Current Landscape and Strategies For Bioinformatics Development In The Iberian Peninsula and Europe

Bioinformatics is an interdisciplinary field of computer science, mathematics and biological sciences with the greatest potential to enhance life quality. By enabling more accurate disease diagnostics, advancing drug discovery, and personalizing medical treatments, bioinformatics has a direct impact on improving healthcare and overall well-being. Bioinformatics is also applied to the preservation and pro-tection of ecosystems and life, enabling deeper understanding of genetic diversity, climate change adaptation, and sustainable practices, contributing to a healthier planet. In the Iberian Peninsula and Europe, the development in bioinformatics faces several challenges and opportunities. This paper explores key strategies to foster the growth of bioinformatics, emphasizing funding mechanisms, interdis-ciplinary education, computational infrastructure, and industry-academia collabo-ration. Additionally, it presents recent university rankings in bioinformatics and market projections, highlighting trends that will shape the sector in the coming years. The significance of a degree in Bioinformatics is discussed in terms of ca-reer opportunities, scientific advancements, and technological progress. Further-more, the results of a recent questionnaire assessing interest and perspectives on bioinformatics will be presented at a later stage.