The key technology of tomorrow
Modern biotechnology is a key technology of the 21st century. The pharmaceuticals industry was particularly quick to identify the potential of this innovation driver and is closely watching the efforts of the smaller biotech start-ups. Many pharmaceutical companies are approaching limits in the development of new products or they are facing the expiration of many of their patents – these companies are therefore very interested in products of the biotech industry.
The successful development of the biotechnology industry in Bavaria is based on the concentration of efficient nationwide and internationally acclaimed research institutions from which many biotechnology companies have already emerged.
Bavaria is top in biotechnology
Bavaria is one of Europe’s top biotechnology locations, thanks to the consistent support and promotion of life sciences over many years. Bavaria clearly tops the league among the German Federal States in terms of numbers and the degree of maturity of its over 200 enterprises operating in the life science sector.
The core strength of the Bavarian biotechnology scene is the development of new therapeutics and diagnostics. When it comes to the number of products undergoing clinical testing it is again Bavarian-based companies that lead the field in Germany.
Biotechnology in Bavaria
The cutting edge of Bavarian companies in the development of new therapeutics and diagnostics for the medical field goes hand in hand with the achievements in a range of research and development fields and with the supplementary services provided.
Bavaria is already home to seven German biotech stock companies. Together with major subsidiaries of global players in the biotech and pharmaceuticals industry (such as Amgen, Astellas, Biogen-Idec, Baxter, Bristol-Myers Squibb, GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis, Roche Diagnostics, Daiichi-Sankyo, Sandoz) and a host of service providers for the sector, such as CROs (contract research organization), the State of Bavaria offers a high business potential for customers, products and partners.
The first product launched on the market by a biotechnology firm based in Germany was from MediGene in Martinsried: Eligard – a prostate cancer drug which has been on the market since 2004.
Market and partners in the biotechnology sector
Bavaria’s strong networks
Whether for setting up or expanding a business: Bavaria’s competent consulting organizations, BioM AG for the Munich region, BioMed Würzburg and BioPark Regensburg GmbH offer individual support that is specifically geared to biotech companies, and also help newcomers and companies get connected in the available networks straight away.
With the network “Life Science Bavaria“ of Bayern Innovativ, Bavaria provides a comprehensive information and cooperation platform in the field of life sciences: offering profiles of the bio-regions, company databases, the scientific infrastructure, event calendar and a news ticker relating to life sciences at the click of a mouse.
Attractive research environment for biotechnology
The Bavarian Biotechnology Cluster features a concentration of efficient research institutions of national and international renown. These include, in particular, the large universities and also non-university research institutions and research cooperations.
University institutions:
Non-university research institutions:
Research cooperations:
Well-qualified workforce for biotechnology
For the best scientists, managers, technical assistants: where else but Bavaria!
Bavaria’s scientific young talent and technical assistants are able to enjoy a highly qualified training. Scientific prospects and the high quality of life draw top professionals from all over Germany and other countries to Bavaria.
Bavaria is pro-active in promoting young talent. More information on the training initiative for technical assistants is available under www.ta-na-klar.de.
Optimum environment:
Many start-up consulting and technology transfer organizations help scientists commercialize their ideas and also accompany them in the first steps of the business development by providing know-how and connections to networks. The successful BusinessPlan Competitions in Northern Bavaria and Munich are examples of these activities as well as the Garching Innovation which is responsible for the technology transfer of the Max-Planck Institutes.
The Max-Planck and Fraunhofer Societies as well as the German and European Patent Office are based in Munich. The cooperation of the many research institutions and life science companies as well as service providers from the financial world and consultancy sector carry the opportunity of the cluster for Bavarian biotechnology into effect: Putting research and industry on the fast track.
Bavaria’s excellent connections within Germany and to other countries:
Munich Airport has direct links to over 200 destinations in over 61 countries, including leading life-science clusters such as London-Cambridge, Boston, San Francisco, New York, Toronto, Montreal, TelAviv, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Shanghai. All European business centers can be reached from Munich or Nuremberg within less than four hours, thanks to the excellent flight, rail and road connections. In addition to having Nuremberg Airport, Northern Bavaria is not far from Frankfurt Airport.
Access to funding
Munich is a top European Financial Center and Germany’s capital for national and international VC and Private Equity Funds. In cooperation with professional lead investors the Bayern Kapital GmbH gives added impetus to providing venture capital in the seed and start-up sector.
Bavarian initiatives and programs in the biotechnology sector
Bavaria awards substantial support to R&D projects through the Bavarian Research Foundation (bayerische Forschungsstiftung) and technology support programs. Production and investment projects in certain areas of Bavaria are also eligible for grants or low-interest loans.
Biotechnology locations in Bavaria
Innovative research centers in the BioRegions of Bavaria
- BioTech-Region Munich/Martinsried:
The Greater Munich Area offers an unparalleled concentration of leading research institutions such as the Max-Planck-Institutes, Genetic Engineering Center, GSF National Research Center for Environment and Health as well as Munich’s top universities LMU and TU with their university clinics. At the world’s leading Center for Nanoscience CeNS there is a focus on nano-biotechnology.
The Campus Martinsried-Großhadern in the south-west of Munich forms the nucleus of the BioTech Region and has since become a well-known center beyond the borders of Germany. At this location there is a concentration of close to half of all biotechnology companies, the IZB Innovation and Start-up Center for Biotechnology as well as institutes of the Max-Planck Gesellschaft, die GSF, the Gene Center and a large number of the science faculties of the LMU university as well as the Klinikum Großhadern hospital.
In the field of green biotechnology, Freising-Weihenstephan
to the north of Munich offers a prime setting with a host of university and
non-university institutions and the Incubator.
www.wzw.tum.de; www.fh-weihenstephan.de; www.bio-m.de - BioRegion Regensburg:
An attractive cooperation between BioPark,
the eastern region of Bavaria,
University, University of Applied Sciences with a focus on fluorescent bioanalysis, molecular diagnosis and bio-functional surface technology, sensorics and applied biomedicine.
- BioRegion Franconia:
Franconia, in Northern Bavaria, with the cities of Würzburg, Erlangen-Nuremberg and Bayreuth, is a key biotechnology location in Bavaria. Würzburg is the scientific center for research in life sciences. The university is highly acclaimed for its research activities of national and international importance in medical and clinical research as well as in biotechnology. The Biomed Innovation and Founding Center for Biotechnology and Biomedicine is an important contact partner. Erlangen-Nuremberg provides outstanding expertise in the field of Medical technology, virological and pharmaceutical research while Bayreuth focuses on applied biochemistry and materials research..
Information material
In the company database “Key Technologies in Bavaria“ you will find information on the biotechnology companies operating in Bavaria.
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