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RESEARCHThe Germany of Tomorrow

Impressum

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RESEARCHThe Germany of Tomorrow

BioRegions in Germany Strong impulses for national technological development

2

Contents

Schleswig-Holstein 10-11

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern 12-13

Bremen 14-15

Hamburg 16-17

Berlin-Brandenburg 18-19

Lower Saxony 20-21

Saxony-Anhalt 22-23

Saarland/Rhineland-Palatinate 24-25

Jena 26-27

Saxony 28-29

NRW: Bio-Gen-Tec 30

NRW: Life Science Agency 31

Münster 32-33

East Westphalia Lippe 34-35

Ruhr Region 36-37

Cologne/Düsseldorf 38-39

Aachen, Liège, Maastricht 40-41

Hesse: Hessen Biotech 42-43

Frankfurt 44-45

Marburg 46-47

Baden-Wuerttemberg: BIOPRO 48-49

Rhine-Neckar Triangle 50-51

STERN 52-53

Ulm 54-55

Freiburg 56-57

Bavaria: Bayern Innovativ 58-59

Franconia 60-61

Regensburg 62-63

Munich 64-65

Foreword 5

Introduction 6-9

BioRegions

Federal state organisations

3

Axxima 66

Biofrontera 67

Brain 68

Cellzome 69

DeveloGen 70

Epigenomics 71

Evotec OAI 72

GPC Biotech 73

Jerini 74

MediGene 75

MorphoSys 76

Paion 77

Qiagen 78

Rentschler 79

Scienion 80

SunGene 81

Teraklin 82

Wilex 83

Interim Report on Biotechnology Funding 84-87

Biotech success stories

Interim report

4

5

Foreword

The life sciences will

make their mark on

the 21st century. Our

understanding of

living organisms is

growing rapidly.

Scientific findings and

related technological

developments offer a revolutionary potential

for change and entirely new opportunities for

the solution of many problems in society -

from fighting diseases which have so far been

considered incurable to sustainable and

intelligent production. Trailblazing

discoveries are being made in biotechnology

every year. Science magazine rated four

developments of modern bioscience among

the top ten in 2003. The biosciences are a

highly complex field of technology which is

developing very dynamically.

Biotechnology today is far more than a

means to gain fundamental knowledge - it is

becoming a central economic factor.

Although impressive scientific successes have

been achieved over the past 25 years, the

commercial exploitation of biotechnology is

only just beginning throughout the world,

and particularly in Germany. Experts estimate

that about 30% of all branches of industry

will depend on biotechnology in the future.

Biotechnology is thus one of the largest

growth areas beside information technology.

Biotechnological innovations will have a

major influence on production in many

branches including the chemical industry,

pharmaceuticals, agriculture and foodstuffs,

environmental and power engineering and

the services sector. New, knowledge-intensive

and valuable products and processes will be

made available to our knowledge-based

economy. This mechanism will play a major

role in structural change in the economy over

the next few years.

The biotechnology regions in Germany have

provided an effective impetus for commercia-

lization. Approximately 25 bioregions with

just under 600 biotech companies have been

established since the late 1990s, which is

quite a respectable achievement from an

international perspective. But these young

businesses must mature and gain

technological and economic strength. And a

sufficient number of new businesses must

follow so that the latest findings can be

included in the economic diffusion process.

This publication provides an impressive

overview of the development and prospects of

the biotechnology regions in Germany. Their

success is due not least to the mobilization of

considerable public funds as well as to the

large amounts of private funds that have

been made available. But this does not mean

that the challenge has been mastered. An

objective of Federal Government policy

therefore continues to be to help the

biotechnology regions become stronger

partners in the commercialization of this

leading technology.

Edelgard Bulmahn

Federal Minister of Education and Research

6

Introduction

BioRegions in GermanyToday Germany is a modern base for

biotechnology in Europe. Following a rapid

increase in the number of business start-ups

over the last few years during the race to

catch up internationally, Germany now holds

first place in the field of biotechnology.

Although the young branch began to

encounter financial bottlenecks in 2003, the

wave of business start-ups should not be

allowed to slow down. Know-how is

continuing to force its way into the field of

applications. The young biotech companies

now require funding for the very long-term

phases of research and development before

they can make their first profits. In a number

of cases young companies need to focus more

intensely on their strengths when expanding

further.

Lasting impulses

Support for willing entrepreneurs and young

biotechnology companies during and

following the foundation phase begins with a

number of competitions initiated by the

Federal Ministry of Education and Research

(BMBF), for example BioRegio, BioProfile and

BioChance. The amendment to the Law on

Genetic Engineering in 1993 and the

launching of various competitions since the

mid-90s have given lasting impulses to the

development of biotechnology in Germany.

Change in trend

The launching of the BMBF’s BioRegio

competition in 1995 led to the formation of

national and cross-border economic areas, i.a.

bio-regions in which integral concepts for

biotechnological research were developed and

the results introduced on a commercial basis.

Scientific and economic potential were

brought together, long-term goals defined

and practical strategies designed. The bio-

regions, which were selected by an

independent international jury, have

succeeded to a considerable extent in

combining a sound scientific basis, favourable

legal framework conditions and an entrepre-

neurial spirit. The strengthening of the strong

in the international competition for economic

development in biotechnology has led to a

change in trend and has made Germany a

beacon site for genetic engineering and

biotechnology. The measures which have

been introduced are attracting investors,

accelerating licensing procedures for biotech-

nological plants and their extensions, and

kindling entrepreneurial spirit in order to

create jobs. Over a five-year period from 1997,

the model regions „Rhineland“, „Munich“ and

„Heidelberg“, which were selected from 17

applicants, and „Jena“, which received a

special award, received privileged access to

special BMBF project funding totalling A 90

million. These „starting funds“ enabled the

regions to attract considerably higher private

and public funding.

Novel products, processes and services

The „BioProfile“ competition, which was

launched in November 1999 within the

framework of the Federal Government’s

Biotechnology 2000 funding programme,

carried on from the experience and results

gained from the Bio-Regio competition.

„BioProfile“ was also targeted towards those

regions with excellent conditions for

translating biotechnological know-how into

new products, production processes and

services.

Emphasis was placed on specialist strengths in

individual forward-looking applications in the

field of modern biotechnology. These

7

strengths were to be systematically identified

and expanded. Special attention was also

given to applications outside the health

sector, e.g. plant biotechnology and nutrition.

Of the original 30 applicant regions from

throughout Germany, 20 took part in the

decisive selection round. In the course of the

selection procedure, the jury singled out three

regions which had the potential to develop

considerable economic strength in modern

biotechnology applications which they chose

themselves. The winning regions were

Potsdam/Berlin with the profile „Nutrition-

related Diseases (Nutrigenomics)“,

Braunschweig/Göttingen/Hanover with the

topic „Functional Genomic Analysis“ and

Stuttgart/Neckar-Alb (STERN Bio-region) with a

focus on „Regeneration Biology“. Together the

bio-regions of the BioProfile competition

received BMBF project funding totalling A 50

million.

Strong impulses for national technological

development

The effects of this competition have been

considerable. A dynamic innovation process

has been set in motion in Germany’s regions.

This has provided strong impulses for national

technological development. The initiatives

which were aimed at rapidly translating the

award-winning know-how of the research

establishments into biotechnological

products, procedures and services have

triggered a wave of young, aspiring

biotechnology start-ups. They have thus

played an important role in a development

which has made Germany one of the most

efficient places for biotechnology worldwide.

In 1995, there were around 70 biotechnology

companies in Germany. Today, Germany has

between 360 and 500 biotechnology

companies - depending on how they are

defined - and is now the European leader in

this field. Nevertheless, impressive though this

race to catch up may be, there should be no

illusions about the shortcomings regarding

the maturity and the size of German

companies. Compared with the, on average,

older British and American companies, most

of the German firms have fewer staff, fewer

financial means and fewer products

approaching market maturity.

Made up for lost ground in basic research

Since the middle of the last century, Germany

has also made up for lost ground in basic

research in biotechnology. In the meantime,

the large-scale research funding

organizations, the German Research

Association and the Max Planck Society, spend

approximately one third of their research

budgets on basic research within the

biosciences and biomedicine. Centres for

genetic engineering and molecular-biological

research at universities and within the Max

Planck Society, the Helmholtz Association, the

Leibniz Science Association and the

Fraunhofer Society have enabled an efficient

infrastructure for top-class research to emerge

in the fields of medicine, health, nutrition,

agriculture, biotechnology and the

environment. Top-class work is once again

being performed in individual scientific

disciplines. It is now a matter of further

expanding strengths in bioscientific and

biomedical basic research, in international

competition and by means of international,

particularly European, cooperation.

European collaboration

The approach taken with bio-region funding

will also improve European cooperation.

8

Introduction

Examples such as the rapid development of

the „Bio-Valley Upper Rhine“ tri-national

cooperation network involving the Freiburg

bio-region and the Swiss and French

neighbouring regions of Basle and Alsace, or

the German-Swedish-Danish „Bioconvalley“

project, with the bio-region of Greifswald-

Rostock as the German partner, are evidence

of this.

One thing is true of all these developments:

the use of public funding can have nothing

more than a catalytic function and knock-on

effect. By providing young entrepreneurs with

a share of the funding needed for high-risk

research projects, it is intended to develop the

emerging German biotechnology sector to

become an internationally competitive branch

of industry and to tap the potential for

employment resulting from modern

biotechnology. Decisive, however, is the effect

of public funding on mobilization. This

amounts to one thousand percent in

individual cases, such as the bio-regions of

Heidelberg and Munich. It is not without

reason that these are termed model regions

and provide a good example to other bio-

regions in Germany.

New funding initiatives

The Federal Government is determined to

further improve the framework conditions for

biotechnology in Europe and Germany.

Together with information and

communications technology, biotechnology is

a „pacemaker for new technologies“. Today,

biotechnology is already firmly established

and recognized in the development of drugs

and in medicine. The political sector backs

biotechnology and is prepared to support this

sector during its consolidation phase.

Knowledge is forcing its way onto the field of

applications. We cannot afford to jeopardize

what we have already achieved in this field as

far as research, innovation and industry are

concerned. The Federal Ministry of Education

and Research will help to effectively support

the process of restructuring the German

biotechnology sector by introducing new

funding measures for small and medium-sized

companies.

Entering a decisive phase

Biotechnology in Germany has now entered a

decisive phase. The branch needs venture

capital, proceeds from contract research, and

investors who believe in the commercial idea

of young entrepreneurs from the field of

science. However, the market for venture

capital is under particular pressure world-

wide. The German biotechnology sector is

feeling the effects particularly severely in its

current set-up phase. It is now especially

important that investors should quickly regain

confidence in this sector of the future. Many

promising innovations in medicine and

health, the environment, nutrition and

agriculture depend on developments in

biotechnology. The same is also true of

innovations in industrial production. As

partners of research, many bio-tech

companies have struggled to establish their

own place in the market. In collaboration

with other small and medium-sized

enterprises which have already gained

experience on the market or with large

concerns, they have a realistic chance of

surviving the consolidation phase. One must

therefore expect an increase in the number of

collaborations, mergers and take-overs.

German biotechnology will emerge stronger

from the current process of consolidation.

9

BioRegion

10

Schleswig-Holstein

issues being dealt with are of a medical,

botanical, zoological, nutritional or

agricultural nature. Furthermore, an inter-

disciplinary institute equipped with large-

scale molecular biological apparatus already

exists - the Zentrum für Biochemie und

Molekularbiologie (ZBM). The centre also

offers biochemical and molecular biological

services to the private sector.

To secure a new generation of qualified

scientists, internationally oriented degree

courses have recently been created, e.g. the

degree course ‘Molecular Biotechnology’ at

the Medizinischen Universität Lübeck or the

degree course ‘Medical Technology’ at the

University of Applied Sciences Lübeck.

Biomedical research in Schleswig-Holstein is

focused on transplantation medicine,

oncology as well as inflammatory and

degenerative diseases.

To support the creation of university spin-

offs, business incubators for young biotech

start-ups have been set up in the immediate

vicinity of the region’s universities, e.g. at

the Kieler Innovations- und

Technologiezentrum (KITZ) or at the

Innovationscampus Lübeck (ICL). The

Technologie-Transfer-Zentrale Schleswig-

Holstein plays a central role as a coordinator

and consultant regarding questions

BioInitiative Nord: Biotechnology in

Schleswig-Holstein

Following the success of the BioRegio

competition in 1996, the biotechnology

sector in Schleswig-Holstein has developed

dynamically. In the last three years alone,

14 new biotechnology enterprises have been

founded, most of them spin-offs from

scientific institutes in the federal state. In

total, around 90 enterprises in Schleswig-

Holstein have their main focus in the field of

biotechnology, 34 of which are engaged in

R&D. A large number of these enterprises fall

under the category ‘biomedicine’, other

enterprises are active in the plant breeding

and food industries as well as in the fields of

environmental and marine biotechnology.

Schleswig-Holstein has an excellent scientific

potential based on research carried out at

the Christian-Albrechts-Universität Kiel (CAU),

the Medizinischen Universität Lübeck (MUL)

and the Forschungszentrum Borstel (FZB).

The commercialization of this potential will

influence the further development of the

biotechnology sector in the federal state

decisively. An interdisciplinary centre for

molecular life sciences is presently being

built at the CAU. The centre will be available

to all research groups that have integrated

molecular biological techniques into their

research projects, irrespective of whether the

11

concerning the commercialization of

research results emerging from the

biotechnology sector in Schleswig-Holstein.

Bay to Bio e.V is an active support and

communication network for the life sciences,

founded jointly by the federal states of

Schleswig-Holstein and Hamburg.

In addition, Schleswig-Holstein is integrated

into the international network ScanBalt

together with the federal states of Hamburg

and Mecklenburg-Westernpommerania. The

joint goal of the collaboration, spanning 11

northern countries in the biotechnology

sector, is to strengthen the international

competitiveness of the whole Baltic Sea

Region and to develop it into one of the

world’s leading life sciences regions.

Contact

ttz SH - Technologie-Transfer-ZentraleSchleswig-Holstein GmbHCoordination Centre BiotechnologyWittland 1024109 Kiel

Sabine Thee, Dipl. Biol. (Project Manager)Phone: (+49) (0) 4 31-5 19 62-72E-mail: thee@ttzsh.deDr. Dorothee Dähnhardt:Phone: (+49) (0) 4 31-5 19 62-85E-mail: daehnhardt@ttzsh.de

Fax: (+49) (0) 4 31-5 19 62-44Web: www.ttzsh.de

BioRegion

12

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

BioCon Valley® - Life Science in

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

BioCon Valley® is the place to be for

biotechnology companies and researchers.

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is a region in

north-eastern Germany, which is home to a

thriving community of nearly 80

biotechnology companies, two important

universities (since 1419 and 1456 the oldest

in Northern Europe) and a number of

respected public research institutions. These

are flourishing around the scientific cities of

Rostock, Greifswald, Schwerin, Teterow,

Wismar and Neubrandenburg.

Fifteen of these companies are part of the

core of Germany’s high-tech biotechnology

scene, employing some 630 people.

Compared to population size, this is more

than in any other German federal state. In

total there are 1 800 people working in the

biotech companies in the state; in addition

to the 2 000 scientists, who are employed in

research institutes.

The right climate for growth

BioCon Valley® provides a fertile

environment for innovative biotechnology

and science culture. Residents of the state of

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern are very open

towards the growing opportunities and new

developments in this field. They follow them

critically, but unbiased. This is why

approbation procedures according to

German gene technology laws are approved

very quickly. Better still, funding and support

for biotechnology is extremely important to

the government of Mecklenburg-

Vorpommern.

BioCon Valley® certainly has a bright future.

Many companies are already making healthy

profits. Technology centres for bio-, medical-,

and food technologies are operating nearly

to full capacity.

International

For centuries the region has enjoyed close

ties with the Baltic rim states. It is not

surprising that BioCon Valley® is so strongly

integrated into the biotechnology networks

of the Baltic and Nordic states. Therefore it

was only natural for it to become one of the

driving forces behind ScanBaltTM, the

network of networks, which brings together

the activities in biotechnology of the North.

It is not only the first meta-bioregion, but the

only European biotechnology region that is

really capable of competing with the USA.

Green

The wide open landscape, is home to

successful agro-biotechnological companies,

where in the summer the yellow rape fields

shine on the hills and plains. Reputed

13

research facilities such as the Federal

Research Institute for Viral Diseases of

Animals, the Federal Institute for Breeding

Research of Cultured Plants, or the Research

Institute for the Biology of Agricultural

Animals, are the backbone of scientific

research. Many innovative small and medium

sized companies are engaged in highly

innovative plant and animal breeding

methods, as well as in the development of

effective and environmentally friendly plant

protection products.

Red

When medical doctors meet plasma

physicists and engineers, comprehensive

communication networks generate unique

and innovative ideas. A result of this is the

creation of internationally recognized centres

for innovative regenerative medicine and

medicine technologies. But also technologies

in the areas of transplantation, bone marrow

and stem cells, and diabetes technologies

belong to the core competences in medical

biotechnology research in BioCon Valley®.

The development and production of

diagnostics, active substances, clinical studies

and pharmacology are widespread and

profitable fields of research and work.

Blue

Approximately 1 700 kilometers of the long,

beautiful and diversified shores of the Baltic

Sea border the north of BioCon Valley®.

Where tourists relax all year round, scientists

are working hard to recover yet undiscovered

natural treasures from the sea. Uniquely

adapted organisms of the largest brackish

water sea in the world hold valuable

resources, such as low and high molecular

active substances from marine organisms, or

low-temperature adapted enzymes and

Contact

BioCon Valley® InitiativeLife Science in Mecklenburg-VorpommernDr. Wolfgang BlankWalther-Rathenaustr. 49aD-17489 Greifswald

Dr. Heinrich CuypersFriedrich-Barnewitzstr. 318119 Rostock

Greifswald OfficePhone: +49 (38 34) 51 5 300Fax: +49 (38 34) 51 5 102

Rostock OfficePhone: (+49) (381) 51 96 49 50Fax: (+49) (381) 51 96 49 52

E-mail: info@bcv.orgWeb: www.bcv.org

unique bacterial expression systems.

Traditionally, aquaculture of fish and plant

species, and the diagnosis and control of fish

diseases play a major economic role in the

region. New challenges for marine

biotechnology include biofilms and the

struggle against biocorrosion in marine

environments, as well as biological

degradation caused by pollutants and the

necessary steps and techniques to eliminate

pollution.

Making friends

Discover BioCon Valley® and see for yourself

its overwhelming potential.

BioRegion

14

Bremen

The biotechnological activities of the German

state of Bremen which started in 1996 were

based on the integration of gensensorik,

HMG-proteins for diagnosis and therapy as

well as marine bio-techniques. In the mean-

time, other areas like food and agronomy,

medical diagnostics, fishery biology, ecology,

epidemiology, and environmental tech-

nologies are also included.

In 1996, gensensorik has been chosen as the

region’s biotechnological leading project. It

refers to the further development of the

microarray technology to an integrated and

automated system. Most important part of

the gensensor device is the microarray used

for specific detection of genetic markers.

