BioTOP Berlin-Brandenburg

Network Profile

With its six universities, 21 further campuses, 300+ research institutes, six biotechnology parks, and numerous new small and medium-sized firms at the cutting edge of technology, plus 200 trade fairs and conferences the Berlin-Brandenburg region is one of the most inspiring places for investment in future industries.

In the field of biotechnology, recent economic developments have been particularly impressive. In 1990 there were only 15 biotech companies in the region. Today, there are more than 140 with numbers increasing every month so that this is currently the premier German BioRegion.

Berlin-Brandenburg offers numerous opportunities for business co-operation and intellectual networking in its biotech parks and at its numerous scientific institutes. Among them are well-known centres such as the Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine, the German Heart Institute, The German Rheumatism Research Centre and the Synchrotron Radiation Facility BESSY 2. Berlin was also selected as the location for the German Resource Centre for Genome Research. Many experts from various disciplines such as molecular biology, biochemistry, biotechnology, materials sciences, microsystems engineering, and informatics, provide a high degree of cross-sector co-operation and innovation have established themselves here. However, the crucial task now is to capitalize on all this and to advance biotechnology as an important commercial factor for the region. The local governments of the two regions decided to pursue this goal back in 1995.They therefore established the initiative BioTOP in partnership with the Association of the Chemical Industry (VCI). BioTOP Berlin-Brandenburg is both a scientific and a business initiative. It boosts the establishment of research networks and forcefully promotes the foundation of new enterprises. Within the region it offers support to all existing biotech companies and to those who are thinking about setting up business here.

The strategic goal today is to continue to support the foundation of promising companies and to strengthen the existing ones. More importantly, they innovative companies in selected areas even greater opportunities. The plan is to become a major player in the field of biotechnology in the next decade during which time Europe will catch up with the USA.

Recently the region has made a name for itself in numerous areas such as genomics / proteomics, RNA technologies and tissue engineering. Budding new topics are glycobiotechnology and bioelectronics / biochips.

Press releases

Further Information: www.biotop.de/