BioCon Valley - life sciences and healthcare in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

Text:

The network's profile

Ever since the BioRegio contest in 1996, biotechnology is experiencing a spectacular economic upswing in Germany. This political signal has also initiated an enormous boom of new company formations in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. As initiative of the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, BioCon Valley^® fosters the economic use of modern life science technologies and health economy. With this development, the profile of the region has been proven with its core competences in:

medicine/medical technologies
agrobiotechnologies, and
marine biotechnology.

BioCon Valley^® is characterized by:

a tight network between researchers and companies in the region,
a fertile collaboration between health professionals, biologists, physicists, chemists and engineers,
non-bureaucratic procedures,
optimal infrastructure at specific start-up centers ("bioincubator") in Greifswald, Rostock, Teterow, Neubrandenburg, Gross-Luesewitz (opening in November 2004),
professional consulting ,
marketing of the region
international cooperation, especially with Scandinavia and the Baltic Sea Region (ScanBalt).

Latest statistics show that the state's concept is bearing fruits: Since 1996, 32 new companies have been founded and over 900 new jobs have been created. Companies such as DECODON GmbH, DOT GmbH, Miltenyi Biotec GmbH Niederlassung Teterow, Riemser Arzneimittel AG or Gambro Rostock GmbH (former: Teraklin AG) exemplify this atmosphere of new beginnings - whether it is young business starting up from universities, or off-branches from existing companies or in form of a MBI (Management Buy In). There is a confident atmosphere, basic conditions on site are optimal and the prognosis for the future is promising. The average number of employees within biotech companies has more than doubled over the last years.

Protagonists

The BioCon Valley^® Initiative of the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, fosters the economic use of modern life science technologies. In 1996 this network was initiated as "BioRegio Greifswald-Rostock" within the scope of the federal BioRegio initiative and is committed to the dynamic development of Germany as a biotechnology location:

As a non-profit association (BioCon Valley e.V.; since April 2001) we focus on the interests of all those activley involved in life sciences in the region. Our members include research facilities, companies and service providers (130 members)

As a business-oriented limited liability corporation (BioCon Valley^® GmbH; since December 2001) we realize common goals. Besides BioCon Valley e.V., our shareholders include the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the Deutsche Bank AG, the Nord/LB, the Ostseesparkasse, as well as the Sparkasse Vorpommern.

Non-university R&D centers

R&D centers

Leibniz-Institute for Organic Catalysis at the University of Rostock e.V.

Promotional and research facilities

Universities and universities of applied science

Selected companies within the network

Innovation highlights

Medicine/Medical Technology

Networks of medical use of modern life science technologies belong to the leading networks in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and to some extent even in Germany, especially in the fields of:

Extracorporal detoxification (apheresis systems) with companies such as BioServ Adsorber Technologies GmbH, Miltenyi Biotech GmbH Niederlassung Teterow, Teraklin AG.
After world- wide detailed clinical studies have been completed, the licensing of the successful therapy concept MARS®, developed by Teraklin AG in 2003, by the US-American FDA (Food and Drug Administration) is imminent.
The potential of this treatment will soon lead to significant economic success within the region and thereby have a model character for German health care.
Biocompatibility with companies such as DOT - Thin Layer and Surface Coating GmbH (european-wide market leader for biocompatible coating of medical implants), Cortronik GmbH & Co KG (R&D of biocompatible stents) and research groups at the Competence Center of Biomaterials for Soft Tissue Contact, Institute for Low-Temperature Plasma Physics e.V., BIOGREMA (biologization of boundary layers between material and biosystems, a cooperation project between university institutions and companies, funded by the "Stifterverband für die deutsche Wissenschaft", a founder associaton for german science)
Molecular medicine with showcase projects funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, such as 'Proteome Analysis in Humans' at the University of Rostock, and the Center for Innovation Competence FUNGENE Fuctional Genomics at the University of Greifswald as well as the 'Research Network Molecular Medicine' at the University of Greifswald and young companies such as the and DECODON GmbH, DNA-Diagnostics Nord GmbH, and micromun GmbH.
Medical Technology/Biosensory with their focus Center for Innovation Competence CELISCA Center for Life Science Automation at the University of Rostock and the companies Amplius GmbH, Bionas GmbH, Cortronik GmbH & Co. KG, EnviteC Wismar GmbH, Hoffrichter GmbH, IT-Dr. Gambert GmbH, PRIMACYT Cell Culture Technology GmbH and others.
Telemedicine with the project DISCO Diabetes Service Center Online of INNOREGIO, to test the use of telemedical services in the region.

