German Biotechnology Days in Stuttgart a Great Success
With over 740 registered participants, the Fourth German Biotechnology Days on 14 and 15 May 2013 were a great success for all those involved, including the organisers BIO Deutschland and this year’s host BioRegion, BioRegio STERN. Over the course of the two-day event, almost 150 speakers from industry, research and politics gave presentations on interesting biotechnology topics at Haus der Wirtschaft Baden-Württemberg. The programme focused on topics including bioethics, as well as on related fields in which the host state of Baden-Württemberg is particularly strong, such as automation, medical technology and regenerative medicine.
For the first time, this year’s speakers included 42 entrepreneurs who presented business concepts that had resulted from funding programmes by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research.
Once again, the event included breakfast sessions, which have featured on the programme since 2012. This year also marked the premiere of the new World Café format, which proved very popular with event organisers and participants. The two-day programme was rounded off by 36 exhibitors from research, industry and the tertiary sector with stands spread across two halls. BIO Deutschland’s stand was a popular meeting place.
The plenary sessions on both days were attended by high-ranking representatives of industry and politics, including Permanent State Secretary Thomas Ilka from the Federal Ministry of Health and State Secretary Georg Schütte from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. The state level was represented by Nils Schmid, Deputy Minister-President and Minister of Finance and Economics of Baden-Württemberg, who explained how he is promoting the biotechnology sector. Fritz Kuhn, Lord Mayor of Stuttgart, welcomed the guests in his capacity as the most senior representative of the city, and underlined his interest in and commitment to the biotechnology industry. The audience also had the opportunity to listen to talks by industry representatives Andreas Barner (Boehringer Ingelheim), Ludwig Georg Braun (B. Braun Melsungen), Özlem Türeci (GANYMED) and Holger Zinke (B.R.A.I.N.).
Prize-giving ceremonies were also held during the plenary session on 15 May. State Secretary Georg Schütte (Federal Ministry of Education and Research) announced that funding would be awarded to the innovation alliance, Technofunktionelle Proteine (TeFuPro), a consortium of 14 project partners run by ANiMOX. The project makes use of proteins from agricultural waste products. The BioRegions’ Innovation Prize, which is awarded to three innovative and patented life-sciences research ideas that have excellent market prospects, was awarded for the sixth time. First prize went to Klaus Brandenburg from the research centre, Forschungszentrum Borstel, for developing a highly effective and innovative antisepsis medication. The second prize was awarded to Georg Schendzielorz and Stephan Binder from Forschungszentrum Jülich for developing a new sensory system for the rapid and targeted search for highly productive microorganisms. Arndt Schilling and Ektoras Hadjipanayi from Technische Universität München won third prize for their cell-free bioactive bandage that transfers tissue-repair messengers made of the patient’s own blood cells to a wound.
The evening event at the Porsche Museum on 14 May was a particular highlight of this year’s event. Guests enjoyed dinner at the museum and had a chance to see some extremely fast cars in the exhibition.
The 2013 Biotechnology Days were sponsored by Porsche as the titanium sponsor. CeGaT, CMS Hasche Sigle, kempers.partner, Roche, Technologiepark Tübingen-Reutlingen and Witte, Weller und Partner were platinum sponsors. Clariant, LBBW Venture Capital and Sanofi were gold sponsors and High-Tech-Gründerfonds was a silver sponsor.
BIOPRO Baden-Württemberg GmbH provided support as the regional network partner. Next year’s Biotechnology Days will take place in Hamburg and will be co-organised by BIO Deutschland and Norgenta.
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König-Karl-Halle was crowded with visitors. |
State Secretary Georg Schütte (Federal Ministry of Education and Research) awards funding to the innovation alliance, Technofunktionelle Proteine, represented by Axel Höhling of ANiMOX GmbH. (Photo: BIO Deutschland e.V. / Gerlinde Trinkhaus) |
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Klaus Brandenburg, State Secretary Georg Schütte, Klaus Eichenberg, Thomas Diefenthal, Arndt Schilling, Ektoras Hadjipanayi, Georg Schendzielorz and Stephan Binder (from left to right). (Photo: BIO Deutschland e.V. / Gerlinde Trinkhaus) |
Klaus Eichenberg from BioRegio STERN (right) passes the baton for the 2014 Biotechnology days to Hinrich Habeck from Norgenta (left). |