New Biotechnology Sector Statistics Published
The German biotechnology sector is growing. This is proved by a significantly higher turnover of €2.4 billion (+9%), record-breaking funding of €700 million (+122%), and an increased number of employees in commercial biotechnology of around 32,500 (+3%). The number of companies (538) also rose. Expenditure on research and development was around €1 billion in 2010.
These are the major findings of the 2011 biotechnology company survey, which was conducted by the information platform, biotechnologie.de, and commissioned by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research for the fifth time.
“We are pleased about the positive development of the biotechnology sector, but still see a need for political action,” said Peter Heinrich, Chairman of the Board of BIO Deutschland. “In order to safeguard sustainable funding of this industrial sector and strengthen Germany as a location in terms on the international market, it is essential that not only the existing discrimination against innovative small and medium-sized enterprises as compared with large industrial companies be abolished, but also that the tax parameters for companies and investors be improved.”
“The success of our long-term promotional policy is confirmed by the positive development of the biotechnology sector. Sustainable solutions for the healthcare sector and bioeconomy can be developed with the help of biotechnology. We also want to continue to support this trend in the future,” said Helge Braun, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. The Federal Government began promotional strategies on the bioeconomy and health research at the end of 2010. The campaign is spearheaded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and has a total volume of around €8 billion.
“Biotechnology companies are the innovative engine of the pharmaceutical and chemical industry, which is increasingly leaving early research projects to these firms,” commented Boris Mannhardt, Managing Director of Biocom Projektmanagement GmbH and head of the study at biotechnolgie.de. Against this background, interest among investors is also increasing. In 2010, companies were able to attract funding worth €321 million in total, more than ever before (2009: €142 million). A further €335 million was invested via the Stock Exchange (2009: €122 million). Public funding in 2010 amounted to €45 million, or 6.4 %. According to the survey, the flow of capital thus reached €700 million for the first time. The funding is primarily used in the development of new medicines. While the number of drug candidates (100) remained virtually the same in comparison with the previous year (2009: 102), it was possible to further clinical development in many projects. To date, German biotechnology companies have had eight therapeutic agents licensed.
Biotechnology is also used in other fields apart from medicine. “Biofuel made from straw is just one example. Precursors are also increasingly manufactured without using fossil resources,” Mannhardt said. This development is reflected in the number of employees. 32,480 people (2009: 31,600) were employed in commercial biotechnology in 2010, of whom 15,480 worked in small and medium-sized enterprises, which are in the majority among biotechnology firms, while 17,000 worked in the biotechnology-oriented segments of pharmaceutical, chemical and seed companies (2009: 16,600).
The study by biotechnologie.de, “The German Biotechnology Sector 2011” and all of its results can be found online at http://www.biotechnologie.de/BIO/Navigation/DE/Hintergrund/studien-statistiken,did=123044.html. There is also a link to the PDF file of the publication on BIO Deutschland’s website at http://www.biodeutschland.org/biothek.html. This English and German file can be downloaded. Further current information on the biotechnology sector can also be found at www.biodeutschland.org.