Gensensors are being designed to be used in

medical diagnostics, in quality control of

food- and feed production processes, or in

environmental analytics. The expertise in

surface chemistry, chip production, system

development, bioinformatics and micro

system technology which is required for the

developmental work is bundled in the

multidisciplinary research net work „Centre

of Applied Gensensorik“ (CAG) at the

University of Bremen. In this virtual centre of

competence, about 35 scientists from 13

different working groups (University of

Bremen, MPI for Marine Microbiology,

Institute for Biological Information Systems

(BIBIS), Institute for Applied Beam

Technology (BIAS), Institute for Prevention

Research and Social Medicine (BIPS), and

University of Tübingen) are developing new

concepts for the microarray technology

together with partners from

the industry. The dynamic of

the development of the

Bremen genome research -

and especially of genome

based analytics - is

demonstrated by the fact

that in the last years more

than A 30 million private

and public funding could

be raised for this topic.

Three years ago, the International University

Bremen (IUB) was founded focusing on

nanotechnology-based approaches in bio

process engineering.

Since 2001, the BioRegio project has been

continued as Bioprofile activity which was

lead-managed by the Technology Transfer

Centre Bremerhaven with the main focus

„Functional Sea Food: Developmental

Concept for the Blue Biotechnology in the

Bremen-Weser-Ems Coastal Region“.

Genotyping of the hepatitis C virus

15

A milestone in the development of the blue

biotechnology was the opening of the

Biotechnology Centre Bio-Nord in May 2003

in Bremerhaven. Members of the domiciled

scientific networks are the Alfred Wegener

Institute for Polar and Marine Research

(AWI), the Bremerhaven Institute of Food

Technology and Bio Process Engineering, the

MPI of Marine Microbiology, die University of

Bremen and Oldenburg and the Centre for

Tropical Marine Ecology (ZMT). The costs for

building and equipment of about A 11.7

million have been financed by the „Objective-

2-Programme“ of the European Union and

the State of Bremen

(www.bio-nord.de).

Additionally, the biotech-

nological companies of

the region set emphasis

on networking: The

Association of Bremen

Biotechnology Companies,

which at present has

14 members, follow the

strategy to strengthen

biotechnology and the life

sciences by building up a

real and a virtual

communication and

information platform.

(Dr. M. Wolf, 0421-

2208330; m.wolf@picorapid.de)

The Bremen Innovation Agency GmbH (BIA)

is the contact point for innovation on the

Bremen state level. BIA implements the

topics of the state, initiates new topics and

integrates the activities into the economy of

the region. BIA is also active in developing

new strategies and the promotion of

different sectors. Since 2001, biotechnology

Opening of the Bremerhaven BioCentre

Contact

Universität BremenProf. Dr. Dietmar BlohmLeobener Straße28359 Bremen

Fon: (+49) (0) 4 21-2 18-47 80Fax: (+49) (0) 4 21-2 18-75 78E-Mail: dhb@biotec.uni-bremen.de

belongs to the topics BIA is in charge of.

Furthermore, BIA is active in support and

coordination of new foundations and

settlements (Dr. A. Turkowsky 0421-9600-340,

turkowsky@bia-bremen.de, www.bia-

bremen.de)

BioRegion

16

HamburgLocation description

Factors such as the existing infrastructure,

short traffic routes to the universities and

scientific institutes, a high recreational value

due to the proximity to the sea make

Hamburg an attractive location for the new

establishment of biotechnological companies.

In addition, as far as science and research is

concerned Hamburg has a considerable

potential in biotechnological know-how with

international expertise.

Cross-sectional, developable technologies

with a promising future such as

bioinformatics and nanotechnology are

already based locally and are of significance

for the further development of the region.

Universities

University Hamburg, Technical University

(TU) Hamburg-Harburg, Institute for Applied

Sciences

Participating research institutes

Bernhard-Nocht-Institut für Tropenmedizin

(Institute for Tropical Medicine), Institut für

Hormon- und Fortpflanzungsforschung an

der Universität Hamburg (Institute for

Hormone and Reproduction Research at the

University of Hamburg), Heinrich-Pette-

Institut an der Universität Hamburg

(Heinrich-Pette Institute at the University of

Hamburg), Max-Planck-Gesellschaft (Max-

Planck Society)- Arbeitsgruppen für

strukturelle Molekularbiologie (Workgroups

for structural molecular biology) and the

European Molecular Laboratory (EMBL) at the

DESY.

Focal points in industry and research

Molecular diagnoses, cell biology,

biocatalysis/biochemical engineering,

biomechanics.

The companies involved in research and

development or production and services can

mainly be allocated to the sectors of

medicine as well as pharmacy and cosmetics.

Examples of successful and innovative

companies

Eppendorf AG, Sequenom, Evotec OAI,

Strathmann Biotech AG, Celltec GmbH, Artus,

CCS Cell Culture Service GMBH, Biomol,

AgeLab Pharma GmbH, BioGlobe GmbH,

Indivumed GmbH, Murinus GmbH.

17

New developments

ICBio

In July 2002 the initative Innovations

Centrum Biokatalyse (ICBio) (Innovation

Centre Biocatalysis) was founded. Under the

auspices of ICBio projects supported by the

Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (DBU)

(German Federal Environmental Foundation)

are networked with one another and aim at

establishing biocatalytic procedures and

products as environmentally friendly

alternatives to existing chemical processes.

The ICBio is an open research consortium in

which the transfer of knowledge between

universities and industry is to be promoted.

The main topics are screening, expression,

biochemical engineering, downstream

processing and the production of resources

and active substances. The coordination

office can be found in the TUHH and its

primary aim is the establishment of an

international enzyme bank that centrally

catalogues and files the great diversity of

enzymes available at the universities and

makes it available to customers.

i-Med/NORD GmbH

The coordination of Life Sciences activities in

northern Germany and the interdisciplinary

focus towards using the expertise available in

the region is one of the key functions of the

I-Med Nord GmbH. The mission of this

institution, which was founded by the Free

and Hanseatic City of Hamburg together

with the state of Schleswig-Holstein, is to

support innovative medicine linking themes

coming from both medicine, biotechnology

and molecular biology.

Offers of consultation and services in the

transfer of technology

The TUHH-Technologie GmbH (TuTech) with

Contact

TUHH Technologie GmbH Umwelt- und BiotechnologieKarin Meyer-Pannwitt, Dipl.-Biol.Harburger Schloßstrasse 6-1221079 Hamburg

Phone: (+49) (0) 40-7 66 180 72Fax: (+49) (0) 40-7 66 180 78E-mail: meyer-pannwitt@tutech.deWeb: www.tutech.de

the newly founded Hamburg Innovation

GmbH (HI) is an established transfer facility

in Hamburg. The TuTech and the ttz in Kiel

are represented in the BaytoBio Förderkreis

Life Sciences e.V., an information and

communication forum for the area of

Northern Germany.

Offers for the incubation period

Individual guidance and consulting for

location, financing and promotion offered by

the listed transfer facilities.

TuTech-Starterzentrum:

Centrum für innovative Medizin (CiM);

(Centre for Innovative Medicine);

MediGate GmbH;

Hamburger Existenzgründungs Programme

(hep) (Hamburg Programme for Setting up in

Business);

Innovationsstiftung Hamburg (Innovation

Foundation Hamburg);

BioAgency AG;

c:channel business services gmbh (c:bs).

Offers in the field of venture capital

BioAgency AG

BioRegion

18

Berlin-Brandenburg

BioTOP Berlin-Brandenburg -

Biotechnology’s best address

Over the past few years the bioregion has

established itself extremely well on both the

national and international levels.

Its research facilities and biotech companies

successfully offer innovative services and

products for the world market and in doing

so, cover highly future-oriented research

fields:

- Genomics and proteomics (humans &

plants)

- Molecular medicine & clinical research

- Regenerative medicine & tissue engineering

- Biohybrid technologies

- Bioinformatics

- Nutrigenomics

Namely in genome and proteome research

and the molecular medicine that is founded

on it, Berlin-Brandenburg is Europe’s most

important scientific location. Outstanding

research facilities within the region are the

Max Delbrück Centre for Molecular Medicine

in Berlin-Buch, the Max-Planck Institute for

Molecular Genetics, the Resource Centre of

the German Human Genome Project, the

protein structure factory, the Konrad-Zuse-

Zentrum, and the Berlin University Hospital

Charité. Numerous spin-offs have emerged

from these institutions, which are known

world-wide, over the past few years. In the

fields of green biotechnology and foods

research, the Max-Planck Institute of

Molecular Plant Physiology in Golm and the

German Institute for Nutrition Research have

international standing. In bioinformatics,

Berlin is already the leading centre of

expertise within Germany.

The regional areas of expertise were

distinguished within the frame of the

National Genome Research Network (2 of 5

core fields are located in Berlin, and the

region participates in 4 of 5 clinical

networks) and in the BioProfile competition.

As of today, Berlin-Brandenburg has attained

a leading position within Germany with 160

biotech companies. The number has doubled

since 1997. Since then, the SMEs have been

able to acquire more than A 500 million in

Venture Capital.

The number of

jobs within the

SMEs has tripled

to approximately

3,000 since 1997.

Numerous

19

companies have begun the clinical

development of pharmaceuticals. It is of

particular importance that the value creation

chain is fully formed, from the molecular

biological foundations to clinical testing. The

economic profile is completed by 4 inter-

national pharmaceutical corporate groups,

CROs and CMOs.

BioTOP Berlin-Brandenburg, which is active

in the areas of networking, company

founding and financing, technology transfer,

regional marketing and business develop-

ment, was established in 1998 by the

governments of

Berlin and Branden-

burg and the Ver-

band der Chemi-

schen Industrie e.V.

to drive the deve-

lopment of bio-

technology within

the region.

In detail, BioTOP’s goals are:

- Support for innovative and technology-

oriented new foundings

- Support for the financing of complex

projects

- Technology transfer between science and

economy

- Initiation and establishment of research

associations

- Support for scientific and economic

networks

- Providing information on biotechnology

- Mediation among experts from all

disciplines

- Support for companies in business

development and in the area of press and

publicity work

- Mediation among specialists and

qualification offensives

- Conception and organisation of events

- Marketing for the economy and science

location

- Strategy consulting

Rapid and uncomplicated financing for start-

ups and expanding companies is offered by

the BioFinanz Berlin-Brandenburg network

with more than 20 banks and VC companies,

which is co-ordinated by BioTOP.

You can find further information, including a

database with comprehensive profiles of all

companies and scientific work groups, at

www.biotop.de.

Contact

BioTOP Berlin-BrandenburgDr. Kai BindseilFasanenstr.310623 Berlin

Phone: +49 30-31 86 22 11Fax: +49 30-31 86 22 22E-mail: biotop@biotop.deWeb: www.biotop.de

BioProfile Koordinationsstelle NutrigenomikDr. Ilka GrötzingerArthur-Scheunert-Allee 114-11614558 Bergholz-Rehbrücke

Phone: +49 33 200 88 385Fax: +49 33 200 88 398E-mail: groetzinger@nutrigenomik.deWeb: www.nutrigenomik.de

BioRegion

20

Lower Saxony

Hannover, with its School of Medicine (MHH),

is an internationally widely recognised

research location for a broad spectrum of

medicine, e.g. endocrinology, stem cell, or

transplantation medicine, with close

cooperation and partnerships to business and

industry. A young company at MHH operates

Germany’s largest commercially used clean

room to cultivate blood stem cells from

cancer patients. Following chemotherapy,

those cells are re-implanted and considerably

help to accelerate the patient’s recovery

process. The European Neuroscience

Institute, located at Göttingen, is part of a

Europe-wide network of neurological

research facilities and represents the special

strengths of Göttingen’s scientific

community. Here scientists study the

molecular mechanisms of brain functions

and disruptions. This research will have

broad implications and a wide range of

applications for the treatment of diseases like

Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

In 2001 an initiative of institutes, universities

and biotech companies from the urban

triangle Braunschweig-Göttingen-Hannover

was one of three „BioProfile“ contest winners

announced by the Federal Ministry of

Education and Research (BMBF). The Region

now receives A 15 million subsidies for

research related to functional genomics.

BioRegioN GmbH is a network, marketing

and consulting company. Since the

beginning in 1996, the BioRegioN initiative

- 5,000 Scientists and Researchers

- High Density of Large Research

Institutions

- Key Centres for Agriculture and

Environmental Technology

- Europe’s Largest Biotech Trade Fair -

Biotechnica

With a technology basis like this, Nieder-

sachsen (Lower Saxony) is among the largest

biotechnology regions in Germany. Certainly

one of the most outstanding strengths of the

region is health-care research. In the urban

triangle of Braunschweig-Göttingen-Hannover

main focus is set on the specific research

areas of infection-, neuro- and stem cell

biology. Braunschweig is home e.g. of the

Helmholtz research centre for Infection

Research: The German Centre for

Biotechnology Research, GBF. This is where

fundamental research is conducted to

uncover strategies and processes of

pathogens for host organisms’ penetration

and propagation. Scientists at Nieder-

sachsen’s biotechnology companies use this

expertise to develop innovative treatment

and diagnostic procedures.

21

has helped some 80 biotech firms with more

than 700 employees to get established in

Niedersachsen. In late 2002, BioRegioN was

reorganised as a GmbH, a private, limited

liability company. Until 2006 this company

has a contract with the government of

Niedersachsen that comprises consultancy to

innovative entrepreneurial start-ups in life

sciences. Raising awareness in Germany,

Europe and the rest of the world about the

excellent science and biotechnology basis of

the state of Niedersachsen and to organize a

capital fund for supporting seed, start-up and

expansion of life science enterprises in the

region are further tasks of BioRegioN GmbH.

A team of analysts, management consultants

and marketing experts evaluates potential

business ideas and develops start-up concepts

to support a company’s business plan and

will help young companies secure necessary

financing. The team of BioRegioN GmbH has

access to private equity, public funding

programmes and will help start-up firms

finding the suitable contact and partners.

The start-up package includes support in

negotiation, presentation training and

business coaching. Even when

young companies have completed

development of their first product,

they can still turn to BioRegioN

GmbH for help in finding sales and

distribution partners, printing

product brochures, designing Web

sites or organising trade fair

exhibitions. In fact, the professional

expertise and business know-how

available from BioRegioN GmbH

experts is an invaluable asset on

the road to success.

Contact

BioRegioN GmbH Vahrenwalder Strasse 7 D-30165 Hannover

Phone: (+49) (0) 5 11-93 57-940 Fax: (+49) (0) 5 11-93 57-963 E-mail: hannover@bioregion.de Web: www.bioregion.de

BioRegion

22

Saxony-Anhalt

In autumn 2002 the government of

Saxony-Anhalt has initiated a

Biotechnology Offensive to strengthen the

biotechnology as one of the future

branches in the economic region of

Mitteldeutschland. In Saxony-Anhalt, the

biotechnological industry and research

are concentrated on two main topics:

- Plant biotechnology

- Drug and target research

1. Plant Biotechnology and Breeding

Research

Saxony-Anhalt has an outstanding tradition

in plant breeding, agriculture, food

production and plant biotechnology. The

region has therefore an unique potential in

Germany. We also have a very strong

political commitment which will support us

to develop into the leading research and

production centres for green biotechnology

in Germany.

The important research institutes are the

Federal Centre of Breeding Research on

Cultivated Plants (BAZ) in Quedlinburg and

the Leibniz Institutes of Plant Genetics and

Crop Plant Research (IPK) in Gatersleben and

of Plant Biochemistry (IPB) in Halle.

The scientific competence in the field of

molecular plant biotechnology, plant

biochemistry and breeding research led to

the winning project „Plant Biotechnology

Nordharz/Börde - InnoPlanta“ in the BMBF

competition „InnoRegio“ which was granted

in autumn 2000 with A 20 million by the

BMBF. This regional topic is accompanied by

the traditionally existing breeding companies

and all other parts of the value chain. A

programme for a trial cultivation of

genetically modified plants will be initiated.

In 1998 the company SunGene GmbH & Co.

KGaA was founded as a joint venture

between BASF Plant Science and the IPK. Its

aim is the directed gene regulation in

cultivated plants. Other spin-off’s of the IPK

are NovoPlant GmbH (production of

recombinant immunological products for

animal breeding by plants) and TraitGenetics

GmbH (diagnostics of molecular markers for

plant breeding). Icon Genetics GmbH in Halle

is working on new platform technologies for

plant made pharmaceuticals.

2. Drug and target research

Saxony-Anhalt has international scientific

reputation at the field of drug and target

research due to the Institute of Biochemistry

and Biotechnology at the Martin Luther

University at Halle and the Interdisciplinary

Scientific Competence Centre Neurosciences

(located in Magdeburg with the Otto von

Guericke University and the Leibniz Institute

of Neurobiology) and the Max Planck

Institute of dynamics of complex technical

Systems in Magdeburg and the Max Planck

Research Unit of Enzymology of Protein

Folding in Halle.

The topics of the drug research in Saxony-

Anhalt, which is co-operating with the

industry in two so-called Innovative Cores for

23

Industrial Growth „Pharma MD“ (Magdeburg)

and „Recombinant Therapeutic Proteins“

(Halle), are the search for new therapeu-

tically active substances against Morbus

Alzheimer, diabetes and neurodegradative

diseases.

Some of the most important companies in

this field are:

- probiodrug AG, Halle (New pharmaceuticals

against diabetes)

- KeyNeurotek AG, Magdeburg (Research in

neurodegenerative diseases)

- novosom AG, Halle (Liposomes and

nanoparticles for drug delivery)

- Scil Proteins GmbH, Halle (Development and

production of recombinant proteins)

- MelTec GmbH, Magdeburg (Proteomics and

cellular target identification )

- ACGT, Magdeburg (Development of

diagnostic methods for amyloidogenic

diseases, like Morbus Alzheimer)

Good co-operation exists also between the

biotech companies on the one side and

pharmaceutical companies as Hexal, Bayer,

esparma, Serumwerk Bernburg or the

Impfstoffwerk Dessau-Tornau, on the other

side, which are also located in Saxony-Anhalt.

The research activities can be subdivided in

two major working cluster:

- The co-operation project „recombinant

therapeutic proteins“ for the development

and implementation of industrial processes

with recombinant micro-organisms for the

production of disulfide-bridged proteins

with therapeutic applications.

- The co-operation project „Pharma MD“ for

the development, production and marketing

of new drugs for treatment of so far

insufficiently curable diseases like allergies,

autoimmune diseases and neurodegene-

rative disorders.

Contact

BIO Mitteldeutschland GmbH Dr. Jens A. Katzek (Geschäftsführung)Weinbergweg 22 06120 Halle/Saale

Phone: (+49) (0) 3 45–55 59-8 50 Fax: (+49) (0) 3 45–55 59-8 53E-mail: katzek@biomitteldeutschland.de Web: www.biomitteldeutschland.de

3. Biotechnological Infrastructure

Saxony-Anhalt is provided with good infras-

tructural prerequisites for biotechnological

start-up’s: the Bio-Centre Halle (which has

been the greatest branch-specific investment

in Saxony-Anhalt with about A 25 million),

the Biotech Founder Centre in Gatersleben

(especially for plant biotechnology), and the

Centre for Neuroscientific Innovation and

Technology (ZENIT) in Magdeburg. Also, the

Chemistry Parks in Leuna and Bitterfeld offer

advantageous conditions for the settlement

of biotechnological production companies. A

BioPark will be built in Gatersleben with a

financial volume up to A 35 million and a

planned area of 12 ha for laboratories, green

houses and fields.