Agrobiotechnology

Agrobiotechnology is important for the agricultural location of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The region is one of the leading classical and modern plant breeding locations of rape seeds and potatoes in Germany. NPZ Saatzucht Lembke KG (crop breeder; foundet in 1897) at Malchow/Poel exerts itself as Germany's pacemaker in the use of modern gene technological procedures. Due to EU restrictions this significant economic potential cannot yet be exhausted completely.
Therefore, the network of competence could successfully stimulated the establishment of the AgroBioTechnikum as a agrobiotechnological competence and innovation center in Groß-Lüsewitz. A Society of Innovative Sustainable Agrobiotechnology e.V. (www.finab.de) has formed itself partly for this purpose. As the center's operator, BioCon Valley's expertise will guarantee its success.

Marine Biotechnology

Marine Biotechnology is a fairly young field in Germany, as well as in Europe, with a promising potential especially in the discovery and development of new therapeutic agents and enzymes. For this purpose, the network partners have founded the association 'Institute of Marine Biotechnology e.V.' which is also actively involved in research. The association has recently organized its third international conference. Ganomycin GmbH, which is the first new and promising company in this field in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, is based on the discovery of a new broad-spectrum antibiotic.

Service spectrum

Activities of BioCon Valley® include

serving as a contact point for expert information,
networking and relaying cooperations (regional, national and international),
advertising for the region,
consulting company start ups and the settling of companies,
administration of biotechnology centers of innovation,
organizing events,
acquiring and managing projects.

The BioCon Valley® corporation is represented in offices at the technology centers in Rostock, Greifswald and Teterow. This allows a direct and close contact to scientists and companies working at the centers. Due to the professional expertise of all staff members, the contact and collaboration between biotechnologists in science and industry and of various disciplines (medicine, agrobiotechnology, marine biotechnology), facilitates a successful cooperation and therefore an easier transfer of expert technology.

Competence in figures

At present there are 85 companies working in the field of life science in the region (of which 14 are biotechnology companies in a stricter sense, ELISCO according to Ernst&Young).
Employees: currently there over 2 200 employees at the companies and about 2 000 further scienctists at research institutions.
32 new formations and settlements of companies since 1998.
Settlement of PlasmaSelect AG from Munich in Teterow (1998) and listing on the stock market (Neuer Markt, 2000) as the region's first company. The field of biotechnology at PlasmaSelect AG was taken over by Miltenyi Biotec GmbH (Bergisch-Gladbach) and is now operating as Miltenyi Biotec GmbH Niederlassung Teterow, with approx. 150 employees.
Settlement of Cortronik GmbH & Co KG in Rostock as a spin off of Biotronik KG, Berlin.

International activities

Bridging towards Scandinavia
BioCon Valley^® is actively involved in the life science network "ScanBalt", which was brought into being by representatives of research and industry of the Baltic Sea countries. ScanBalt conceives itself as the "network of networks". The initiative was launched at the "Baltic BioTech Forum" in Teschow (near Rostock), organized as a common EU fundet project by BioCon Valley^®, BioTurku and Medicon Valley Academy in 2001. The ScanBalt initiative is committed to the networking of research, development and training in the field of life science in the Baltic Sea region. For this young sector, the cooperation will contribute to paving the way to the international floor, as well as to facilitate cooperations for the mutual benefit of scientists and entrepeneurs. The common goal is to strengthen international competitiveness of the entire Baltic Sea region and to strengthen the further development into one of the leading life science regions in the world.

Research and development

Training offers

The agencies for academic training in the State of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern offer a spectrum of different training possibilities for modern biosciences/biotechnologies. This provides optimal conditions for young professionals in research, development and production.

A gene laboratory provides access to "genetechnology to touch" for the broad public. It is supported by the Forschungsverbund Mecklenburg-Vorpommern e.V. (research network association) and is located at the technology center BioTechnikum Greifswald.

The universities are establishing new international education units for post graduate students together with their partner universities in the Baltic Sea Region as part of the ScanBalt initiative.

Training opportunities are placed in detail on the web at:
http://www.bcv.org

Regional embeddedness

BioCon Valley is the life science initiative of the State of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Information about the State of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern can be found at:
http://www.mecklenburg-vorpommern.de/

Links

www.bcv.org

Publications

BioCon Valley has compiled an overview of the potential in the use of modern biotechnology in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. This is made available in the "Directory of Life Science Companies and Research Institutions - 2005", the 5th English and German edition as CD-rom.

