BIO Deutschland takes part in public Bundestag hearing

On Wednesday, 1 March, 2023, the Bundestag’s Committee on Economic Affairs held a public hearing on “Strengthening Germany as a location for innovation, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, securing EU funding and joining IPCEI Health” (20/2376, https://dserver.bundestag.de/btd/20/023/2002376.pdf). The hearing was based on a motion put forward by the CDU/CSU parliamentary group calling for Germany to join the EU’s Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI) on Health, which aims to promote important innovations in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors. Seven experts were invited to give their views on the issue of funding, Germany as a business location and future viability. In addition to Viola Bronsema, Managing Director of BIO Deutschland, these included Berthold U. Wigger, Chair of Public Finance and Public Management at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology; Iris Plöger, member of the Executive Board of the Federation of German Industries (BDI); Andreas Eckert, Managing Partner of Eckert Wagniskapital und Frühphasenfinanzierung GmbH; Dorothee Stamm, Vice Chair of the German Medical Technology Association (BVMed); Alexandra Krieger, Head of Controlling and Compliance at the Mining, Chemical and Energy Industrial Union (IG BCE); and Jörg Schaaber from the BUKO Pharma Campaign “Health – global and fair”. Among other things, Bronsema urged the Committee to create a financing ecosystem for young companies and start-ups in Germany.

A video recording of the hearing, statements by the experts, and summaries can be found here: www.bundestag.de/ausschuesse/a09_wirtschaft/Anhoerungen/932398-932398#:~:text=Der%20Wirtschaftsausschuss%20hat%20sich%20am,(20%2F2376)%20besch%C3%A4ftigt

The full text of the press release (in German) can be found here: www.biodeutschland.org/de/pressemitteilungen/bundestag-biotech-branchenverband-fordert-beteiligung-am-ipcei-health-bessere-wachstumsfinanzierung-und-biotech-agenda.html?year=2023