4. Your Partners

The Government of Saxony-Anhalt has started

a great offensive for the development of

biotechnology in Saxony-Anhalt. It should be

put into practice under the responsibility of

the BIO Mitteldeutschland GmbH especially

in the areas of acquisition, project manage-

ment and communication. For the further

development of biotechnological business it

is necessary to come in closer co-operation

with the States of Saxony and Thuringia.

Collaboration is planned in trans-regional

marketing (trade fairs and congresses) and in

the education of scientific and technical

personnel.

BioRegion

24

SaarlandRhineland Palatinate

What happens to the

participation

NanoBioNet in the

BioProfile Contest?

The Saarland and the

Rhineland Palatinate

states together with the

centre of excellence

NanobioNet e.V. took

part in the BioProfile Contest.

Right from the beginning this project was

planed as a network and to be continued

after the contest. The network consists of

many partners from industry, research and as

well from the administration of the two

states.

The interdisciplinary field of nanobiotech-

nology, which unites the innovation potential

of nano- and biotechnology, makes it possible

to establish new methods for developing

physiologically safe and biocompatible

materials and/or surfaces with the help of

biomimetic processes. Nanobiotechnology is

thus particularly directed towards developing

methods and materials that find application

in the fields of biology, medicine, medical

technology, cosmetics and food technology.

In this region you will already find

companies, which put their products

successfully on the market.

Some of the applications already available:

- Intelligent materials for improved medico-

technical articles, bone and vascular

implants, filters, membranes and food

packaging

- Nanoparticles as vehicles for drugs, as

components in compounds and paints

- Sensors for medical diagnostics as well as

environmental and food analyses

- Methods aimed at the specific modification

of technical surfaces made from glass,

ceramics, metal and plastics for all branches

of industry

The NanoBioNet centre of excellence

NanoBioNet is a competent network of

universities, research institutes, clinics,

enterprises and experts from the fields of

technology transfer, patenting, business and

financing. A horizontally as well as vertically

organised strategy guarantees every stage of

the value chain is covered, from R & D

25

through to the marketing and distribution of

new or improved products.

The NanoBioNet e.V. association

The NanoBioNet e.V. association was founded

as a platform for developing our region’s

leading edge in the field of nanobiotech-

nology and informing the general public

about the potential of this new field of

technology. In the executive committee are

Representatives from the Saarland and

Rhineland-Palatinate from the fields of

science, business and politics.

The objectives of the

association are:

- the consistent develop-

ment of nanobiotech-

nology expertise

- the national and

international positioning of the region as a

competitive centre of excellence in the field

of nanobiotechnology

- accompanying measures to boost the

innovative powers in the fields of nano- and

biotechnology in our region

- active public relations work in order to

promote information about nanobiotech-

nology and create public awareness for this

high-tech sector

- promoting research and development

- supporting initial and advanced training in

the field of nanobiotechnology

Contact

NanoBioNet e.V.Martin Monzel, Dipl. Ing. BiotechnologyGeschäftsführung NanoBioNet e.V.Ministerium für Wirtschaft des SaarlandesGewerbepark Eschberger WegGebäude 366121 Saarbrücken

Phone: (+49) (0) 6 81-8 41 12-21Fax: (+49) (0) 6 81-8 41 12-20E-mail: martin.monzel@nanobionet.deWeb: www.nanobionet.de

BioRegion

26

Jena

BioInstruments Made in Thuringia,

Germany

Thuringia, situated in the middle of Germany

is the gate to the Eastern Partners of the

Growing Europe. It is famous for its

competence in BioInstruments and

BioDevices. Actually the BioInstruments-

Cluster consists of 60 Core-Biotech-

Companies, 25 Medicine-Technology-

Companies, 23 Research- and Public

Institutions which bear upon Biotechnology.

They can rely on the substantial support of

powerful Financial Partners, Executive

Consultants and Service Providers. The

BioInstruments-Cluster equates with a

dynamic and innovative Network of Experts

from Life Sciences and Engineering Sciences.

Today Thuringia is the domicile of 3 Max-

Planck-, 3 Fraunhofer-, 2 Leibniz-Institutes

plus numerous internationally recognized

Research-Organizations.

Thuringia has got a long tradition in

commercializing results and knowledge from

Life Sciences. Internationally most famous is

Carl Zeiss, who started his first company in

1846 in Jena. The company was taken over by

Ernst Abbe in 1889. Already in 1884 Abbe

had opened up the „Jenaer Glaswerk Schott

& Co“ together with Otto Schott. Today the

Carl Zeiss Jena GmbH, accompanied by

several regional and international industrial

partners, namely 8 listed Life Science

Companies, is the key player supporting our

BioInstruments Industry. Systems for

automated Screening for pharmaceutically

active ingredients, devices for the use in

Laser-Scanning-Microscopes and Fluorescence-

Spectrometers set the standard for the

international competitors all over the world.

The conceptual design of the BioInstruments-

Cluster in Thuringia was done by the

BioRegio Jena Association. It was so

successful that it convinced the International

Jury of the German Ministry for Education

and Research (BMBF). Eventually the

BioRegio Jena Association won the special

vote of the BMBF. It was rewarded with the

financial support for 30 biotechnology

cooperation projects bringing together

industry and research institutions. The

projects led to new products, which were

commercialized by 30 new start-up

companies. Delivering BioInstruments to

researchers, other Biotechs, and the

Pharmaceutical Industry, the Biotech-start-

ups in Thuringia were able to generate quick

returns and gross profit right from the

beginning.

The BioRegio Jena Association is serving

the successful cooperation of economy,

science, financial partners and the

government. It is situated in the

biotechnology melting pot, the Beutenberg

27

Contact

BioRegio Jena e.V.Dr. André H.R. Domin Winzerlaer Str. 207745 Jena Germany

Phone: (+49) 36 41-50 86-50Fax: (+49) 36 41-50 86-55E-mail: mail@bioinstrumente-jena.deWeb: www.bioinstrumente-jena.de

Campus. Here, i.e. in the BioInstruments

Centre and the Technology & Innovation

Park, the new start-up companies are located.

The laboratories and offices can be rented as

modules enabling a small start-up to grow

according to its needs. In close neighbourhood

the start-ups find the Carl Zeiss Jena GmbH,

the MPI for Chemical Ecology, the MPI for

Bio-Geochemistry, the Friedrich-Schiller-

University, the Hans-Knöll-Institute for

Natural Products Research, the Institute for

Molecular Biotechnology, the Institute for

Physical High Technology, and the

Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics &

Fine Mechanics. The Beutenberg Campus

therefore is an internationally recognized R&D-

centre for biotechnology, chemistry, optics and

microtechnology. Its main foci are

- Individual-oriented Medicine,

- Target-oriented Drug Development,

- Bioinformatics and

- Nanobiotechnology.

The historically grown linkage of different

disciplines enabled important innovations

through the unification of know-how in the

fields of development and application.

Thuringia and the BioRegio Jena Association

will stay committed to this multidiscipli-

narity. The worldwide trend to miniaturization

and automation will help the biotechnology

industry to grow and prosper. We will use the

existing competences in micro- and nano-

technology, in toolbuilding, automation

technology, sensors, physics, chemistry, optics

together with applications from biotechnology

and medicine to create competitive products

and services

BioRegion

28

Saxony

„Biosaxony“ for Successful Biotechnology

Under the label „biosaxony“, an interna-

tionally important biotech cluster is growing.

The scientific and economic centres in

Dresden and Leipzig boast ultra-modern

work spaces, renowned research groups,

excellent training and study opportunities

and a trendsetting infrastructure. The Saxon

biotech offensive, initiated in 2000 with

around A 200 million, furnishes strong

economic impulses for biotechnology in the

Free State of Saxony.

Infrastructure development and science and

project support builds a strong and active

fundament for application-orientated

research and development. No other federal

state invests more financial assistance into

this branch of the future. For this reason, the

Free State of Saxony is one of the few regions

that has demonstrated continued growth

since 2000.

Two centres, one strength

Right from the outset, biosaxony has

concentrated on one strong profile.

The emphasis is on medical applications of

biotechnology. The focal points in both

centres were intentionally set up to be

complimentary - Molecular Bioengineering in

Dresden and Regenerative Medicine in

Leipzig. In this way, molecular cell biology

and biomedicine are integrated with

traditional excellence in materials science,

engineering and clinical research.

In each of the two bio-incubators, Bio-City

Leipzig and BioInnovationCenter Dresden, six

biotechnology professorships work on

application-oriented research. Three quarters

of the 34.000 square meters of space are

reserved for biotech companies. These bio

centres span the whole innovation cycle from

fundamental to applied research and the

development of R&D-intensive products

within a confined space. Science and

business under one roof – This is the success

story of both incubators. The integration of

the universities, the close proximity to Max-

Planck-Institutes, university clinics and state

Germany’s largest biotech incubator: BIO CITYLEIPZIG

As with the BIO CITY, the BioInnovationCenterin Dresden unites science and business underone roof.

29

research centres in both cities leads to a fast

technology transfer and a rapid translation

of research results into entrepreneurial

applications.

Biosaxony Sets Standards

The development of worldwide excellent

achievements in the most important parts of

the Life Sciences covers the whole spectrum

of biotechnologically relevant resources. An

education offensive, Masters Degree

programmes and internationally renowned

postgraduate programmes ensure the

availability of qualified staff. The 45 core

companies, and more than 100 additional

manufacturer and biotechnology service

Biosaxony presented companies and institutionsat BIO 2003, Washington D.C.

Internationally renowned basic research: The Dresden Max-Planck-Institute for MolecularCell Biology and Genetics

Close ties to interdisciplinary research: The Max-Bergmann Centre, a cooperation of Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Society and the Technical University of Dresden

Contact

biosaxonyDr. Ann De BeuckelaerTatzberg 47-5101307 DresdenGermany

Phone: (+49) 351 796 51 05Fax: (+49) 351 796 51 10E-mail: info@biosaxony.comWeb: www.biosaxony.com

providers, form the economic heart of

biotechnology in Saxony. The Free State of

Saxony embraces the entire value-added

chain: from fundamental research to

application-oriented development, interdisci-

plinary study centres and institutes for

clinical studies, as well as the manufacture of

biotechnological products and

pharmaceutical research and production. As

one of Europe’s leading micro-electronic

locations, Saxony additionally offers branch-

overlapping technology platforms, e.g., for

nanotechnology and bioengineering.

Federal state organisation

30

North RhineWestphalia

In 1994 personalities from industry, science and politics founded the association Bio-Gen-Tec NRW

to promote the responsible use of modern biotechnology. Thanks to this strong initiative public

attitude to modern biotechnology could be changed dramatically to the better: A biotech boom

started. Bio-Gen-Tec - the one-stop-shop for founders and with access to consulting

and financing networks as well as to public grants - was the crucial catalyst for this success that

aroused worldwide attention. Winning the BioRegio Competition in 1996 and helping young

founders to build up over 90 companies with A 150 million public grants and A 240 million private

capital are regarded as outstanding highlights as well as the worldwide positioning of

„Biotechnology made in North Rhine Westphalia“.

Public relations work, lobbying and fostering international contacts and partnerships of Bio-Gen-

Tec aim at the sustainable growth of North Rhine Westphalia’s biotechnology. The association

represents its over 160 members - companies, institutions and personalities of North Rhine

Westphalian biotechnology, among them companies like Bayer, Henkel und Qiagen. Bio-Gen-Tec

provides presentation platforms like events, booths on international fairs and special partnering

occasions especially for SME and offers marketing support for regions (e.g. the BioRiver concept for

biotechnology in the Rhineland). Bio-Gen-Tec initiates and supports regional networks. Together

with further key players the association works to consolidate the biotech site North Rhine

Westphalia.

Members of the Board of Bio-Gen-Tec are: Prof. Dr. Detlev Riesner (Chairman, also chairman of the

board of LSA Life Science Agency GmbH), Prof. Dr. Hermann Lübbert (Deputy Chairman), Dr.

Gisbert Kley (Treasurer), Hans Bansner and Hartmut Thomas (CEO).

Starting in 2003 most of the services previously provided by Bio-Gen-Tec are offered by the publicly

funded LSA Life Science Agency GmbH, founded and equally owned by the initiatives Bio-Gen-Tec

NRW e.V., Health Care NRW e.V. and MeTNet NRW e.V..

As in the past Bio-Gen-Tec NRW e.V. continues to be

the strong partner of biotechnology in North Rhine

Westphalia.

Contact

Landesinitiative Bio-Gen-Tec NRW e.V.Hartmut ThomasNattermann Allee 150829 Köln

Phone: (+49) (0) 2 21-94 98 24 54Fax: (+49) (0) 2 21-94 98 24 44E-mail: thomas@bio-gen-tec-nrw.deWeb: www.bio-gen-tec-nrw.de

31

The LSA Life Science Agency was founded in December 2002 with the aim of providing the life

science industry in North Rhine Westphalia (NRW) with a central consultancy and service partner

competent to lead the industry to international success. The LSA GmbH supports research projects

and new company set-ups: the Agency arranges state subsidies, provides consultancy services for

the set-up of new companies and assists in the search for business partners in the fields of

biotechnology, medical technology and pharmaceuticals/health care service. The LSA GmbH

initiates collaboration between companies and colleges: as a result of their many contacts to the

world of biotechnology, medical technology and pharmaceuticals, the staff of 12 is able to

collaborate and constantly exchange information with companies, scientific institutions and those

responsible for funding. At the present time the LSA team is working on an interactive project data

bank which will list Life Science research projects in NRW. The project data bank will be made

available online so that all those searching for partners and/or projects can have access to it.

The LSA brings protagonists in contact with each other and carries the mass of information back

to the branch: the LSA GmbH, together with the committee of the Pharmaceutical Licence Club

Germany (PLCD), has initiated for the very first time an opening of the PLCD conference to certain

select biotech companies in spring 2004. The biotech and pharmaceutical atlases will be extended

to include a medical technology atlas NRW and combined to form an online Life Science Atlas.

The LSA provides information and instructional work: in events such as the series on marketing

and the PR forum, the Agency focuses on the needs of small, new and medium-sized Life Science

companies. As a result of its contacts to expert and internationally renowned speakers, the Agency

contributes to the growth of knowledge on gene technology in Germany. Together with its

partners Bio-Gen-Tec NRW and the Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, the LSA

GmbH organized an international congress for green biotechnology in September 2003. Renowned

experts from India, South Africa and Switzerland spoke to more than one hundred participants on

the subject „Green Biotechnology & Global Responsibility“ and provided the public debate on

green biotechnology with „scientific value“. The LSA GmbH takes part in international fairs: not

only does the LSA GmbH provide a place for the business location NRW on the international

market with its joint company stands in the main Life Science regions of the world, but also gives

new and small companies the opportunity of making

their developments accessible to a global audience of

experts. Its collaborative work with the state of NRW

enables the LSA GmbH to provide companies from the

branch with access to political decision-makers. The LSA

GmbH coalesces the experience and expertise of the

three partner associations Bio-Gen-Tec NRW, Health Care

NRW and MeTNet NRW.

Kontakt

LSA Life Science Agency GmbHDr. Sylvia DeutschmannMerowingerplatz 140225 Düsseldorf

Phone: (+49) (0) 2 11-30 12 36-0Fax: (+49) (0) 2 11-30 12 36-10E-mail: info@liscia.deWeb: www.liscia.de

BioRegion

32

Münster

Münster - where Nanotechnology meets

Life Science

The focus „nanobioanalytics“ of the

Bioregion Münster is based on the unique

combination of exceptional competence in

high resolution analysis (electron microscopy,

mass spectrometry, near field probes) with

top bio-medical research at the University of

Münster, the University of Applied Science

Münster and the 30 local companies.

Innovations in nanobioanalytics are

especially supported by eight interdisci-

plinary research centres:

- the Centre for Nanotechnology (CeNTech)

- the National Expert Centre for

Nanoanalytics (Kompetenzzentrum für

Nanoanalytik)

- the German-Chinese Centre for Nanoscience

- the Laser Centre of the University of

Applied Sciences

- the Interdisciplinary Centre of Electron

Microscopy

- the Max-Planck Institute for Vascular

Biology

- the Centre for the Molecular Biology of

Inflammation (ZMBE)

- the Interdisciplinary Centre of Clinical

Research (IZKF)

Embedding of these research centres in the

Biotechnology-Campus with an optimal

infrastructure for set-up and growth of

companies fosters the effective transfer of

innovations into economic utilization. Special

facilities are:

- the Technologiehof Münster, which provides

10,000 square meters of laboratory space

and offices for new companies, counseling

and services,

- the Technologiepark Münster, which

provides 66,000 square meters with

developed property and large office and

laboratory space for expanding companies,

- the Biotechnology Centre (bioZ) Münster

with specialized laboratory space (S1) for

growing biotech companies,

- the Centre for Nanotechnology (CeNTech),

which provides 2,500 square meters of

specialized laboratory space for nanobioana-

lytical research being performed by

university groups and companies,

- the EUREGIO Biotechnology Centre, which

provides laboratory space, equipment and

scientific personnel for biotechnology start-

up companies,

33

According to the main research areas of the

research centres most biotech companies

offer analytical and diagnostic products and

services for medical and environmental

applications. The spectrum ranges from

microbiological and (bio)chemical analysis to

bio-chips and production of natural or

synthetic compounds. A unique selling point

for Münster is the increasing cross-linkage

and cooperation between the life-science-

SMEs and companies, which sell products

and services for high resolution

nanoanalytics using mass spectrometry and

near field probes.

Supply of highly qualified work force is

guaranteed by the more than 5000 students

enrolled in the life science and biomedical

study courses at the University of Münster

and the engineer courses at the University of

Applied Sciences Münster. In addition, the

special biotechnology study course, the

International Graduate School of Chemistry,

the institute for „Business Management in

Chemistry and the „Institute for

Entrepreneurship and Business development“

provide necessary management skills beside

the scientific education and thereby ensure

the commercial development of the

nanobioanalytics location Münster.

Zentren der Münsteraner Nanobioanalytik

Nanoanalytik

Sensorik Medizin

Nano-

bioanalytik

Münster

CeNTech

Kompetenzzentrum Nanoanalytik

Deutsch-Chinesisches Zentrum für

Nanowissenschaften

Interdisziplinäres Zentrum für Elektronenmikroskopie

Institut für

Chemo- und

Biosensorik

Interdis-

ziplinäres

Zentrum für

Klinische

Forschung

(IZKF)

Zentrum für

Molekularbiologie

der Entzündung

(ZMBE)

MPI für Vaskuläre

Biologie

Anorganisch-.

Chemisches

Institut

The research centres, companies and public

business development corporations joint

forces and founded the association

bioanalytik-muenster to co-ordinate activities

of all partners and to provide a central

information and communication platform of

the region. Due to the mutual efforts of all

partners and the focus on nanobioanalytics

Münster today ranks among the leading

nanobiotechnology locations in Europe. This

top level position is emphasised by the co-

leadership of the EC Network of Excellence

„Nanao2Life“. This network will structure and

integrate the European nanobiotechnology

research area into a future European

Institute of Nanobiotechnology within the

next four years.