ScanBalt - A string of Competence Clusters in Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Scanbalt Competence Mapping report 2006, Wolfgang Blank, Careen Krüger, Kim Møller and Bo Samuelsson, Greifswald, Copenhagen, Göteborg, 2006

"Life Science and Biotechnology in Poland - Research, Industry and Transnational Collaboration", Heinrich Cuypers and Careen Krüger, 2006, BioCon Valley GmbH.

"Borderless Biotech: Europe's First Meta-Region Taking Shape", Wolfgang Blank, Börge Diderichsen, Anna Podhajska, Bo E. Samuelsson; EuroBiotechNews 2,2003: 22-25; Biocom AG Berlin.

"Think Global - Act Local", Heinrich Cuypers, Kristin von Kistowski; in "Neue Chancen" Deutscher Biotechnologiereport 2002, Ernst&Young ; 102.

"Green Biotechnology in Germany - Is Cinderella Ready?", Heinrich Cuypers, Grit Voss, Wolfgang Blank; European BioPharmaceutical Review, Dez 1999: 42-45.

Press releases:
http://www.idw-online.de/pages/de/pressreleases756

Contact

Dr. Heinrich Cuypers
Senior project manager

BioCon Valley GmbH - Life Sciences in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
Walther-Rathenaustr. 49a
D-17489 Greifswald

Greifswald office
Phone: +49 (0)38 34 51 5 300
Fax: +49 (0)38 34 51 5 102

Rostock office
Phone: +49 (0)381 51 96 49 50
Fax: +49 (0)381 51 96 49 52

eMail: info@bcv.org
Internet: www.bcv.org

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BioCon Valley - life sciences and healthcare in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

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BioCon Valley - Life Science in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany

