3Rs Beyond Boundaries: The 3Rs Across Disciplines

Friday 18 September 2026 from 9.30 

Health Campus Jette • BUILDING A • Auditorium P. Brouwer • Laarbeeklaan 103 • 1090 Jette • Belgium

Biotechnology is increasingly recognised as a key driver for innovation across multiple sectors, ranging from biomedical research and pharmaceutical development to food production, consumer safety and industrial applications. While biotechnology has contributed for decades to the development of alternatives to animal use, the field of in vitro biotechnology is currently advancing rapidly through novel human-relevant models and technologies with broad applications in research, safety assessment and product development. This progress illustrates how the implementation of the 3Rs is no longer confined to a single discipline, but has become a cross-sector effort involving academia, industry, regulators and healthcare stakeholders alike.

The IC-3Rs symposium 2026 explores how the 3Rs are expanding “beyond boundaries” and influencing diverse scientific and industrial fields.

The morning programme places biotechnology in the spotlight and examines how emerging technologies are reshaping innovation and application across sectors. Particular attention will be given to the long-term role of biotechnology in replacing animal use, the translation of these technologies into industrial and market applications, and the broader opportunities and challenges linked to their implementation. The programme will also explore two key applications: the development of powerful biopharmaceuticals and the production of cultivated meat. The latter  as a prominent example of how cellular agriculture and tissue engineering can redefine food production while substantially reducing reliance on animals.

The afternoon sessions focus on the practical impact of implementing the 3Rs across different domains. In drug development, the full 3Rs framework remains essential, as scientific innovation and changing regulatory perspectives continue to support the uptake of alternative methods while refinement and reduction strategies remain necessary in areas where animal studies are still required. Within animal facilities, particular attention will be given to the “2Rs” — Reduction and Refinement — describing how these practices have developed over the years and how continuous improvements in housing, care and experimental design contribute to both animal welfare and scientific quality. Finally, the cosmetics sector will illustrate the concept of the “1R”, where the strong regulatory and societal drive toward complete Replacement has accelerated the development of animal-free safety assessment and innovative non-animal testing approaches.

Overall, the programme reflects how the 3Rs are no longer a niche concept, but a powerful driver of innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration and societal change across disciplines.