Contact

bioanalytik-muensterPD Dr. Klaus-Michael WeltringMendelstr. 11D-48149 Münster

Phone: (+49) (0) 2 51-9 80 12-12Fax: (+49) (0) 2 51-9 80 12-13E-mail: mail@bioanalytik-muenster.deWeb: www.bioanalytik-muenster.de

BioRegion

34

Source: Girindus AG

core biotech

companies. They deal

with pharmaceutical

and molecular

biotechnology,

bioinformatics and

genome-research,

fermentation and cell

culture technology,

seed breeding and

food technology.

Additionally, there is

a huge number of suppliers, i.e. laboratory

equipment, consumables and filling

machines. Due to its high economic power

the food processing industry in OWL is the

most important partner of biotech-companies

outside the core industry. As a user of

biotechnological processes it is a cooperation

partner and likewise important customer in

the field of analytics and process technology.

By means of „Sprungbrett OWL“ - an

institution that provides assistance in

expanding business contacts for young

companies - cooperation between firms in

the area of quality assurance and

qualification has been established.

The University of Bielefeld and the University

of Applied Science in Lippe and Höxter enjoy

brilliant international reputation, among

others because of their activities in genome

research resp. food technology.

In Bielefeld, excellent focal points are

Source: Girindus AG

LippeEast Westphalia

The Region of East Westphalia Lippe (Ost-

westfalen-Lippe, OWL) concentrates on its

strength: the recently established

association „Bio-Tech-Region OstWestfalen

Lippe e.V.“(www.bio-owl.de) pursues the

following goals:

- Establishment of a network of local biotech

companies

- Improvement of cooperation between

science and economy

- Public relations work to improve the image

of biotechnology

- Supporting new business set-ups

- Creation of structures to assist young

biotech companies and to intensify the

exchange of experiences

At present, there are about 30 to 40 firms

with altogether 300-500 employees in the

35

research projects in the field of

bioinformatics and genome research of

micro organism. The University of Bielefeld

offers Cell and Molecular Biology,

Bioinformatics and Genome Research, Plant

Physiology and Molecular Biotechnology as

well as Fermentation and Cell Culture

Technology on a qualitatively very high level.

The Centre of Biotechnology (CeBiTec)

combines interdisciplinary research activities

at the Institutes of Bioinformatics and

Genome Research, the „Bioinformatic

Resource facility“, and the „International

Graduate School in Bioinformatics and

Genome Research“. Also the „Institute of

Science and Technology Research“ (IWT) for

their engineering results assessment in the

area of bio- and gene technology as well as

the expertise of the faculty of Public Health

enjoy international reputation.

This excellent scientific basic is completed by

the University of Paderborn (Faculty of

Source: Girindus AG

Source: Syngenta Seeds GmbH

Kontakt

Bio-Tech-Region OstWestfalenLippe e.V.Technologiezentrum BielefeldErika SahrhageMeisenstraße 9633607 Bielefeld

Phone: (+49) (0) 5 21-29 97-470Fax: (+49) (0) 5 21-29 97-101E-mail: info@bio-owl.deWeb: www.bio-owl.de

Agricultural economics, Laboratory for

Biotechnology and Quality Assurance,

Technical Chemistry and Chemical Process

technology), the University of Applied

Sciences Lippe and Höxter (Faculty of Food

technology with focus on microbiology,

biochemistry, biotechnology and

pharmaceutical technology), the University of

Applied Sciences Bielefeld and the Federal

Research Centre for Nutrition and Food in

Detmold. Research areas of the latter

institution are the processing of renewable

raw materials on the basis of starch,

innovative nutrition with high physiological

value, the utilization of protein-rich residues

as additives in nutrition and the selection

and modifying of starter cultures.

BioRegion

36

Ruhr Region

Network for Life Technologies in the Ruhr

Region

Life Technologies Ruhr - is your bio-

technology pool in the metropolitan Ruhr

region where two experienced partners,

BioIndustry and BioMedTec Ruhr, have joined

to form a powerful combination of core

competences and know-how through

networking. Our team have lined up to

lastingly reinforce the potentials of medical

technology and biotechnology in the Ruhr

region. We provide a contact basis for

companies, science and new business

endeavors. The quality and scope of the

parties involved speak for themselves: more

than 50 companies are now part of Life

Technologies Ruhr, as well as the universities

in the Ruhr region and other institutes and

public institutions. Our support comes from

the highest levels - from the state of North

Rhine-Westphalia through its Department of

Science, the Department of Commerce and

the Projekt Ruhr GmbH.

Life Technologies Ruhr - under this umbrella

trademark, we have combined the fields of

biomedical and medical technology and

biotechnology in a region which many still

identify with its mining industry past. Yet

today, this region is now home to the most

concentrated hospital landscape in all of

Europe, with over 130 hospitals with a

capacity of over 50,000 beds and employing

over 80,000 professionals and workers. Life

Technologies thus offers a vast market which

is closely linked with the most important

concerns of today in medical, engineering

and scientific research.

It is Life Technologies Ruhr’s objective to

capitalize on the clinical and scientific

strengths of the Ruhr region, capitalize in

every meaning of this particular word

towards further technology-oriented

company developments. Towards this end, we

are making available an integrated and

viable programme of development made up

of the following components:

- The development of locations in which the

state of North Rhine-Westphalia and the

municipalities of the Ruhr region will invest

more than A 50 million through 2008 to

bundle technology-oriented companies in

the neighbourhood of the universities;

- the realisation of technology projects by

innovative companies which can then be

further promoted by means of technology

and settlement strategies and through

mobilisation of external and equity capital;

37

- further contouring of product families

which will enable Life Technologies Ruhr to

capture leading positions in the market of

technological products and services,

according to a ten-year plan of

development.

Life Technologies Ruhr - our work

programme is tailored to meet the needs of

any new company or institute which would

like to become part of the team of the line-

up of existing companies and research

institutions and to participate in and benefit

from their experience and knowledge.

The following specialized areas of research

and development provide an overview of the

current research interests that make up the

Life Technologies:

- Biomaterials

- Bio-IT

- BioMEMS

- Bioprocessing

- Imaging

- Proteomics

- Medical-IT

- Operation Procedures

In order to convert this goal into reality, the

initiative has developed a broad catalogue of

services, with its headquarter at the campus

of the Ruhr-University in Bochum. These are

specifically tailored to innovative companies

which are looking to become efficient

business models in the life sciences. Life

Technologies Ruhr assesses the economic

importance of main areas of research and

innovation at the universities and in their

environment. Companies and institutes

cooperate with Life Technologies Ruhr as

networkers in order to profile the Life Tech-

nologies of the Ruhr region in biotechnology

on the basis of their combined know-how.

Life Technologies Ruhr offers a broad

catalogue of services:

- Qualified information on research

institutions of the region

- Initiation of scientific cooperation and

mediation of company partners

- Consulting for start-ups and new businesses

foundations

- Support

- for settlements

- for development funds acquisition

- during acquisition of venture capital

- in licensing and contract negotiations

- in the protection of industrial property

- rights

- in marketing and sales

- in trade show appearance and PR-work

- CRO (contract research office)

- Initiating of training, further education and

qualification.

Contact

BioIndustry e.V.Dr. Frank Eiden Ernst-Schering-Str. 1459192 Bergkamen

Phone: (+49) (0) 234 97836 50 Telafax: (+49) (0) 0234 97836 14E-mail: info@bioindustry.deWeb: www.bioindustry.de

BioRegion

38

Cologne/Düsseldorf

The river Rhine - connecting the cities of

Cologne and Düsseldorf - named the core

region of North Rhine Westphalia’s bio-

technology: BioRiver®. About three quarters

of the more than 300 biotech companies in

North Rhine Westphalia are concentrated

around the cities of Cologne, Düsseldorf,

Leverkusen, Bonn, Aachen and Jülich.

There is no other BioRegion in Germany that

offers more jobs, turnover or win in the

biotech sector than BioRiver®. Just about

every modern biotechnology field features

prominently in its research and development

activities. Located within Europe’s most

dense network of universities, and supported

by a well-established chemical and pharma-

ceuticals industry - e.g. Henkel, Bayer,

Schwarz Pharma or Aventis - BioRiver® offers

excellent opportunities to start-ups in the

modern biotech scene.

BioRiver Companies such as Amaxa,

Biofrontera, Cardion, Dasgip, Exelixis,

Memorec, Paion, Qiagen and Verigen are

prime examples of growth and innovation,

and underline the broad scope of the biotech

sector’s development in North Rhine

Westphalia, with 18 million inhabitants

Germany’s most densely populated state.

The area’s innovative research landscape is

characterised by internationally renowned

universities and research institutes in

Düsseldorf, Cologne, Bonn, Aachen and

Jülich. They provide an environment that

fosters internationally competitive research

and forward-looking ideas jointly presented

as BioRiver Science.

Biotech incubators have been formed in close

proximity to universities to improve the tech-

nology transfer process. The Cell Centre

Cologne, the BIOcentre Cologne, the Life

Science Centre Düsseldorf, the MTZ Aachen,

the Technology Centre Jülich and LIFE &

BRAIN GmbH in Bonn are just a few

examples. 18 technology centres have joined

forces as BioRiver Parks and provide start-ups

with access to a total area of over 200,000 m2,

of which over 70,000 m2 are laboratory space

(www.bioriverparks.de).

The availability of highly qualified

professionals is another key advantage of

BioRiver®, for the dense research network of

over 50 universities also trains top scientists.

Furthermore there are numerous places of

training for all the other qualification levels

needed in the biotech industry - a crucial

factor particularly for young companies in

the midst of expansion.

The world’s highest concentration of

motorways and railways, four international

airports and Frankfurt Airport within one

hour’s reach from Cologne link BioRiver®

with the world.

A word on the BioRiver Cities: Attractive and

39

affordable places to live, even on a lower

income, almost infinite expansion

opportunities for growing biotech

companies and last but not least the broad

variety of cultural activities and the famous

cultural heritage - these factors set BioRiver®

apart from other biotech clusters,

particularly those concentrated in a

small area. Four million

inhabitants live within a circle

with a radius of less than 23

miles. Together with its

outstanding transport

infrastructure, this makes

BioRiver® compact and

accessible.

The key players of this

biotech region - represen-

tatives of the universities

forming BioRiver Science,

the cities, economic

promotion agencies and

chief administrators,

the BioRiver Companies,

the Chambers of Industry

and Commerce, technology

centres and initiatives like Bio-Gen-Tec,

BioCologne, LifeTec Aachen-Jülich, BioTec

Erft and LSA Life Science Agency - they all

present the potentials of this leading biotech

cluster worldwide using the brand BioRiver®.

Contact

bioriver KoordinationMartin KretschmerPhone: (+49) (0) 7 00 - BIORIVER

(+49) (0) 7 00 - 24 67 48 37E-mail: info@bioriver.deWeb: www.bioriver.de

BioRegion

40

Heartbeat of Life Sciences in Europe

Meuse Rhine Triangle

In the cross-border region, where Germany,

The Netherlands and Belgium intersect, more

than 200 companies are active in the field of

Life Sciences. The same region hosts five

Universities, with approximately 17,000

students in medicine, biology, medical

technology or biotechnology and numerous

research institutes, that set accents in the life

sciences landscape. For that reason the

European Union supports the programme

„Heartbeat of Life Sciences in Europe -Meuse

Rhine Triangle“. In November 2002 the tri-

national region was awarded a contract for

three years. With an overall budget of A 1.7

Million seven partners aim is to create a

„Silicon Valley“ of medical technology and

biotechnology in the cross-border region. The

regional development agency AGIT, located

at Aachener Technologiezentrum am

Europaplatz, is co-ordinating partner of the

programme.

In the first stage the project partners focused

on common core-competences: for example

biomaterials produced by Matricel located in

Herzogenrath. This young company, located

at Herzogenrath technology park, sets

cartilage-suffered athletes on their feet again

because damaged cartilage doesn’t grow

together by itself. In future it should be

possible to set in patients new cultured

cartilage cells on a carrier material by

Matricel. Companies like Eurogentec in Liège,

DSM in Heerlen or DASGIP in Jülich represent

an additional Life Sciences field in the tri-

national region: bio-engineering. DASGIP for

instance offers all-round equipment for

fermentation, the production of microbiolo-

gically generated materials on a large scale.

Apart from traditional German companies

like Grünenthal, Belgian firms like Tibotec

work on diagnostics and therapeutics too.

The pharmacy company Tibotec from

Mechelen develops medication for HIV-

treatment meant for people infected with the

AIDS-virus. AplaGen from Baesweiler a

representative for the field of genomics and

proteomics develops a non-hormonal

contraceptive pill. Core competence in

medical technology: Medtronic, located in

the Netherlands, fabricates medical devices

for heart-circulation therapy like cardiac

pacemakers and cardiac catheters.

These are many different competences with

different addresses which should grow

together. Besides the technology-transfer

offices of the Universities of Liège, Maastricht

and Aachen the other partners are AGIT, the

Aachen -Liège - Maastricht

41

Dutch NV Industrial Bank LIOF, the

Municipality of Maastricht and the economic

development agency (WFG) East-Belgium

located in Eupen.

But there’s more than cumulative Life

Sciences know-how that speaks well for the

tri-national region. Via the international

airports of Cologne-Bonn, Düsseldorf,

Maastricht-Aachen, Brussels and Liège, this

region is in reach of major European cities in

just a few hours time. The largest cities in

the tri-national region are Aachen with

250,000, Lüttich 200,000 and Maastricht

125,000 inhabitants. Life Sciences companies

are able to find an area for research and

development in several specialised

technology and start-up centres like the

medical technology centre (MTZ) next to the

university clinic of Aachen, Jülich’s High-Tech

Mall, the Chemelot High Chem industrial

park in Geleen, Sart Tilman Science Park in

Liège and in the near future also in the Bio

Partner Centre of Maastricht, which is under

construction.

The region is increasingly developing a

model character for European integration.

The 3.8 million inhabitants of the tri-national

region enjoy the unique variety of a multi-

cultural environment.

Contact

Heartbeat of Life Sciences in Europe – c/o AGITTechnologiezentrum am Europaplatz D-52068 Aachen

Dr. Ute Schelhaas (project co-ordination) Phone: (+49) (0) 2 41-9 63-10 63 E-mail: u.schelhaas@agit.deUte Steinbusch (public relations) Phone: (+49) (0) 2 41-9 63-10 61 E-mail: u.steinbusch@agit.deWeb: www.heartbeatineurope.org

Federal state organisation

42

Hesse

BioRegion Hesse: a Life Science location bridging the entire value chain!

The Federal State of Hesse has always been a traditional location for the chemical and

pharmaceutical industries and for medical technology in Germany, with a total of over 100,000

people employed in these areas. Hesse, together with Frankfurt as its economic centre, covers the

entire value chain for biotechnology products in diagnostics and therapy, ranging from basic

research and clinical research to production, logistics and marketing - the conditions available here

are not matched anywhere else in Germany.

Research

More than 600 professors and about 17,000 students are engaged in the Life Sciences at five

universities, three university clinics and five research facilities. Major focal points include the

Centre for Membrane Proteomics and the specialised research work on RNA-ligand interaction in

Frankfurt, terrestrial microbiology and tumour research in Marburg, and medical research in

Giessen. Other important areas are bionics and metagenomic research in Darmstadt.

Business

Hesse is the location of major Life Science

companies such as Aventis, Bayer CropScience,

Altana, Merck, Fresenius and Merz. These are

followed by a dense net of up-and-coming

medium-sized firms such as Stada, Biotest or B.

Braun Melsungen, to name only a few. And all

are flanked by a wide range of service providers

in the varied fields of clinical research,

production, law, finances, personnel, marketing

and sales.

Infrastructure

Thanks to its excellent transport structure and

its long-established competence in

pharmaceutical services, Hesse is an ideal

location for maturing biotech companies which

have moved out of the research phase and are

ready to engage in clinical research, upscaling

or production. It has specialised industrial parks

43

where biotech companies will find all the necessary competences enabling them to concentrate on

their core business. These include personnel acquisition and training, waste disposal, plant

construction and a wide range of highly specialised services.

This established competence of Hesse alongside the pharmaceutical value chain is unique

throughout Germany and will prove to be of very special advantage for the maturing biotech

industry.

Economic Development

The Hesse Government specifically promotes Life Sciences and chemistry, and has created a

package of programmes for this purpose. The Germany-wide business plan competition

Science4Life, implemented in cooperation with Aventis, is aimed at potential founders and offers

comprehensive advice and assistance. The Hessen-Invest BioStart grant programme gives

entrepreneurs financial support in the pre-seed phase. The entire consulting services about the

financial support is localized at one spot: the Beratungszentrum of the InvestitionsBank Hessen AG

in Frankfurt.

Hesse also possesses a network of incubator centres with specially tailored packages for start-ups.

All biotechnology activities of the regional Ministry of the Economy are coordinated by the

TechnologieStiftung Hessen.

TechnologieStiftung Hessen GmbHAktionslinie hessen-biotechDr. Detlef TerzenbachAbraham-Lincoln-Str. 38-4265189 WiesbadenPhone: (+49) (0) 6 11-7 74-6 13Fax: (+49) (0) 6 11-7 74-6 20E-mail: terzenbach@tsh-hessen.deWeb: www.tsh-hessen.de

Contact

BioRegion

44

Frankfurt

Biotech goes Business

The FrankfurtRheinMain region offers an

excellent opportunity to capitalise on recent

breakthroughs in the life sciences. Its

biotechnology network, business community,

location and infrastructure combine to create

the perfect environment for success in the

European biotech market. As Europe’s largest

„pharmacy“, Frankfurt region hosts more

than 100 biotech oriented companies. Many

international companies such as Aventis

Pharma, Abbott, E. Merck, and Fresenius

provide opportunities for collaborative

agreements and strategic alliances.

Five universities, 8 technical colleges, and

over 100 research institutes in the area form

the basis for research and development with

a strong focus on structural biotech research

and bio-informatics. In these fields, the

University of Frankfurt is endowed with state-

of-the-art equipment and research personal

and is ranked within the top 10 research

facilities world wide. The advances made

here in Frankfurt in the fields of structural

biotech research and bio-informatics put the

Frankfurt business location five years ahead

of all other German biotech regions, as these

science disciplines form the decisive link

between innovation and production.

The city of Frankfurt am Main lies at the

heart of the European continent. Its strategic

location has led Frankfurt to become a

centre for trade and commerce. With the

largest airport in continental Europe,

Europe’s biggest passenger train station,

excellent cargo ports (both river and air),

access to Germany’s most important

Autobahns, unparalleled telecom

infrastructure, and continental Europe’s

busiest internet hub, the city of Frankfurt is

the perfect portal for European market entry.

Next to its superb infrastructure the region

also has several interesting initiatives for the

advancement of the biotech industry.

In the year 2000, companies as well as other

organizations who are interested in an

accelerated growth of the biotechnology

industry, joined up as the Frankfurt Bio Tech

Alliance. This interest group, in which ad hoc

working groups formulate biotech projects,

strives to promote Frankfurt as a biotech

cluster on a national and international level

in order to attract foreign direct investment.

The Frankfurt Bio Tech Alliance features

Frankfurt biotech firms such as Aventis

More than real estate: TheFrankfurt Innovation Centre

45

Pharma or Merck KGaA; venture capital firms

such as Future Capital AG, as well as

Frankfurt’s prominent research and industry

park InfraServ Hoechst and the Frankfurt

Airport/Tradeport and many other small and

medium sized companies.

