September 2018
BIO Deutschland holds its 2018 general assembly in Berlin
Members of BIO Deutschland convened on 14 September at the association’s headquarters in Berlin for their annual general assembly. Among the items passed by the general assembly were the approval of the 2017 financial statement and the discharge of the board. In addition, BIO Deutschland board members Andreas Löschmann, Oliver Schacht, Jan Schmidt-Brand and Sylvia Wojczewski discussed the content of the German government’s coalition agreement, the expectations for the “From Biology to Innovation” agenda, synergies between the economic and research ministries, and demands on policymakers. Important points brought up by the board members included the state’s role in shaping a regulatory framework that creates incentives for private investors, the fostering of openness to innovation in our society, an open technological and technology-enthusiastic education policy as well as the significance of the healthcare industry as a key economic factor. The discussion was moderated by Holger Lösch, deputy director general of the Federation of German Industries (BDI). BIO Deutschland has been a member of the BDI since 2017. Hinrich Habeck, spokesperson for the Council of German BioRegions, provided an overview of the activities of Germany’s regional clusters and technology parks.