The initiative The topics The regions The networks BioCon Valley The service	Die Netzwerke
	BioCon Valley - life sciences and healthcare in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Text: The network's profile Ever since the BioRegio contest in 1996, biotechnology is experiencing a spectacular economic upswing in Germany. This political signal has also initiated an enormous boom of new company formations in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. As initiative of the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, BioCon Valley^® fosters the economic use of modern life science technologies and health economy. With this development, the profile of the region has been proven with its core competences in: medicine/medical technologies agrobiotechnologies, and marine biotechnology. BioCon Valley^® is characterized by: a tight network between researchers and companies in the region, a fertile collaboration between health professionals, biologists, physicists, chemists and engineers, non-bureaucratic procedures, optimal infrastructure at specific start-up centers ("bioincubator") in Greifswald, Rostock, Teterow, Neubrandenburg, Gross-Luesewitz (opening in November 2004), professional consulting , marketing of the region international cooperation, especially with Scandinavia and the Baltic Sea Region (ScanBalt). Latest statistics show that the state's concept is bearing fruits: Since 1996, 32 new companies have been founded and over 900 new jobs have been created. Companies such as DECODON GmbH, DOT GmbH, Miltenyi Biotec GmbH Niederlassung Teterow, Riemser Arzneimittel AG or Gambro Rostock GmbH (former: Teraklin AG) exemplify this atmosphere of new beginnings - whether it is young business starting up from universities, or off-branches from existing companies or in form of a MBI (Management Buy In). There is a confident atmosphere, basic conditions on site are optimal and the prognosis for the future is promising. The average number of employees within biotech companies has more than doubled over the last years. Protagonists The BioCon Valley^® Initiative of the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, fosters the economic use of modern life science technologies. In 1996 this network was initiated as "BioRegio Greifswald-Rostock" within the scope of the federal BioRegio initiative and is committed to the dynamic development of Germany as a biotechnology location: As a non-profit association (BioCon Valley e.V.; since April 2001) we focus on the interests of all those activley involved in life sciences in the region. Our members include research facilities, companies and service providers (130 members) As a business-oriented limited liability corporation (BioCon Valley^® GmbH; since December 2001) we realize common goals. Besides BioCon Valley e.V., our shareholders include the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the Deutsche Bank AG, the Nord/LB, the Ostseesparkasse, as well as the Sparkasse Vorpommern. Non-university R&D centers Federal Centre for Breeding Research on Cultivated Plants (BAZ) Friedrlich-Loeffler Institute Federal Research Institute for Animal Health Research Institute for the Biology of Farm Animals - Dummerstorf Institute for Low-Temperature Plasmaphysics - Greifswald R&D centers Leibniz-Institute for Organic Catalysis at the University of Rostock e.V. Promotional and research facilities Research Center for Sensory Greifswald e.V. Institute for Diabetes "Gerhardt Katsch" Karlsburg e.V. Institute for Extracorporal Detoxification e.V. Rostock Institute for Implant Technology and Biomaterials e.V. Rostock-Warnemünde Institute of Marine Biotechnology e.V. Institute for Measuring and Sensor Systems e.V. Rostock-Warnemünde Institute for Cell Technology e.V. Rostock-Warnemünde Society of Innovative Sustainable Agrobiotechnology e.V. Universities and universities of applied science University of Greifswald University of Rostock University of Applied Sciences Neubrandenburg University of Applied Sciences Stralsund University of Applied Sciences Wismar Selected companies within the network DOT GmbH - Rostock EnviteC - Wismar GmbH Hoffrichter GmbH - Schwerin Miltenyi Biotec GmbH Niederlassung Teterow NPZ Saatzucht Hans Lembke KG - Malchow/Poel NORIKA GmbH - Groß Lüsewitz Riemser Arzneimittel AG - Insel Riems Innovation highlights Medicine/Medical Technology Networks of medical use of modern life science technologies belong to the leading networks in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and to some extent even in Germany, especially in the fields of: Extracorporal detoxification (apheresis systems) with companies such as BioServ Adsorber Technologies GmbH, Miltenyi Biotech GmbH Niederlassung Teterow, Teraklin AG. After world- wide detailed clinical studies have been completed, the licensing of the successful therapy concept MARS®, developed by Teraklin AG in 2003, by the US-American FDA (Food and Drug Administration) is imminent. The potential of this treatment will soon lead to significant economic success within the region and thereby have a model character for German health care. Biocompatibility with companies such as DOT - Thin Layer and Surface Coating GmbH (european-wide market leader for biocompatible coating of medical implants), Cortronik GmbH & Co KG (R&D of biocompatible stents) and research groups at the Competence Center of Biomaterials for Soft Tissue Contact, Institute for Low-Temperature Plasma Physics e.V., BIOGREMA (biologization of boundary layers between material and biosystems, a cooperation project between university institutions and companies, funded by the "Stifterverband für die deutsche Wissenschaft", a founder associaton for german science) Molecular medicine with showcase projects funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, such as 'Proteome Analysis in Humans' at the University of Rostock, and the Center for Innovation Competence FUNGENE Fuctional Genomics at the University of Greifswald as well as the 'Research Network Molecular Medicine' at the University of Greifswald and young companies such as the and DECODON GmbH, DNA-Diagnostics Nord GmbH, and micromun GmbH. Medical Technology/Biosensory with their focus Center for Innovation Competence CELISCA Center for Life Science Automation at the University of Rostock and the companies Amplius GmbH, Bionas GmbH, Cortronik GmbH & Co. KG, EnviteC Wismar GmbH, Hoffrichter GmbH, IT-Dr. Gambert GmbH, PRIMACYT Cell Culture Technology GmbH and others. Telemedicine with the project DISCO Diabetes Service Center Online of INNOREGIO, to test the use of telemedical services in the region. Agrobiotechnology Agrobiotechnology is important for the agricultural location of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The region is one of the leading classical and modern plant breeding locations of rape seeds and potatoes in Germany. NPZ Saatzucht