The new Frankfurt Innovation Centre for

Biotechnology (FIZ) links the financial,

pharmaceutical, and biotechnology sectors

and moves ideas and projects from mind to

market. The FIZ is more than just a real

estate project. Its management takes the

leading role for the development of the life

science industry in Frankfurt by

implementing and accelerating new

processes which are not being sufficiently

driven by the market economy.

Roland Koch, Hessian Minister President, and the Mayorof the City of Frankfurt, Petra Roth, at the laying of thecornerstone ceremony of the Frankfurt Innovation Centre

Contact

Frankfurt Bio Tech AllianceDr. Thorsten StrubeAltenhöferallee 360438 Frankfurt

Phone: (+49) (0) 160-91 34 08 29Fax: (+49) (0) 60-2 19 71-6 13E-mail: strube@biotec-frm.deWeb: www.biotec-frm.de

BioRegion

46

Marburg

Future technologies in

Marburg:

Biotechnology Initiative

Marburg

One of Marburg’s most

outstanding economic

development factors surely is

the field of life sciences as do

show not only the rates of

growth of the companies that

have developed from the

former Behringwerke. Also the

Philipps-University departments of biology,

chemistry, medicine and pharmacy together

with the Max-Planck-Institute are an

impressive demonstration of the scientific

and economic potentials available in that

region. Top field positions in inter-university

ranking and the many company conceptions

from Marburg that were prize-winning in the

nation-wide Science4Life contest convincingly

underline Marburg’s reputation in this

regard. The vision that the success story of

noble-prize winner and entrepreneur Emil

von Behring could be repeated is shared by

many professionals active in the promotion

of economic development. Therefore, a close-

meshed promotion network for company

founders and young companies has been

established.

Especially for life sciences the conditions in

Marburg are most favourable, since the

combination of university, Max-Planck-

Institute, the Behring successor companies

and municipal administration offer location

factors unique as to their regional density

and concentration. The Philipps-University

assists in the so-called ‘gentle foundation

scheme’, by supplying laboratory equipment

for a limited period of time. The town itself

offers low-price laboratory premises in the

newly-created Natural Sciences Foundation

47

Centre, the Naturwissenschaftliches

Gründerzentrum (NTZ). In already well-

established large and small BioTech-

companies (e. g. Aventis Behring, Dade

Behring, Chiron Behring, Mochem, Taros

Custom, and Vectron Therapeutics) young

founders find potential partners providing

expert knowledge.

To promote the development and practical

use of biotechnology in Marburg the town

started a Biotechnology Initiative together

with representatives of the federal state of

Hesse, the university, the Max-Planck-Institute

and the Behring successor companies.

Potential founders and young start-up

companies receive practical assistance by

procuring co-operation partners and showing

and offering them possible sponsoring

sources. This Biotechnology Initiative has an

advisory board consisting of key executives of

the university, the Max-Planck-Institute, the

Behring successor companies, the federal

state of Hesse, and the town of Marburg.

In its latest internet presentation the

Initiative shows all at one click under

www.initiative-biotechnologie.de. Relevant

research priorities and their representatives

are as well presented as the methods and

equipment of university institutions and the

product lines of Marburg’s BioTech

companies. At Förderangebote / Promotion

Offers a virtual direct link to network

partners on Federal Government and federal

state levels is installed. Substantial is also the

survey over the industrial site areas available

together with the respective responsible to

address. News informs on latest news,

occurrences and events. To further improve

the conditions for biotechnology in Marburg,

public forums together with the university

and other promotional institutions are

planned for the future, as well as sporadic

BioTech meetings presenting research

priorities and main fields of activity and the

opportunity to talk and exchange ideas with

experts. These meetings shall take place

about four times a year and become an

‘institution’ in Marburg

Contact

Biotechnologie Initiative Marburg

Phone: (+49) (0) 64 21-2 01-5 58Fax: (+49) (0) 64 21-2 01-2 93Dr. Jochen StauderE-mail: hans-jochen.stauder@marburg-stadt.deDr. Roloff JohannsenE-mail: Roloff.Johannsen@t-online.deWeb: www.initiative-biotechnologie.de

Federal state organisation

48

Biotechnology and Life Sciences in Baden-Wuerttemberg

Promotion and strengthening of scientific and economic opportunity

Biotechnology and life sciences are developing into an innovation engine for the new century.

With the establishment of the state foundation BIOPRO Baden-Württemberg GmbH, Baden-

Wuerttemberg has created an instrument for mobilising the strengths of the leading biotech

location on both a national and international level for today and for the future.

Biotechnology is one of the most important growth markets and will, being a typical cross-

sectional technology, have a substantial influence on the development of many scientific and

economic areas. These include human and veterinary medicine, the industrial chemical production

including pharmaceutical production, agriculture and nutrition as well as environmental

protection. In Baden-Wuerttemberg, biotechnology is currently going through a consolidation

process. However, the future prospects for the region are excellent because of the overall economic

and scientific environment. To develop these general conditions further in the short term, BIOPRO

Baden-Württemberg GmbH was founded at the beginning of 2003 as a strategic partner for

international location marketing and the industry-specific promotion of trade and industry. Under

the leadership of Dr. Ralf Kindervater, BIOPRO Baden-Württemberg GmbH focuses, apart from the

above-mentioned measures, on the industry-specific presentation of the competences in science

and research of the universities, advanced technical colleges, and private research institutions as

well as the strengthening of technology transfer.

The excellent and highly diverse research landscape in the area of life sciences in Baden-

Wuerttemberg is complemented by a large number of biotechnology companies.

There are approximately 140 young research-intensive biotech companies in the South West - of

these 67 are core biotechnological industries - developing and utilizing methods and processes of

modern biotechnology. Numerous companies work in the broader areas of the life sciences: These

include approximately 210 companies from the area of medical technology, including 170

companies focusing on laboratory equipment and 40 consulting companies, supplemented by 114

small and medium-sized as well as eight large pharmaceutical companies. The number of genetic

engineering facilities has exceeded 1000. In particular, in the area of pharmaceutical industries,

the growth potentials have become apparent. At the end of this decade, approximately 40% of the

profit will come from biotechnology. It is the task of several transfer agencies to join science with

industry. Coordination offices, such as the Technology Licence Office (TLB), the Steinbeis Transfer

Centres, ifex, and the Agency for International Economic Cooperation (GWZ) are responsible for -

in cooperation with the BIOPRO Baden-Württemberg GmbH - services such as marketing and

Baden-Württemberg

49

administration, and the provision of advice

regarding patenting and strategy matters. The

targeted development of the Baden-Wuerttemberg

area is excellently mirrored in the establishment of

biotechnology parks in the four BioRegions of the

area: Rhine-Neckar-Triangle,

Stuttgart/Tübingen/Esslingen/Reutlingen (STERN),

Freiburg, and Ulm.

The concept of success of the biotechnology location Baden-Wuerttemberg is based on the

extraordinary high concentration of highly efficient research institutions. Life science research is

carried out at eight universities and the four associated university hospitals. Internationally-

renowned research institutions such as the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), the

German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ), and five Max Planck Institutes focusing on life science

research complement this spectrum. The major focus of the research undertaken in these

institutions lies on the neurosciences, molecular and cellular biology, plant sciences, genomics,

developmental biology, tissue engineering, microbiology/infectiology, bioengineering,

biocomputing/systems biology, microarray technology, nano-biotechnology, and structural biology.

In the biotechnological sector, the research landscape of Baden-Wuerttemberg is among the most

efficient and most diverse.

Biotechnology and life sciences are also supported by the Science Minister and the Minister of

Trade of the State of Baden-Wuerttemberg procuring numerous measures such as funding

programmes and trade fairs. In February 2001, the renowned molecular biologist Professor Konrad

Beyreuther was appointed State Councillor for the Protection of Life and Health of the State of

Baden-Wuerttemberg. The establishment of three life science centres received approximately A 60

million: These include the Centre for Biosystems Analysis, the Centre for the Quantitative Analysis

of Molecular and Cellular Biosystems - Bioquant, and the ZytoOrganoPoese Research Network. The

„Biotechnology Offensive“ of the state of Baden-

Wuerttemberg is supported with A 29 million. In 2002,

Baden-Wuerttemberg initiated the GeneStart biotech

award, an international business plan competition in the

area of biotechnology.

Contact

BIOPRO Baden-Württemberg GmbHDr. Ralf KindervaterBreitscheidstraße 470174 Stuttgart

Phone: (+49) (0) 7 11-90 71 52 00Fax: (+49) (0) 7 11-90 71 52 02E-mail: info@bio-pro.deWeb: www.bio-pro.de

BioRegion

50

Rhine- Neckar

The BioRegion Rhine-Neckar Triangle is one

of the leading biotechnology locations in

Europe: The European Molecular Biology

Laboratory, the German Cancer Research

Centre, the Centre of Molecular Biology of

Heidelberg University, the Max-Planck-

Institute for Medical Research, the institutes

and university hospitals of Heidelberg and

Mannheim, the Mannheim University of

Applied Science and the University of

Kaiserslautern, all contribute to the excellent

science base in molecular biology and

molecular medicine.

Research focuses on functional genomics and

proteomics, bioinformatics, neurobiology,

and molecular medicine, particularly in the

fields of cancer research, immunology and

virology. These areas are supplemented by

competence in cell culture and screening

technologies at Mannheim University of

Applied Technology and Design, in

bioinformatics and applied mathematics by

the University of Mannheim, in microbiology

and mycology at the University of

Kaiserslautern and plant gene technology at

the Centre for Green Gene Technology in

Neustadt/Weinstrasse. Altogether, about

3,200 scientists in research institutions are

working in biotechnology-related areas.

The region also comprises international

chemical/pharmaceutical

companies such as BASF and

Abbott in Ludwigshafen, Roche

Diagnostics in Mannheim and

Merck in Darmstadt with

proprietary R&D departments

in biotechnology.

Since the BioRegio

Competition of the federal

government in 1996, when the

The Heidelberg Technology Parkprovides 50,000 m2 for labs andoffices - the largest facility of itskind designed for biotechnologyand life sciences

Triangle

51

BioRegion Rhein-Neckar-Dreieck was awarded

as a „Model Region“, the number of small

and medium-sized enterprises in biotechno-

logy in the BioRegion Rhine-Neckar Triangle

has risen from 31 to more than 85, providing

highly qualified jobs for 1,800 people. Almost

80 per cent of this workforce is employed by

about 45 companies engaged in research and

development, particularly in the drug

discovery process. The innovative strength of

the biotech companies, together with the

know-how and capacities of the big pharma-

ceuticals companies and the scientific

excellence of the academic institutions

provide a competence network in which

biotechnology can flourish. Technology Parks

in the cities of Heidelberg, Mannheim and

Ludwigshafen provide lab and office space as

well as professional advice for setting up and

financing business.

Research institutions and industry, in

conjunction with local authorities, chambers

of commerce, financial institutions and

companies in the services sector, have

formed BioRegion Rhein-Neckar-Dreieck e.V.,

a registered society that serves as an efficient

decision-making body. The society’s main

objective is to initiate development

programmes in close co-operation with

federal and state authorities and the capital

market. Furthermore, its goal is, improving

jobs inbioch SMEs

Biotech companies in Rhine Neckar Triangle

number ofbiotech SMEs

Status: 31.10.2002/EJ

20021996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

20021996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

1800

1600

1400

1200

1000

800

600

400

200

0

Contact

BioRegion Rhein-Neckar-Dreieck e.V.Dr. Ernst-Dieter JaraschIm Neuenheimer Feld 58269120 Heidelberg

Phone: (+49) (0) 62 21-6 49 22-0Fax: (+49) (0) 62 21-6 49 22-15E-mail: jarasch@bioregion-rnd.deWeb: www.bioregion-rnd.de

the infrastructure within which

biotechnology can develop into a thrieving

sector as well as ensuring adequate training

facilities for skilled workers to achieve a

critical mass in the region’s biotech industry.

In doing so, the BioRegion Rhein-Neckar-

Dreieck will be established as one of the

most significant biotechnological areas in

Europe with a potential to compete

successfully with the strong biotech clusters

in the US.

BioRegion

52

StuttgartTübingen

EsslingenReutlingen

Neckar-AlbOne-Stop-Shop for Biotechnology in the

STERN Region

The establishment of BioRegio STERN

Management GmbH goes back to the

participation in the BioProfile competition

held by the BMBF (Federal Ministry of

Education and Research) in 2001. As one of

the winners, STERN BioRegion will receive investment funding of more than A 15

million for young enterprises focussing on

the promising field of regeneration biology

over the next five years.

The major focus of the company is to

promote a wider recognition of the „STERN“

region as a centre of excellence for

biotechnology within the state of Baden-

Wuerttemberg itself, in the whole of

Germany and in all other parts of the world.

STERN stands for Stuttgart, Tübingen,

Esslingen, Reutlingen and the Neckar-Alb

area which form a network to promote

biotechnology in the region and to attract

firms and venture capital to S.W. Germany.

The partners of STERN BioRegion attach

great importance to economic potential in

the field of biotechnology. Thus it is not

surprising that the Stuttgart Region won the

© Lichtenscheidt/Max-Planck-Institut für Entwicklungsbiologie, Tübingen

© Lichtenscheidt/Max-Planck-Institut für Entwicklungsbiologie, Tübingen

53

„Award of Excellence for Innovative Regions“

from the European Commission for two

consecutive years as the most innovative area

in Europe.

The „BioRegio STERN Management GmbH“

has set itself the demanding goal of making

the STERN BioRegion one of Germany’s

leading biotechnology locations. To reach

this goal, the company functions as a central

contact point or one-stop-shop advising the

region’s biotechnology companies, young

entrepreneurs hoping to set up in the region

and the numerous renowned research

Contact

BioRegio STERN Management GmbHDr. Klaus EichenbergFriedrichstraße 10 D-70174 Stuttgart

Phone: (+49) (0) 7 11-87 03 54-0Fax: (+49) (0) 7 11-87 03 54-44E-mail: info@bioregio-stern.de Web: www.bioregio-stern.de

institutions which already exist there. STERN

also organizes publicity and marketing

events, coordinates BioRegio activities and

takes part in international tradeshows and

© Technologiepark Tübingen-Reutlingen GmbH

BioRegion

54

Ulm

The BioRegioUlm is the central location for

biotechnological manufacturing in Europe -

especially for the biotechnological production

of drugs. Companies of the region feature

through almost thirty years of experience in

biotech-manufacturing.

Potentials of BioRegioUlm

- The largest number and amount of

genetically engineered drugs in Europe are

produced in Bioregio Ulm.

- A considerable amount of facilities in

genetic engineering in Baden-Wuerttemberg

are located in the region between Aalen and

Konstanz.

- The Science City of Ulm with the University

of Ulm, the University of Applied Sciences,

Public and Industrial Research Institutes

forms an attractive cooperation model in

immediate proximity.

- The University of Applied Sciences in

Biberach starts a new study programme in

pharmaceutical biotechnology.

- Significant accession of employments, e.g.

Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma KG adds 400

new jobs in the biopharmaceutical

production department; The companies

Vetter and Rentschler have engaged 450

resp. 80 new employees;

- Large investments were made by these

companies (Boehringer Ingelheim im

Biberach A 300 million, Rentschler about

A 20 million, Vetter more than A 17 million).

The Companies

Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma KG has

doubled its capacity for biopharmaceutical

55

production in Biberach. Already the

„Biotechnicum“ was the leading genetic

engineering facility in Europe for drugs

isolated from cell culture. Rentschler

Biotechnology offers the production and

accreditation of recombinant proteins for

therapeutical applications - from the gene to

the development of the process of

manufacturing in laboratory or commercial

scale. Vetter handles biotechnologically

produced substances with high level

technology and ist specialized in the field of

aseptically filled application systems. Labor

Dr. Merk und Kollegen synthesizes virus- and

bacterial antigenes as well as recombinant

proteins in industrial scale. The profile of the

BioRegioUlm is further characterized by

companies like Merckle/ratiopharm (one of

the most successful German producers for

pharmaceuticals), Carl Zeiss (high

performance optics and

medical apparatus),

Grünau Illertissen (food

technologies), Paul

Hartmann (health care

products). Through the

development of these

companies and the

foundation of 30 new start-

ups with about 150 jobs

the number of the biotech-

employments has risen to

more than 2,200 during

the last years.

The Association for the

Advancement of Biotechnology in the

BioRegioUlm is the platform for the further

development of biotechnology in the region.

The main focus of the activities are the

promotion of the cooperation in the region,

consultation in questions of setting up

business, the encouragement of young

scientists as well as public relation and

information.

Contact

BioRegioUlm Förderverein Biotechnologie e.V.Dr. Gabriele GrögerAlbert-Einstein-Allee 5D-89081 Ulm

Phone: (+49) (0) 7 31-5 02 20-04Fax: (+49) (0) 7 31-5 02 20-16E-mail: info@bioregioulm.deWeb: www.bioregioulm.de

BioRegion

56

Freiburg

BioRegion Freiburg - a successful region

within the BioValley

The BioRegion Freiburg is located at the

point where Germany, France and

Switzerland all meet. It is a partner in the tri-

national BioValley network, which pools the

biotechnology potential of the centres of

Freiburg (D), Basle (CH) and Strasbourg (F).

With more than 400 biotech-companies,

including global players like Novartis, Aventis

and Roche, and more than 200 research

institutions, BioValley is able to offer

outstanding competence. Four universities

and the tri-national

university course in

biotechnology

produce highly-

qualified employees.

BioValley is one of

Europe’s most attractive

biotech-clusters.

The BioRegion Freiburg is

known for its excellent and

highly diverse research and

company landscape.

This takes in the

University of Freiburg,

with its unique Faculty of

Applied Science, one of the biggest university

hospitals, the Max Planck Institute for

Immunobiology, the Tumor Biology Centre

as well as five Fraunhofer Institutes,

including the Fraunhofer Institute of Physical

Measurement Techniques, which is active in

the field of bioanalytics.

„Centres of Excellence“ have sprung up in

the areas of oncology, immunology, tissue

engineering, plant biotechnology,

nanotechnology and neuroscience.

Particular mention should be made of the

high-performance technology transfer from

the University of Freiburg, whose portfolio

takes in all the eminent high-tech companies.

With more than 100 biotech companies,

including 40 which are R&D companies, and

more than 45 start-ups since 1996, the

BioRegion Freiburg is one of the most

successful German biotech regions.

The Technology

Foundation

BioMed

Freiburg was set

up in 1996 as a

central network for the region by

political, research and economic

interests with the aim of creating

secure jobs. As the central coordination point

for the BioRegion Freiburg, it additionally

provides a broad range of consultancy

services relating to concept work, financing

and dealing with the authorities. The

regional private equity company of the

Sparkasse Freiburg-Nördlicher Breisgau is

57

Contact

BioRegio FreiburgDr. Bernd Dallmann / Dr. Thea SiegenführRotteckring 1479098 Freiburg

Phone: (+49) (0) 7 61-38 81-8 26Fax: (+49) (0) 7 61-20 20-4 74E-mail: thea.siegenfuehr@fwt-online.deWeb: www.bioregion-freiburg.de

also highly committed to the field of

biotechnology.

At the same time, the Foundation runs the

BioTechPark Freiburg, which offers optimum

start-up and working conditions for both

young and established biotechnology

companies. A total of 6,000 m2 individually-

configured laboratory and office space is

available to start-ups, which are promoted

with a low-cost, graduated rent over a period

of seven years, and a further 24,000 m2 are

available in the InnovationCentre Freiburg.

