6]: European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS). The European Pharmaceutical Industry. European Parliament; 2021. Available from: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/STUD/2021/697197/EPRS_STU(2021)697197_EN.pdf

[^7]: Labiotech. Top Biotech Countries in the World. Labiotech; 2024. Available from: https://www.labiotech.eu/best-biotech/top-biotech-countries/

[^8]: Labiotech. Top Biotech Countries in the World. Labiotech; 2024. Available from: https://www.labiotech.eu/best-biotech/top-biotech-countries/

[^9]: Pharma Boardroom. Top 10 European Countries for Clinical Trials in 2025. Pharma Boardroom; 2025. Available from: https://pharmaboardroom.com/articles/top-10-european-countries-for-clinical-trials-in-2025/