Lembke KG (crop breeder; foundet in 1897) at Malchow/Poel exerts itself as Germany's pacemaker in the use of modern gene technological procedures. Due to EU restrictions this significant economic potential cannot yet be exhausted completely. Therefore, the network of competence could successfully stimulated the establishment of the AgroBioTechnikum as a agrobiotechnological competence and innovation center in Groß-Lüsewitz. A Society of Innovative Sustainable Agrobiotechnology e.V. (www.finab.de) has formed itself partly for this purpose. As the center's operator, BioCon Valley's expertise will guarantee its success. Marine Biotechnology Marine Biotechnology is a fairly young field in Germany, as well as in Europe, with a promising potential especially in the discovery and development of new therapeutic agents and enzymes. For this purpose, the network partners have founded the association 'Institute of Marine Biotechnology e.V.' which is also actively involved in research. The association has recently organized its third international conference. Ganomycin GmbH, which is the first new and promising company in this field in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, is based on the discovery of a new broad-spectrum antibiotic. Service spectrum Activities of BioCon Valley® include serving as a contact point for expert information, networking and relaying cooperations (regional, national and international), advertising for the region, consulting company start ups and the settling of companies, administration of biotechnology centers of innovation, organizing events, acquiring and managing projects. The BioCon Valley® corporation is represented in offices at the technology centers in Rostock, Greifswald and Teterow. This allows a direct and close contact to scientists and companies working at the centers. Due to the professional expertise of all staff members, the contact and collaboration between biotechnologists in science and industry and of various disciplines (medicine, agrobiotechnology, marine biotechnology), facilitates a successful cooperation and therefore an easier transfer of expert technology. Competence in figures At present there are 85 companies working in the field of life science in the region (of which 14 are biotechnology companies in a stricter sense, ELISCO according to Ernst&Young). Employees: currently there over 2 200 employees at the companies and about 2 000 further scienctists at research institutions. 32 new formations and settlements of companies since 1998. Settlement of PlasmaSelect AG from Munich in Teterow (1998) and listing on the stock market (Neuer Markt, 2000) as the region's first company. The field of biotechnology at PlasmaSelect AG was taken over by Miltenyi Biotec GmbH (Bergisch-Gladbach) and is now operating as Miltenyi Biotec GmbH Niederlassung Teterow, with approx. 150 employees. Settlement of Cortronik GmbH & Co KG in Rostock as a spin off of Biotronik KG, Berlin. International activities Bridging towards Scandinavia BioCon Valley^® is actively involved in the life science network "ScanBalt", which was brought into being by representatives of research and industry of the Baltic Sea countries. ScanBalt conceives itself as the "network of networks". The initiative was launched at the "Baltic BioTech Forum" in Teschow (near Rostock), organized as a common EU fundet project by BioCon Valley^®, BioTurku and Medicon Valley Academy in 2001. The ScanBalt initiative is committed to the networking of research, development and training in the field of life science in the Baltic Sea region. For this young sector, the cooperation will contribute to paving the way to the international floor, as well as to facilitate cooperations for the mutual benefit of scientists and entrepeneurs. The common goal is to strengthen international competitiveness of the entire Baltic Sea region and to strengthen the further development into one of the leading life science regions in the world. Research and development Training offers The agencies for academic training in the State of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern offer a spectrum of different training possibilities for modern biosciences/biotechnologies. This provides optimal conditions for young professionals in research, development and production. A gene laboratory provides access to "genetechnology to touch" for the broad public. It is supported by the Forschungsverbund Mecklenburg-Vorpommern e.V. (research network association) and is located at the technology center BioTechnikum Greifswald. The universities are establishing new international education units for post graduate students together with their partner universities in the Baltic Sea Region as part of the ScanBalt initiative. Training opportunities are placed in detail on the web at: http://www.bcv.org Regional embeddedness BioCon Valley is the life science initiative of the State of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Information about the State of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern can be found at: http://www.mecklenburg-vorpommern.de/ Links www.bcv.org Publications BioCon Valley has compiled an overview of the potential in the use of modern biotechnology in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. This is made available in the "Directory of Life Science Companies and Research Institutions - 2005", the 5th English and German edition as CD-rom. ScanBalt - A string of Competence Clusters in Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Scanbalt Competence Mapping report 2006, Wolfgang Blank, Careen Krüger, Kim Møller and Bo Samuelsson, Greifswald, Copenhagen, Göteborg, 2006 "Life Science and Biotechnology in Poland - Research, Industry and Transnational Collaboration", Heinrich Cuypers and Careen Krüger, 2006, BioCon Valley GmbH. "Borderless Biotech: Europe's First Meta-Region Taking Shape", Wolfgang Blank, Börge Diderichsen, Anna Podhajska, Bo E. Samuelsson; EuroBiotechNews 2,2003: 22-25; Biocom AG Berlin. "Think Global - Act Local", Heinrich Cuypers, Kristin von Kistowski; in "Neue Chancen" Deutscher Biotechnologiereport 2002, Ernst&Young ; 102. "Green Biotechnology in Germany - Is Cinderella Ready?", Heinrich Cuypers, Grit Voss, Wolfgang Blank; European BioPharmaceutical Review, Dez 1999: 42-45. Press releases: http://www.idw-online.de/pages/de/pressreleases756 Contact Dr. Heinrich Cuypers Senior project manager BioCon Valley GmbH - Life Sciences in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Walther-Rathenaustr. 49a D-17489 Greifswald Greifswald office Phone: +49 (0)38 34 51 5 300 Fax: +49 (0)38 34 51 5 102 Rostock office Phone: +49 (0)381 51 96 49 50 Fax: +49 (0)381 51 96 49 52 eMail: info@bcv.org Internet: www.bcv.org Image: Current image GIF image — 5 KB Image Caption: BioCon Valley - Life Science in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany	Print page Back