The fully-equipped start-up laboratory offers

creative scientists the chance to put their

ideas into practice without any investment

expenditure. Companies are integrated in the

BioRegion Freiburg network right from the

start and have the opportunity to remain in

the same premises and undergo expansion

there after their seven-year assisted period has

come to an end.

BioDigital, the international trade fair and

conference on IT and Instrumentation for

Pharmaceutical and Systems Biology Research,

is held every two years in Freiburg, offering a

platform for communication and discussion.

We have been fortunate in being able to

attract the eminent event organiser „IBC Life

Sciences“ to run the associated conference.

Federal state organisation

58

Bavaria

Network ‘Life Science Bavaria’

Bavaria is one of Europe’s leading Biotech Regions. Along with Munich (Martinsried and Freising-

Weihenstephan), Regensburg, Würzburg, Erlangen and Bayreuth provide excellent sites for the

scientific and industrial development of biotechnology. This infrastructure is complemented by the

presence of large chemical and pharmaceutical industries and international companies in the food

as well as the medical engineering sector that use biotechnological processes in a wide range of

applications.

The dynamics and pace of development in biotechnology research along with the broad range of

its potential applications mean that national and international networking between partners is

essential.

59

Contact

Bayern Innovativ GmbHNetzwerk „Life Science Bavaria“Dr. Matthias Konrad / Dr. Kerry Tzu-Hui NipGewerbemuseumsplatz 2D-90403 Nürnberg

Phone: (+49) (0) 9 11-2 06 71-0Fax: (+49) (0) 9 11-2 06 71-7 66E-mail: lifescience@bayern-innovativ.deWeb: www.bayern-innovativ.de

www.lifescience-bavaria.de

With this in mind, Bayern Innovativ GmbH established the Network ‚Life Science Bavaria’ together

with the coordinators of the Bavarian Bioregions - BioM AG, BioPark Regensburg GmbH and

BioMedTec Franken e.V. - and with the support of the Bavarian State Ministry for Economic Affairs,

Infrastructure, Transport and Technology.

The goal of the Network is to provide up-to-date information about the latest developments and

emerging trends in biotech, as well as to initiate personal contacts so that novel constellations of

national and international cooperation can be realised. New themes and their implementation will

bring potential partners on an interdisciplinary level together.

The Network ‚Life Science Bavaria’ encompasses subjects around biotechnology that range from

drug development, plant genetics in agriculture, functional food in nutrition, biotooling and tissue

engineering for medicine or bioprocess engineering in the chemical industry and the

environmental area.

A portfolio of platforms ensures that the Network ‘Life Science Bavaria’ can stimulate cooperations

along the value chain and across disciplines. These platforms include congresses such as the

‘Forum Life Science’, cooperation fora, one-on-one cooperation meetings, joint stands at

international high-tech fairs as well as individual technology transfer projects. The quarterly

Newsletter brings the latest Biotech news from Bavaria, while the homepage www.lifescience-

bavaria.de goes further, offering competence profiles and cooperation interests from companies

and institutes as well as daily updated news.

Information: www.lifescience-bavaria.de

BioRegion

60

The BioMedTec Franken-Triangle:

Joining forces between the university

cities of Würzburg, Erlangen-Nuremberg

and Bayreuth

The specialized life science profiles of each of

the universities within the BioMedTec

Franken-triangle contribute to a

complementary and comprehensive

spectrum of research and technologies - the

basis for new commercial applications.

Bayreuth - Structural Biology and

Biochemistry:

Bayreuth has the smallest university of the

triangle, collecting, however, the largest

amount of federal research grants (DFG) per

scientist in the field of biomedicine in

Germany. Bayreuth contributes renowned

structural biology, featuring a top modern

NMR Centre. A new interdisciplinary

incubator for applied biomedical research

projects will be finished in 2004. Those

institutions form a stronghold for the

development of new pharmaceuticals.

Erlangen-Nuremberg - Medical Technology:

The city of Erlangen and the University of

Erlangen-Nuremberg strive to become

Germany’s federal capital of medical

research, production and services. Some

recent highlights include the new Institute of

Medical Technology and chairs in

Bioengineering and Structural Biology. The

new graduate programme „Medical

Technology“ stresses the particular emphasis

on this research area. The graduate

programme „Molecular Medicine“ has

become a benchmark for similar

programmes elsewhere.

Würzburg - Biomedicine:

Würzburg completes the triangle. In

biomedicine, Würzburg attracts the second

highest federal grants of all German

Biomed/ZmK

RSG Bad Kissingen

Franconia

61

Contact

BioMedTec Franken e.V.Dr. Stephan Schröder-KöhneManaging DirectorFriedrich-Bergius-Ring 15D-97076 WürzburgGermany

Phone: (+49) (0) 9 31-2 99 88-75Fax: (+49) (0) 9 31-2 99 88-94E-mail: ssk@biomedtec-franken.deWeb: www.biomedtec-franken.de

universities. The Theodor-Boveri Institute for

Biosciences and the newly awarded Rudolf-

Virchow-Centre for Experimental

Biomedicine are but two prestigious

institutions that keep up this tradition of

world class interdisciplinary research.

Würzburg has installed the first Institute for

Bioinformatics in Northern Bavaria, an

important building block in the Franconian

Bioinformatics Network.

BioMedTec Franken e.V.- Network

Management:

BioMedTec Franken e.V. was founded by

scientists from the three Franconian

universities as a non-profit organisation in

1999. Its purpose is to build a biotechnology-

community in Franconia, to support

biotechnology start-ups with information and

network-contacts, to initiate and coordinate

new collaborative projects and to attract

public funding and investors to Franconia.

The network is supported by the „Bavarian

High Tech Initiative“. It comprises the

universities, companies, administration, and

other support organisations. BioMedTec

Franken is part of the Network Life Science

Bavaria.

Incubators:

Besides the established incubator RSG in Bad

Kissingen, brand new facilities for start-up

companies are available in Franconia. Since

2001 the „BioMed/ZmK“ in Würzburg

provides laboratory and office space for

biomedical and information-technology

companies. The surrounding Science Park

has ample space for expansion and new

settlement. The technology-centre „Medical

Technology and Pharma“ in Erlangen has

started operation in 2003. The IZMP comes

with built-in synergies as it is located in the

same building complex as the new Institute

for Medical Technology and is situated

within walking distance to many university

institutes and to Siemens Medical Solutions.

Companies: Franconia is the youngest of the

Biotechnology regions in Bavaria, but

growing quickly. Out of almost 40

companies, 19 have been founded since

2000, mostly spin-offs from the universities.

Many of them develop pharmaceuticals in

oncology, heart, neurodegenerative and

infectious diseases on the basis of proprietory

technologies.

IZMP

BioRegion

62

Regensburg

B i o R e g i o R e g e n s b u r g -

Successes „Made in Regensburg“

The BioPark Regensburg GmbH is the

management and coordination centre of the

biotechnology cluster BioRegio Regensburg

in the heart of Europe. Currently 34

companies with 1000 employees are active in

the biotechnology cluster, the so-called

BioRegio Regensburg. They recently achieved

sales totalling some A 100 Million. The

BioRegio Regensburg has thus developed into

the second most important biotechnology

region in Bavaria after Munich.

With its University, University of Applied

Sciences and the medical centre, Regensburg

possesses the best state-of-the-art facilities in

Bavaria. Various special fields of research of

the German Research Association (DFG) and

several assistance measures on the part of

the Federal Ministry of Education and

Research (bmb+f) may be mentioned here.

Also the services of well-known foundations

such as José Carreras or Volkswagen have

been obtained for the research work.

Research is being done in Regensburg on

therapies to combat cancers such as

leukaemia and brain tumours as well as on

the development of serums to fight AIDS.

Furthermore the Regensburg research groups

are involved in the fight against Alzheimer’s

and Parkinson’s Diseases, too. In the field of

infection biology the medical centre is a

partner of the renowned World Health

Organisation (WHO). Regensburg is also the

focus of new technologies and is developing

competence centres for telemedicine and

sensor technology.

Opening ceremony with Dr. Edmund Stoiber,Bavarian Minister President, Hans Schaidinger,Mayor of the City of Regensburg and Dr. ThomasDiefenthal, CEO of BioPark Regensburg GmbH

Building of the BioPark Regensburg GmbH

63

With the foundation of BioPark Regensburg

GmbH in 1999 the successful efforts of the

federal BioRegio Initiative (1996) and the

regional High-Tech-Offensive of the State of

Bavaria (1999) focused in a biotechnology

centre with top-quality laboratory space of

6,000 sqm on the university campus.

Through the integration of the BioPark into

the regional Northern Bavaria Business Plan

Competition the young entrepreneurs were

able to make themselves better known and

regularly hold their own among the top ten.

For example, for three Regensburg

companies prizes were awarded at the

BioChance Competition sponsored by

the Federal Ministry of Education and

Research. A competence centre for

Fluorescent Bioanalysis of the University

of Regensburg was established in 2002

into the now booked out BioPark

building as interface between

universities and economy in the region.

The integration of established firms,

with their experience and know-how,

was also very successful in Regensburg.

Companies like Antisense Pharma

GmbH with 30 employees is one of the

biggest at BioPark and is conducting

clinical tests in Regensburg. And it is in

the pharmaceutical and biotechnology

field that everything revolves around

global markets. In consequence the

establishment of international companies

and institutes is also of special significance.

The US-NASDAQ-listed biotech company

Tularik Inc. in San Francisco conducts its

European business and research activities

since 2000 at the BioPark Regensburg and is

owned in 2004 by Amgen Inc.

Another firm, ChemTech Research

Companies and institutions in BioParkRegensburg and the Regensburg area

Contact

BioPark Regensburg GmbHDr. Thomas Diefenthal, Ph.D.Josef-Engert-Str. 9D-93053 RegensburgGermany

Phone: +49 941-920 460Fax: +49 941-920 4624E-mail : info@biopark-regensburg.de Web: www.bioregio-regensburg.de

Incorporation(C-TRI) from South Korea,

combines its European research activities

with those of the University of Regensburg at

BioPark Regensburg together with KoBioVen

(Korean Bio Venture Association), which runs

its European office from here and therefore

underlines the strategic alliances of the City

to Seoul. The Cluster of BioRegio Regensburg

also includes well-known companies like

Wilden AG, Bionorica AG or Baxter AG. Due

to continual growth, BioPark II (2005, to

double space) and the development of a

Technology Park Regensburg (2007) are in

the planning stage.

BioRegion

64

The gateway to the Munich biotech region:The Innovation and Foundation Centre forBiotechnology (IZB) in Martinsried

Munich

Leading Position in Germany

After an explosion in the number newly-

founded companies in the 1990s, there are

now over 150 life science firms in the Greater

Munich Area, among these are 100 small and

medium sized biotechnology firms. The

workforce in the BioTech-Region München

has increased tenfold in as many years and

now reaches over 2500 employees. Munich is

the leading biotech region within Germany

with respect to the number of products in

the clinical phase: over 70 products are

currently in the pipeline, many being in, or

related to, the field of oncology.

Close links between science and industry

Two universities, two polytechnic institutes,

three biology-oriented Max Planck Institutes,

the Research Centre for the Environment and

Health (GSF) as well as several service

companies make Munich to what can be

described as a cluster. An important factor

for success of the BioTech-Region München is

the close proximity of excellent scientific

institutes and universities, a large number of

successful financing rounds and deals,

consequent support of biotechnology on the

part of the Bavarian Regional Government,

excellent infrastructure and, above all, a

critical mass of excellently qualified

personnel.

Pacemaker of the region - BioM

BioM is a financing, service and consulting

company whose aim is to promote the

development of the BioTech-Region München

Full pipeline: Compared to other Germanregions companies in the Munich area havethe largest number of product candidates inclinical phase I-III

65

as an internationally renowned centre of

excellence in the field of innovative

biotechnology. It is the first point of contact

for biotech start-up companies seeking

financial support or business advice. Through

the BioM network which includes all

important players in the region (represen-

tatives from public offices, scientific

institutions, venture capitalists and biotech

companies), BioM assists Munich-based

companies in finding the right contacts and

partners. Part of an additional service offered

by BioM is the organization of seminars and

workshops on a broad range of topics

relevant to the successful development of a

biotech company. The young firms are also

offered the possibility of participating in

larger exhibitions, partnering conferences

and other events.

BioM has set up a seed-finance programme to

provide young and promising biotechnology

companies with venture capital in the initial

seed- and start-up phases. Since the

beginning of 2002, BioM also manages a

Venture Capital Fund for later-stage

investments primarily in unquoted growth

companies and start-ups in the field of Life

Sciences.

Contact

BioM AGProf. Dr. Horst DomdeyAm Klopferspitz 1982152 Martinsried

Phone: (+49) (0) 89-89 96 79–0Fax: (+49) (0) 89-89 96 79–79E-mail: info@bio-m.deWeb: www.bio-m.de

The new biotech centre in the North of Munich:The IZB in Weihenstephan

Fighting cancer: Many companies in Munichfocus on new oncological therapies

The BioM team

Biotech success stories

66

Axxima® Pharmaceuticals AG is a research-

based drug discovery company focusing on

kinases as drug targets. The company has

built a wide range of unique and powerful

platform technologies, tailor-made for the

protein kinase target family that reflects the

role of Axxima as a kinase powerhouse.

Axxima has successfully pioneered the novel

strategy of generating a „Signal Transduction

Firewall“ against infectious diseases by

blocking critical signaling pathways and

developed several novel kinase inhibitor

classes that address novel mechanisms of

action. Axxima’s kinase inhibitors also possess

a significant upside in other indication areas,

such as cancer, inflammation and disorders of

the metabolic, immunological and

neurological systems.

Axxima’s approach to drug development is

based on the use of its proprietary pre-

optimized drug-like lead compounds. These

„Masterkey“ chemical entities offer the

opportunity to start novel kinase inhibitor

projects with an almost fully optimized

compound. Axxima can select the disease

field of application based on medical need,

commercial and marketing criteria and

develop novel 2nd generation kinase

inhibitors with improved selectivity profiles

and superior safety properties.

Tapping its pipeline, Axxima plans to out-

license, sell or partner products at defined

development stages to customers in the

pharmaceutical industry.

The company is managed by Dr. Yoram

Karmon (CEO), Dr. Gerhard Müller (CSO) and

Clive Krückemeyer (CFO). The company was

founded by a group of experienced scientists

led by Dr. Axel Ullrich, Director of the

Molecular Biology department at the Max-

Planck-Institute for Biochemistry in

Martinsried and is operating since 1998. In

August 1999, Axxima set up its subsidiary,

Vichem Kft, in Budapest, Hungary. Axxima’s

headquarters are in Munich since March

2003.

In three private financing rounds Axxima has

received a total of A 54 million from German

and international investors. Lead investor of

the third financing round was Bear Stearns

Health Innoventures, New York. The previous

financing rounds were led by Techno Venture

Management of Munich, Germany. Currently

the Company’s staff totals 65, located at

Axxima’s headquarters in Munich, Germany,

and at its Hungarian subsidiary Vichem Kft.

in Budapest.

www.axxima.de

Axxima Munich

67

Biofrontera AG, a privately-held biotech

company, was founded in 1997 and is located

in Leverkusen, Germany.

Biofrontera has a unique natural compound

collection and strength in natural compound

modification, which it combines with

proprietary molecular and in vivo

pharmacology, to build a pipeline of novel

neuroinflammatory drugs.

Biofrontera AG holds two wholly-owned

subsidiaries, Biofrontera Discovery GmbH in

Heidelberg and Biofrontera Pharmaceuticals

GmbH in Leverkusen.

Biofrontera Discovery concentrates on lead

discovery and optimization, based on unique

collection of more than 50,000 fungi, soil and

marine microorganisms.

More than 2 mln. natural compounds in

prepurified fractions are available for

screening. The technology platform comprises

high throughput screening, fermentation,

and synthetic chemistry.

Biofrontera Pharmaceuticals’ focus is to build

a drug pipeline of neuroinflammatory drugs,

using molecular, cellular and in vivo

pharmacology, with a strong emphasis of

integrating genomics technologies. The

technology platform allows drug profiling

based on neuroanatomical,

biochemical and behaviour

tests combined with highly

sensitive transcriptome analysis

on selected animal models for

neurodegenerative disorders.

Biofrontera has built a well-balanced project

pipeline with a first project in Phase II

clinical trials, followed by research projects at

various stages of preclinical development,

lead finding and optimization. Interim results

of the Phase II study of Biofrontera’s lead

candidate demonstrated excellent efficacy.

Technology modules available for contract

research are listed below:

- natural compound libraries

- screening services on natural compounds

- lead optimization services

- pharmacology services (in vitro, in vivo

compound profiling)

- contract research on selected indications

www.biofrontera.de

BiofronteraLeverkusen

Biotech success stories

68

BRAIN AG focuses on the discovery and

development of novel bioactives, enzymes and

drugs. In a unique approach to the

identification and production of new natural

compounds and biocatalysts the company

applies advanced molecular biology

technologies to benefit from so far untapped

biodiversity. Its success is centred around the

powerful EvoSolution® discovery platform

with a proprietary BioArchive comprising

millions of genes of as yet uncultivable micro-

organisms and of microbial isolates.

The „metagenome“ libraries contain cloned

DNA fragments representing the genomes of

habitat-specific communities of micro-

organisms, more than 99 percent of which

are generally uncultivable. They encode a

wealth of novel enzymes and entire metabolic

pathways. BRAIN creates Large-Insert-Libraries

(LIL“) and Activity-Based-Expression-Libraries

(ABEL“) out of these libraries to exploit this

biodiversity. BRAIN also offers a tool-box for

functional cell-based assays to identify leads

from natural compound libraries in a primary

screening and to validate potential candidates

with modular signal transduction

components.

These validated resources, combined with

scientific expertise and technical skills enable

the company to rapidly identify novel

biomolecules to meet the demands for

enzymes, biocatalysts, cosmeceuticals,

nutriceuticals and new pharmaceuticals in

the bioprocessing and chemical as well as in

the pharma and life science industries.

BRAIN’s team of 40 scientists, graduate

engineers and technicians handles fully

integrated projects within the framework of

contract research agreements, R&D

partnerships and alliances with industrial

partners as well as universities and institutes.

Through in-house projects the company

constantly validates and builds up its

resources and keeps abreast of latest

technological advances in molecular and cell

biology. With its state-of-the-art research

facilities, know-how and commitment to

custom-made, cost-effective and confidential

collaborations BRAIN has established itself as

a reliable and competent partner.

BRAIN was founded in 1993 as a privately

owned and independent research corporation

by Dr. Holger Zinke (CEO) and Dr. Jürgen Eck

(CSO). BRAIN resides in a Bauhaus-style

industrial building which was acquired in

1996 and entirely restored to a fully

integrated infrastructure.

www.brain-biotech.de

BrainZwingenberg

69

Cellzome is a drug discovery company

building a R & D pipeline in chronic diseases,

with a primary focus on Alzheimer’s disease.

Cellzome is leveraging its powerful drug

proteomics engine to generate an ongoing

pipeline, both for in-house drug development

and through partnership. Founded in a

partnership with the European Molecular

Biology Laboratories (EMBL), Cellzome has

combined scientific leadership with

experienced pharmaceutical industry

management.

Cellzome’s unique drug proteomics platform,

a combination of chemical proteomics and

pathway expansion, enables de-risked lead

optimization and generates a strong pipeline

of efficient drug candidates for chronic

human diseases.

With its chemical proteomics capabilities,

Cellzome takes existing drugs and pharmaco-

logically active compounds to identify their

protein targets in the human proteome. These

protein targets are then mapped on cellular

pathways using Cellzome’s pathway expansion

technology, detecting the link between the

drug, its protein target and the disease

pathway. The technology platform allows

efficient and scalable chemical proteomics

and pathway expansion experiments to be

performed in a broad variety of cell types and

tissues. This process generates a strong

pipeline of opportunities both for Cellzome’s

in-house drug discovery as well as for

partnerships.

Cellzome is in active discussions with leading

pharmaceutical companies and other

potential partners. To date Cellzome has

entered research collaborations with Johnson

& Johnson Pharmaceuticals R & D and Bayer

HealthCare AG.

Cellzome is seeking strategic drug discovery

collaborations in Alzheimer’s disease. In

addition, the company is partnering its

powerful drug proteomics engine for drug

discovery.

Cellzome is a privately held company. In

March 2003 the company completed its Series

C funding at an amount of approx. A 30

million. Cellzome’s investors include Advent

International, Atlas Venture, Biofrontier

Partners, Heidelberg Innovation, Index

Ventures, Invesco Private Capital, Schroder

Ventures Life Sciences, SG Asset Management,

Sofinnova Partners, and Yamanouchi Venture

Capital.

www.cellzome.com

Cellzome Heidelberg

Biotech success stories

70

DeveloGen is a biology driven drug discovery

company developing innovative therapies for

type 1 and type 2 diabetes, obesity and

metabolic syndrome. Founded as a spin-off of

the Max-Planck Institute for Biophysical

Chemistry, DeveloGen started operations in

1998 and currently has close to 80 employees.

In 2001, the company raised around A 40

million from prominent investors in one of the

largest German financing rounds of that year

lead by TVM and Dresdner Kleinwort Capital.

Type 2 diabetes, obesity and metabolic

syndrome are multifactorial diseases, which

call for innovative approaches for the

identification of novel drug targets. DeveloGen

carries out »phenotype-first« screens for disease

specific targets to develop new drugs for the

treatment of these diseases. In 2003,

DeveloGen entered into a drug discovery

partnership with Evotec OAI. The partnership

creates an integrated venture combining

DeveloGen’s pipeline of over 200 primary

candidates and 30 validated targets as well as

its know-how in pharmacology, metabolic

diseases, and assay development with Evotec

OAI’s competence ranging from assay

development and screening all the way

through to medicinal chemistry and drug

manufacture.

DeveloGen’s approach for the treatment of

type 1 diabetes follows the concept of

regenerative medicine and is focused on

developmental control genes specifying

tissue regeneration. The programme is

based on the scientific work of Professor

Peter Gruss, a DeveloGen co-founder, and

was awarded the German Prize for

Technology and Innovation by the

President of the Federal Republic of Germany

in 1999. In further studies DeveloGen scientists

showed that the developmental control gene

Pax4 is able to drive the differentiation of

progenitor, or stem cells, into insulin

producing cells, both in-vitro and in-vivo. After

transplantation, these insulin-secreting cells

are able to normalize blood glucose levels of

diabetic mice and protect the animals from

hyperglycemic episodes. DeveloGen is now

actively pursuing a drug discovery programme

with the goal to find small molecules which

function as activators of Pax4.

DeveloGen has received supporting grants

from the German Ministry of Education and

Science, the Ministry of Science of the State of

Lower Saxony and the European Union. The

company is working together with leading

research institutes in Europe and the USA. All

technologies and products developed so far

are extensively protected by international

patents and exclusive licenses.

In November 2003, DeveloGen announced its

intention to merge with Peptor Ltd. a biophar-

maceutical company based in Israel. The

merger is subject to shareholders’ approval

and is expected to close within the first half of

2004. The merger will create an integrated

biopharmaceutical company with a deep

clinical, preclinical and discovery pipeline of

medicines to treat metabolic diseases. The

merged entity’s lead product, DiaPep277, is in

phase II clinical trials for type 1 diabetes.

www.develogen.de

DeveloGenGöttingen

71

Epigenomics is one of the largest German

private biotechnology companies with 143

staff in Berlin and a wholly-owned subsidiary

in Seattle, USA. In 2003, revenues were over

A 10 million.

In a partnership with Swiss company Roche,

the firm develops novel products for

diagnosis, early detection and better

treatment prognosis for cancer. So far, more

than A 56 million of venture capital have

been raised. The company was founded in

November 1998 after Alexander Olek’s PhD-

thesis at the Max-Planck-Institute for

Molecular Genetics in Berlin, during which he

filed the basic patent for the work of

Epigenomics. Four colleagues joined him in

the founder team, an interdisciplinary group

with the vision of fighting cancer and other

diseases using totally new means. The key lies

in a novel level of information, DNA-

methylation: a small methyl group can

naturally be attached to one of the four

building blocks of DNA. This entails a

silencing of unneeded genes even in the

healthy organ, because the methyl group

stops transcription factors from binding. The

pattern of methylated cytosines tells which

tissue a cell belongs to, but even diseases

have their own characteristic methylation

pattern. Epigenomics AG exploits this fact to

identify disease, mainly cancer, in very early

stages, when the chances of successful

treatment are highest.

In addition, Epigenomics together with

pharma companies AstraZeneca and Wyeth

Pharmaceuticals as well as Roche develops

pharmacodiagnostic products: ideally, a

patient in the future will be prescribed a

drug only if he benefits from it. Discussions

with other diagnostic and pharma companies

are underway and will lead to further

collaborations.

www.epigenomics.com

EpigenomicsBerlin

Biotech success stories

72

Company Profile

Evotec OAI has established itself as the

partner of choice for drug discovery and

development services for pharmaceutical and

biotechnology companies worldwide,

maintaining its leadership role through

innovation and unmatched customer service.

The Company’s business strategy is clearly

focused on drug discovery. It has established

the most comprehensive technology platform

and skills that integrate its world-class biology

and chemistry capabilities. Evotec OAI

leverages this discovery engine by providing

assay development and screening through to

compound optimisation and drug

manufacturing services, to a broad and well-

established network of customers. In addition,

the company engages in selected discovery

programmes itself to develop drug candidates

for early out-licensing. Evotec OAI’s

instrument and technology business is now

successfully handled by its affiliate, Evotec

Technologies.

Over the last 10 years we have successfully

completed more than 1,200 projects for over

150 companies including Amgen, Elixir,

GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer,

Serono and Vertex. Several cooperations have

been expanded and / or extended. As a result,

we have identified four drug candidates for

our partners, which are currently in Phase I

of clinical trials.

Our Offering:

- Assay development

- Experiences in various target classes (GPCR,

kinases, ion channels)

- Screening (MTS, HTS, uHTS and virtual)

- Compound libraries (focused, synthesised,

natural, virtual)

- Computational chemistry

- Structural biology

- Medicinal chemistry

- Analytical chemistry

- ADMET platform

- Process research &

development

- Scale up and manufacturing

according to cGMP standards

- Formulation

- Quality and regulation support

Evotec OAI and its subsidiaries

work closely together with

universities and other research

institutions on future-orientated topics. This

research resulted in several projects initiated

and financed by the BMBF - in particular, in

the area of biotechnology and

nanotechnology.

Year of incorporation: 1993

Founders: Dr Ulrich Aldag, Dr Karsten

Henco, Prof Freimut Leidenberger,

Prof Heinrich Schulte, Prof Manfred Eigen

and other scientists

IPO: 1999

Turnover 2003: A 77 million

Number of employees: > 640

Evotec OAIHamburg

www.evotecoai.com

73

GPC Biotech AG is a biotechnology company

discovering and developing new anticancer

drugs. The company’s lead product candidate

- satraplatin - is currently in a Phase 3

registrational trial as a second-line

chemotherapy treatment in hormone-

refractory prostate cancer primarily in the

U.S. and Europe, following successful

completion of a Special Protocol Assessment

by the U.S. FDA and receipt of a Scientific

Advice letter from the European regulatory

authority, EMEA. The FDA has also granted

fast track designation to satraplatin for this

indication. Satraplatin was in-licensed from

Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Other

anticancer programmes in development

include a monoclonal antibody and a cell

cycle inhibitor. The company is leveraging its

drug discovery technologies to elucidate the

mechanisms-of-action of drug candidates and

to support the growth of its drug pipeline.

The company has formed successful alliances

with a number of pharmaceutical and

biotechnology firms. For example, the

company has a multi-year alliance with

ALTANA Pharma AG to establish the ALTANA

Research Institute in the U.S., which provides

GPC Biotech with committed revenues until

2007.

The company was founded in 1997 as a

spin-off of the Max Planck Institute for

Molecular Genetics in Berlin. Since May 2000,

GPC Biotech has been listed on the Frankfurt

Stock Exchange. The company is part of the

TecDAX index, which includes the 30 largest

companies of the Deutsche Boerse’s

technology segment. The company’s market

capitalization was A 318 million by the end

of February 2004. GPC Biotech has

approximately 180 employees, around half

of whom work in the U.S. GPC Biotech AG

is headquartered in Martinsried/Munich

(Germany). The company’s wholly owned

U.S. subsidiary has research sites in Waltham,

Massachusetts and Princeton, New Jersey.

www.gpc-biotech.com

GPC BiotechMartinsried

Biotech success stories

74

Jerini AG is a drug discovery

and development company

based in Berlin, Germany. The

company was founded 1994

as a spin-off from the Medical

Faculty (Charité) Humboldt

University Berlin. Jerini

successfully operates on the

basis of a dual business model that is

supported by two independent units, Jerini

Pharmaceuticals and Jerini Peptide

Technologies (JPT).

Jerini Pharmaceuticals discovers and develops

drugs applying its proprietary Peptides-To-

Drugs (P2D) platform. P2D enables Jerini to

address difficult targets not amenable to

conventional drug discovery approaches. In

2006 the company plans to launch its first

drug product in the indication angioedema.

JPT (Jerini Peptide Technologies) is a leading

supplier of innovative peptide-based services

and products for international

pharmaceutical and biotechnological

companies as well as for research institutes.

JPT is generating profits which support the

Jerini Pharmaceuticals business. Jerini has

ongoing collaborations with pharmaceutical

companies such as Bayer, Baxter and Merck

KGaA.

Jerini has started its

operations without

venture capital and

generated revenues

from the beginning to

support the expansion

of the company and its

technology development. In January 2000

Jerini concluded its first financing round

(A 4.6 million) to support the company’s

transition from a tool to a drug discovery

company. The second private financing round

(A 20 million) was closed in October 2001.

Jerini’s investor base includes 3i, TVM,

Polytechnos, Sanders Morris Harris, bmp AG,

tbg and IBB Bet.GmbH.

Jerini has currently 90 employees and is

managed by a team of industry professionals,

combining commercial and scientific

experience: Prof. Dr. Jens Schneider-Mergener,

founder and CEO, Dr. Jochen Knolle, CSO and

Head of R&D (formerly VP AXYS

Pharmaceuticals and Hoechst/HMR),

Dr. Adi Hoess, CBO (formerly VP Business

Development Morphosys) and Berndt Modig

as CFO (formerly CFO Surplex AG).

www.jerini.de

JeriniBerlin

75

MediGene AG is a publicly quoted

biotechnology company with its headquarters

located in Martinsried, Germany, and a

subsidiary in San Diego, USA. MediGene has

the most mature drug development pipeline

in the German biotech industry and possesses

innovative platform technologies.

With Eligard® for the treatment of prostate

cancer, MediGene is the first German biotech

company with an approved drug on the verge

of market launch. Apart from that, several

drug candidates are currently undergoing

clinical development. MediGene’s core

competence is research and development of

novel approaches for the treatment of various

tumor diseases. Thus MediGene focuses on

indications of high medical need and great

economic opportunities.

It is MediGene’s strategy to integrate all core

divisions of a biopharmaceutical company

from research and development to commerci-

alization of drugs. The revenues from drug

sales as well as from marketing and

development partnerships shall help to

finance the development of other drugs and

to reach break-even.

MediGene was founded by three professors

and a manager from the pharmaceuticals

industry in Martinsried in 1994, as a spin-off

of the Munich gene centre. Besides the Chief

Executive Officer Dr. Peter Heinrich, the

Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Prof. Dr.

Ernst-Ludwig Winnacker, President of the

Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft DFG

(German Research Foundation) are among

the company founders. Since June 2000,

MediGene has been publicly quoted on the

Frankfurt stock exchange (Prime Standard).

In March 2004, the company announced a

capital increase of about 20 % by issue of

new shares and convertible bonds. At the

beginning of 2004, MediGene had 112

employees.

MediGene’s most recent success was the

approval of the anti-cancer drug Eligard® and

the conclusion of a marketing partnership

with the pharmaceuticals group Yamanouchi,

one of the leading companies in the

European urology market. MediGene expects

to make significant progress by the market

launch of its first drug Eligard®, by the

completion of the final clinical trial (phase 3)

of MediGene’s Polyphenon® E Ointment to

treat genital tumors, and by the initiation of

a clinical trial (phase 1/2) of the substance

NV1020 to treat liver metastases.

MediGeneMartinsried

www.medigene.de

Biotech success stories

76

MorphoSys AG is one of the world’s leading

biotechnology companies focusing on

antibodies. MorphoSys develops fully human

antibodies which are suitable for research

and diagnostics and to treat diseases. The

company has developed HuCAL® (Human

Combinatorial Antibody Library), a technolo-

gically unique antibody library which is home

to more than 12 billion different, fully human

antibodies. The library’s outstanding feature

is its ability to optimize, meaning to tailor the

antibodies precisely to the respective

requirements and bind their target molecule

with a high affinity.

Numerous partners such as Schering, Bayer,

Centocor/Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer and

Roche are successfully using

HuCAL® technology. In 2003,

the company achieved a

positive EBITDA for the first

time (EBITDA - Earning before

Interest, Taxes, Depreciation

and Amortization) excluding

Stock-Based Compensation. In

addition to the commerciali-

zation and licensing of the HuCAL®

technology, the company’s business model

also includes building a pipeline with its own

antibody products. In this connection,

MorphoSys is concentrating on the

indications of inflammation and cancer.

MorphoSys aims to find suitable partners for

the clinical development of these medicines.

The company was founded in 1992 by,

amongst others, Dr. Simon E. Moroney, the

current Chief Executive Officer, and Professor

Andreas Plückthun. The company’s own

technology is based on the research findings

obtained by Professor Plückthun while at the

Max-Planck Institute for Biochemistry and

which have been successfully translated into a

commercial principle. During his career, Dr.

Moroney has held research posts at the

Universities of Cambridge and British

Columbia and at the ETH in Zurich. He also

worked at the Harvard Medical School and

for the American company ImmunoGen

where he developed therapeutic antibodies.

To set up the company, the founders acquired

approximately A 550,000 in seed capital from

the London-based investment company, Korda

& Co., tbg Technologie-

Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH in Bonn and

Technostart in Stuttgart. Until its IPO in

March 1999, MorphoSys had acquired venture

capital and sponsorship money of more than

A 20 million. MorphoSys is the first German

biopharmaceutical company to be floated on

the stock exchange and is currently listed in

the Prime Standard of Deutsche Börse.

www.morphosys.com

MorphoSys Martinsried

77

Company profile: PAION GmbH, a biopharma-

ceutical company based in Aachen, Germany,

was founded in 2000 by its Managing

Directors Drs Wolfgang and Mariola Söhngen.

The company is specialised in the develop-

ment of innovative therapeutic products for

the treatment of stroke. An experienced

international management team and the

support of leading investors are the basis for

rapid growth and the fulfilment of PAION’s

vision to become the „PAIONeer in Stroke“.

Products: PAION’s lead product, Desmoteplase,

is a genetically engineered version of a blood

clot dissolving protein from the saliva of the

vampire bat Desmodus rotundus. PAION has

successfully completed its Phase II study of

Desmoteplase and aims at getting an

approval for Desmoteplase for the treatment

of acute ischaemic stroke up to 9 hours after

stroke onset. Today only 2-3% of all patients

worldwide are being treated. The drug is also

being tested in a Phase II study in pulmonary

embolism.

PAION plans to establish a portfolio of stroke

drugs with own and in-licensed development

projects, the next own product being in

preclinical tests.

Financing & Business Strategy: PAION aims to

be a leading biopharma-

ceutical company by

establishing itself as the

preferred partner for the

(co-)development of

clinical products in the

area of stroke and related

diseases. PAION has

comprehensive and

proven clinical

development capabilities

including regulatory

affairs, assured product

manufacturing capacities

and know-how. PAION’s

revenue stream will

include milestone

payments and royalties

from licensing

agreements. To date, PAION has raised a total

of A 41.4 million from an international

consortium of venture capital groups, banks

and private investors. This financial backing

is leveraged by the addition of state and

federal, project related research

grants, to a value of A 5.5 million.www.paion.de

PaionAachen

Biotech success stories

78

QIAGEN is the world’s leading provider of

innovative enabling technologies and

products for separating and purifying nucleic

acids (DNA and RNA) - the genetic

information of life. Founded by Dr. Metin

Colpan, Dr. Carsten Henco and Dr. Juergen

Schumacher as a spin-off of the Heinrich-

Heine-University, Dusseldorf in

1984, the Company has

developed and marketed a

broad range of proprietary

products for academic and

industrial life science research

markets.

In recent years, QIAGEN expanded its product

portfolio targeting life science research and

new commercial markets, e.g. genomics,

gene-based drug discovery, nucleic acid-based

molecular diagnostics, genetic vaccination,

and gene therapy. QIAGEN’s comprehensive

portfolio of proprietary enabling technologies

for separating, purifying, and handling

nucleic acids places it firmly at the vanguard

of these rapidly growing commercial markets.

Because of deep knowledge and experience

in the separation and purification of nucleic

acids, a broad range of focused technologies,

a strong brand awareness, experienced and

highly-motivated employees, and a traditional

orientation towards innovation allowed to

build up a leading position in a research

market on which most of the industries base.

QIAGEN N.V., a Netherlands holding

company, has subsidiaries in Germany, the

United States, Japan, the United Kingdom,

Switzerland, France, Italy, Norway, the

Netherland, Australia and Canada, and

employs approximately 1,600 people

worldwide. QIAGEN’s proprietary products are

sold in more than 42 countries throughout

the world to academic research markets and

to leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology

companies. QIAGEN has a 18-year history of

significant growth. Since 1999, the company

has achieved a compound annual net sales

growth rate of approximately 22% and net

income growth rate of approximately 35%.

QIAGEN’s common shares are traded on

Nasdaq (QGENF) and on the TecDax of

Deutsche Boerse, Frankfurt (QIA, WPKN

901262). Further information on QIAGEN can

be found at www.QIAGEN.com.

www.qiagen.com

Qiagen Hilden

79

Rentschler Biotechnologie GmbH is an

independent biotechnology company of the

Rentschler group which is based in

Laupheim, Baden Württemberg.

Rentschler Biotechnologie has over thirty

years experience as a pioneering company

which began in the 1970’s with the

development and licensing of the world’s first

natural interferon beta. At the end of the

1980’s the first license of recombinant

gamma interferon followed.

Based on these many years of experience and

expertise in 1997 the concentration of all

business activities on integrated service for

the order of development and production of

biopharmaceutical drugs followed.

In order to secure Rentschler Biotechnologie’s

leading position we have specialised in the

growth area of recombinant proteins

produced in mammalian cell cultures.

In order to cope with the strength and

growing demand around A 20 million

between 2001 and 2003 was invested in

additional development and production

facilities.

To support the GMP-Production we now have

at our disposal six modern state-of-the-art

high technology suites.

This places Rentschler Bio-

technologie GmbH inside

the top ten companies

world-wide in its field.

Rentschler Biotechnologie

GmbH has experienced

great success with an annual increase in turn

over of over 20%. The forecast for 2004 is for

a turnover of around A 27 million.

We employ over 230 highly qualified

specialists who work together to ensure an

efficient and secure product development

from gene to market place.

As one of the few companies in its field

Rentschler Biotechnologie GmbH offers its

partners a complete service from Molecular

Biology to the licensing of the finished

product.

Our broadly based work spectrum includes:

- Molecular Biology

- Active Ingredient Development and

Production

- Pharmaceutical Production

- Analytics and Quality Control

- Clinical Research

- Regulatory Affairs

- Quality Assurance

Our work in the above areas is carried out

within the following guidelines: GMP, GLP

and GCP are certified by the EMEA and the

FDA.

Rentschler Biotechnologie GmbH provides a

complete tailor made service which promises

to be fast and reliable. As a result this will

provide a general reduction in costs, time

scales and co-ordination complexity.

RentschlerLaupheim

www.rentschler.de

Biotech success stories

80

SCIENION AG is a biotechnology company

focused on high-quality BioChip products,

hardware and services and offers complete

solutions in the field of parallel bioanalysis.

Customers are pharma and biotech

companies as well as academic research

institutions.

One of the many highlights was the

successful launch of a flexible modular

dispensing system for ultra low level liquid

handling. The sciFLEXARRAYER (see figure)

transports samples - DNA, proteins or cells -

with precisely defined volumes at defined

locations onto carriers. In the business area

biochips Scienion focuses on the development

of customized microarrays for human

genome research and genome research on

microorganisms. Offering complete solutions

Scienion supports customers with

comprehensive services in the field of

microarrays.

In order to enable better diagnoses and

therapies Scienion is engaged in various

research projects, some of them funded by

the German Federal Ministry of Education

and Research. As part of the BioProfile

emphasis on the Nutrigenomics Research

Berlin-Brandenburg Scienion started the

project „Obesity-Chip“ together with partners

from the Charité and the Fraunhofer Institute

for Biomedical Engineering. The intention of

the joint project is the chip-based

identification and analysis of the genetically

based factors of obesity.

In another joint project Scienion’s chip

technology is used to investigate the genetic

factors of inflammatory diseases like Colitis

Ulcerosa and Morbus Crohn.

Research into the development of platform

technologies for functional proteome analysis

is the focus of a joint project in the German

National Genome Research Net (NGFN).

Founded in December 2000 as a spin-off from

the Max-Planck-Institute for Molecular

Genetics the Berlin-based company with 26

employees shows increasing revenues.

In the year of foundation Scienion was

awarded with the „Innovationspreis Berlin-

Brandenburg“. Scienion with its management

team of Dr Holger Eickhoff and Dr Alan

Bullock wants to pave the way for

personalized medicine. Scienion’s platform

technologies and the expertise of the highly

qualified staff allow the development of

market-oriented systems for diagnostics,

allowing in turn individual therapies and

therapy control to be recommended.

Main investors are 3i Group, PEPPERMINT.

Financial Partners and IBB

Beteiligungsgesellschaft. www.scienion.de

ScienionBerlin

81

SunGene GmbH & Co. KGaA is a R&D

company in the field of plant biotechnology.

It belongs to the international research

platform of BASF Plant Science GmbH.

SunGene has a highly qualified staff of more

than 60 employees.

SunGene applies modern biotechnology to

deliver improved crop plants for plant

breeders, farmers and end users. The main

focus is on traits leading to a higher

nutritional value with the emphasis on

valuable plant metabolites such as vitamins,

carotenoids, or flavonoids.

In order to increase the content of plant

metabolites, an integrated gene identification

and metabolic engineering platform has been

developed. One exemplary product candidate

generated within this platform is vitamin E in

plant oil: SunGene has identified genes which

upon expression in crop plants lead to a

stable and substantial increase of the vitamin

E content in rapeseed oil. Further product

candidates are currently being developed on

SunGene’s R&D platform.

In addition, SunGene has developed

comprehensive technologies for high

throughput crop plant transformation and

enabling technologies allowing the transfer

of minimal transgene sequences for gene

expression in a highly specific manner. One

example is our promoter portfolio for the

tissue and stage specific expression of genes

in crop plants.

SunGene holds the exclusive rights on more

than 50 patent applications.

SunGene has established collaborations or

contract relations with numerous inter-

national academic institutions, with plant

breeders and ‘life science’ companies.

www.sungene.de

SunGene Gatersleben

Biotech success stories

82

The company TERAKLIN AG is active in the

field of extracorporeal liver support with its

MARS® Therapy (Molecular Adsorbents

Recirculating System). It is the world market

leader in this field. The liver dialysis MARS®

takes over the liver’s detoxification function

outside the body, being implemented both in

cases of acute liver failure as well as for acute

deterioration of chronic liver disease. Support

of hepatic detoxification allows the organ to

regenerate itself or to serve as a bridge until

liver transplant. More than 4000 patients have

currently been treated with MARS® Therapy

worldwide.

The origins of the company go back to clinical

research work carried out at Rostock

University, where a blood purification system

was developed by Dr Steffen Mitzner and Dr

Jan Stange in 1990. In 1991, the Federal

Ministry of Research and Education provided

funding resources of two million DM. In

conjunction with a chemist, Dr Stephan

Aldinger, and a physicist, Dr Walter Gerike,

Mitzner and Stange were able to develop the

liver support system MARS® during the years

that followed.

The companies TERAKLIN Medizinprodukte

GmbH (concerned chiefly with equipment

technology) and Biopure Medizinprodukte

GmbH (focussing on disposables) were

established in 1997, giving rise to TERAKLIN

AG in 1998. In order to increase the spectrum

of services, the company merged with Celltect

GmbH in 2001, a company specialising in the

developing a therapy of life-threatening cases

of sepsis.

Today, TERAKLIN is represented by subsidiaries

in France, Great Britain, Spain and USA, a

branch in China as well as distribution

partners in more than 30 countries. TERAKLIN

AG’s head office is in Rostock, where Research

& Development as well as Production are also

located. The Sales and Marketing divisions

have been established in Hamburg.

The board of management is composed of two

members, responsible for

Administration/Finance, Quality Management

and Production (Beatrice König-Stölzel, CEO)

and Marketing, Sales, Clinical Affairs and

Research & Development (Dr Stephan

Aldinger).

Teraklin Rostock

www.teraklin.com

83

Antibody Rencarex® against RCC in Phase

III Study

Wilex’s most advanced compound is the

chimeric antibody Rencarex® for the

treatment of Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC).

Rencarex® has completed Phase II trials in

RCC in which it showed strong enhancement

of patient long term survival together with

an excellent safety profile. In the first half of

2004, Wilex plans to start an international

pivotal Phase III study with Rencarex® in RCC

patients with the goal of receiving marketing

approval. RCC is the 10th most common form

of cancer in the US and Europe. To date,

there is no safe and well tolerated therapy

available for this indication.

Inhibiting Tumor Cell Invasion and

Metastasis

Wilex’s „uPA programme“ is one of the best

validated approaches in cancer therapy to

specifically block tumor cell invasion and

metastasis in solid tumors. The small

molecule compound WX-UK1 is the first uPA

inhibitor in clinical trials worldwide. In

September 2003, Wilex was awarded the

Biotechnology Clinical Partnership Award

worth USD 3.9 million from the Breast Cancer

Research Programme of the US Department

of Defense. The grant will be used to fund

two clinical trials with WX-UK1 in breast

cancer patients in the US. The goal of this

award is to accelerate the clinical

development of novel compounds with the

potential to revolutionize breast cancer

therapeutics or chemoprevention.

For further information please visit:

Wilex München

www.wilex.com

Patient Focused Cancer Therapies

Wilex, based in Munich, is a leading

European biopharmaceutical company

focusing on the development of novel

targeted cancer therapies for the treatment of

various tumors including renal cell cancer,

breast, gastric, and colon cancer. Therapies

are tailored to the individual needs of patient

groups in order to provide effective and well

tolerated treatment.

Wilex was founded in late 1997 by clinical

oncologists from the Technical University of

Munich. The Company has raised A 38.5

million (to date) in venture capital and has

currently 42 employees. Chief Executive is

Prof. Olaf G. Wilhelm, M.D., formerly Senior

Physician at the Technical University of

Munich. Chairman of the Supervisory Board is

David Ebsworth, Ph.D., formerly President of

the global Pharmaceutical Division of Bayer.

Within a few years, Wilex has established one

of the most advanced anti-cancer develop-

ment portfolios in the German biotech

industry. The Company has currently three

compounds in clinical trials and five in pre-

clinic and research. Wilex has two thera-

peutic platforms: antibody-based and small

molecule-based therapies.

Interim report

84

Interim Report onBiotechnology Funding

Magdeburg

Potsdam

BerlinBremenHannover

Braunschweig

Düsseldorf

Köln

Göttingen

Jena Leipzig

Frankfurt

Heidelberg

Tübingen

München

Rostock

Hamburg

Giessen

Freiburg

Dortmund

Stuttgart

DresdenHalle

Karlsruhe

Institute of the Helmholtz Association (HGF)Institute of the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Associationof German Research Centres (WGL)Max Planck InstituteFederal institutions with R&D tasksFraunhofer Institute

Saarbrücken

Locations for studies with focus on biotechnologyLocations for studies with predominantly techn. orientationLocations for studies with predominantly molecular-biological orientation

Kiel

RostockLübeck

HamburgBremen

OldenburgBerlin

HannoverBraunschweig

Göttingen

ClausthalBielefeld

Osnabrück

Münster

DortmundBochum

Düsseldorf

Köln

Bonn

Essen

Aachen

Kassel

Halle

Leipzig

Dresden

Marburg

Giessen

Jena

Bayreuth

Würzburg

Regensburg

FrankfurtMainz

Kaiserslautern

Saarbrücken

Darmstadt

München

Heidelberg

Karlsruhe

TübingenStuttgart

UlmFreiburg

Konstanz

Flensburg

Wildau

Hamburg

Bremen

Emden

BerlinHannover

Lemgo

MünsterGelsenkirchen

BonnAachen

Köthen

Lausitz

Zittau

Giessen

Jena

Freising

FrankfurtBingen

Fulda

Darmstadt

MünchenFurtwangen

Mannheim

Aalen

Reutlingen

Iserlohn

Nürnberg

As a result of the Federal Government’s

intensified commitment in the field of

biotechnology, Germany has managed to catch

up with the global developments of this key

technology in recent years.

In addition to strengthening excellent basic

research (Figures 1-3), a breakthrough has

been achieved in the commercialization of

biotechnology (Figures 4-5) by means of

targeted support tools (e.g. region compe-

titions). Even if there is still an inadequacy

gap and the industry has not yet reached the

maturity of businesses as e.g. in the United

Kingdom, the German biotechnology industry

occupies the number one position in Europe

concerning the number of biotechnology

companies with a potential for development.

These companies are primarily located in the

biotechnology regions (25 in total) (Figure 5).

These are clusters characterized by the

integration of existing strengths, optimum

boundary conditions for research, innovations

and investments, and accelerated commerciali-

zation.

Since 1998, biotechnology has been supported

with A 1.03 billion within the framework of

project funding by the German Federal

Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), of

which A 750 million was made available for

funding research and development projects at

academic institutions and A 281 million was

spent on support for research and

development projects implemented by small

and middle sized enterprises. Total project

Non-university research institutions of biosciences

Training and research in biotech-nology at scientific universities

Training in biotechnology at univer-sities of applied sciences in Germany

Fig. 1, source: ISB 2004 Fig. 2-3, source: VdBiol, ISB 2003, www.vdbiol.de/studium

Interim Report onBiotechnology Funding

85

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

Note: This includes core biotech firms and also large enterprises with core business in the field ofbiotechnology (e.g. Boehringer Ingelheim in Biberach, Roche in Penzberg, Rentschler in Laupheim,Strahtmann in Hamburg). The persons employed in the biotechnology divisions of large chemicalsand pharmaceuticals companies, however, could not be reliably determined and were thereforenot included.

costs were in the range of A 1.35 billion, i.e.

almost 1/4 of the costs (about A 320 million)

were covered by private capital (Figure 8).

The goals of the different funding priorities of

the BMBF are official precaution (e.g. preven-

tion by proper nutrition, TSE diagnosis, safety

research), the expansion of basic innovations

(genome research, neurobiology, system

biology), technological development (bioinfor-

matics, proteome research, nanobiotechnology

etc.), measures to improve technology transfer

and commercialize biotechnology (BioRegio,

BioProfiles, Bio-Chance) as well as support for

young scientists (Figure 9).

The greatest dynamic especially with respect

to private fund raising was achieved in the

model regions of Heidelberg, Cologne and

Munich (see Figure 10), but smaller regions

also demonstrate that they are aware of the

importance of biotechnology as an industry of

the future. In these regions, up to 40 % of the

expenditure on research and development is

financed by private capital.

Biotechnology companies have been

increasingly funded since 1998 (Figure 11). The

main portion of funds has flown into the large

BioRegions in the past, where the dynamic

innovation process has taken place particularly

rapidly and has significantly stimulated

technology development. In this period, 298

start-ups and settlements have been recorded

in the model regions (46 around Jena, 57 in

the Rhine-Neckar triangle, 80 in the Rhineland

and 115 in the Munich region). A total of A

1,020 million of venture capital was mobilized

Biotech companies in Germany

Fig. 4, source: ISB 2004 Fig. 5, source: ISB 2004

Biotech companies and employees in the BioRegions

Interim report

86

0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350

Environmental

Bioinstruments

Ag biotech

Proteomics

Bioinformatics

DNA Analysis

Contract production

Supply & Service

Diagnostics

Pharma

Companies

38%10%

8%

44%

1999

2001

2003

< 1011-5051-100>100

44%9% 7%

40%

7%10%

48%

35%

and a seed capital fund of more than A 176

million launched.

Increased support for the commercialization of

biotechnology since the mid-nineties initiated

a development which has led to a rapid

growth of the German biotechnology industry

also against the background of positive

economic and financial boundary conditions.

According to a recent survey by the

Information Secretariat for Biotechnology (ISB

2004), there are at present just about 600

biotechnology firms in Germany.

The ranking of the German biotechnology

cluster in an international comparison was

first studied by the Boston Consulting Group in

early 2001. According to this study, the

American clusters of San Francisco and Boston

were leading worldwide with respect to the

number of companies, number of employees

per company and number of listed companies.

Relative to the total number of biotechnology

firms, Europe has meanwhile caught up with

North America (USA and Canada) recording

approx 1900 companies (Ernst&Young Global

Biotech Report 2003).

The growth of German biotechnology compa-

nies and reaching a critical mass, however, will

be decisive for the future development of the

biotechnology industry especially in Germany.

It is not the number of companies, but rather

the establishment of strong firms of global

significance that will be pave the way in the

next few years for promising innovations in

medicine and health, environment, nutrition

and agriculture as well as industrial produc-

tion. By means of new support measures (e.g.

„Bio-ChancePLUS“) the BMBF now attends the

consolidation and growth process of young

biotechnology companies currently at the

period of growth, in addition to supporting

Fields of activity of the biotechnologycompanies in Germany

Fig. 6, source: ISB 2004

Biotech companies in Germany - number of employees per company

Fig. 7, source: ISB 2004

Note: The companies were allowed to specified

several business areas

87

0

50

100

150

200

250

€m

own contribution

support for industry

support for R&Dinstitutions

Bio

Park Regen

sbu

rg

Bio

Regio

Ulm

Nan

oB

ioN

et

Bio

con

Valley

Bio

tech Reg

ion

Mü

nster

Bio

Regio

n B

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Bio

Regio

n M

euse R

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Bio

Regio

n eastern

Ru

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istrict (Bio

Ind

ustry)

Bio

saxon

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Bio

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OW

L

Bio

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Freibu

rg (B

iovalley)

Bio

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HH

Bio

Regio

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(SH)

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techn

olo

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itiative Marb

urg

Bio

Med

Tec Franken

Bio

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Jena

Bio

Tec Frankfu

rt/Rh

ine M

ain

BIO

Cen

tral Germ

any

Bio

Regio

n STER

N

Bio

Regio

n C

olo

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sseldo

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River)

Bio

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N + B

ioPro

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Bio

Regio

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hin

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Bio

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Bio

TOP B

erlin-B

rand

enb

urg

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

€m

support for industry

own contribution

Bio

Regio

Ulm

Bio

tech Reg

ion

Mü

nster

Nan

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ioN

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Bio

Med

Tec Franken

Bio

Park Regen

sbu

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Bio

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n eastern

Ru

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OW

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Bio

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n B

remen

Bio

techn

olo

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itiative Marb

urg

Bio

con

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Bio

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n N

orth

(SH)

Bio

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n M

euse R

hin

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le

Bio

Regio

n N

orth

HH

Bio

Regio

Freibu

rg (B

iovalley)

Bio

Regio

n R

P

BIO

Cen

tral Germ

any

Bio

Regio

Jena

Bio

Regio

n STER

N

Bio

Tec Frankfu

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ine M

ain

Bio

Regio

n C

olo

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start-ups, and at the same time provide room

for new technology developments and for

networking and exploitation strategies.

Strategic alliances, cooperations and company

networks involving young biotechnology firms

and also other companies aiming to utilize

biotechnological processes will serve to

combine scientific, technical and financial

strengths and resources so as to accelerate

product development.

Project funding by BMBF in the field ofbiotechnology according to years in million B

Project funding by BMBF in the field ofbiotechnology according to thematic priorities

Project funding by BMBF in the BioRegionsin the field of biotechnology

Project funding by BMBF in the field ofbiotechnology for companies

Fig. 9, source: PTJ 2004

Fig. 10, source: PTJ 2004 Fig. 11, source: PTJ 2004

The increase of funds in 2001 is explained by the provision of UMTS funds used for building

up the National Genome Research Network.

0,0

50,0

100,0

150,0

200,0

250,0

300,0

€m

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

own contribution

funding

Fig. 8, source: PTJ 2004

0,0

20,0

40,0

60,0

80,0

100,0

120,0

140,0

160,0

180,0

200,0

€m

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

other

grants to young researchers

social security payments

structural investments

platform technologies

basic innovations

Impressum

Published byBundesministeriumfür Bildung und Forschung /Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)Publications and Website Division11055 Berlin

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ContributionsThe Bioregions and companies are responsible for the texts of their contributions. If not stated otherwise they also hold the copyrights of the photographs and graphics therein. Photograph on cover: Merck KGaA

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BioRegions in Germany Strong impulses for national technological development

BioR

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ns i

n G

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any

– St

rong

imp

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s fo

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RESEARCHThe Germany of Tomorrow