Germany’s biotech sector continues to post strong figures

(Berlin – 1 June 2023) Key figures for the German biotechnology sector remained at a consistently high level in 2022 compared with those in 2021. Although revenue came in about 3 percent lower than in 2021 at €25 billion, investment in research and development (R&D) stayed steady at €3.8 billion. The company BioNTech SE has contributed significantly to these high figures with its vaccine proceeds and increasing R&D outlays. Yet the number of companies headquartered in Germany has stagnated at 750. On a brighter note, though, significantly more highly skilled workers have been hired. The number of employees was about 47,400 in 2022, 10 percent higher than in the previous year. These are the findings of a survey of Germany’s 727 private biotech companies – as well as the 23 domestically listed companies – published today by the biotechnology association BIO Deutschland.

Oliver Schacht, Chairman of the Board of BIO Deutschland, stated: “The current figures for our industry continue to be affected by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Revenue and R&D investment are still very high compared to before the pandemic. The considerable increase in personnel is likely also due in part to the great demand for biotech expertise during the pandemic. But that’s not the only reason. BioNTech, for example, is now stepping up its research into the use of mRNA technology for cancer treatment. Other companies are expanding, too. However, alongside this positive news, we are concerned about the lack of new companies being founded. Here, we would like to see a better dynamic, not least because this would also further improve technology transfer. This requires a strengthened ‘third mission’ at universities, but also sensible support programs and incentives for investment in innovative start-ups.”

Viola Bronsema, Managing Director of BIO Deutschland, added: “The rise in employee numbers is a good sign and shows that the sector is growing. Unfortunately, however, there is also a shortage of qualified specialists. We need to take measures to address this. It must be made easier to recruit highly skilled workers from abroad. Technical apprenticeships also urgently need to be upgraded again, as do STEM subjects in schools. Biotechnology is a key cross-cutting technology, and as such, our sector offers highly qualified, future-proof jobs for Germany. It is worth our while to secure these jobs.”

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The figures and charts associated with this press release can be found at: www.biodeutschland.org/de/pressemappe.html.

About BIO Deutschland:

BIO Deutschland e. V., with more than 370 members – companies, BioRegions and industry service providers – and headquartered in Berlin, Germany, aims to support and promote the development of an innovative economic sector in Germany based on modern life sciences. Oliver Schacht, Ph. D., is chairman of the board of BIO Deutschland.

For more information, visit: www.biodeutschland.org

Supporting members of BIO Deutschland and industry partners are:

AGC Biologics, Avia, Baker Tilly, Bayer, BioSpring, Boehringer Ingelheim, Centogene, Citeline, CMS Hasche Sigle, Deutsche Bank, Ernst & Young, Evotec, KPMG, Lonza, Merck, Miltenyi Biotec, MorphoSys, Novartis, Pfizer, PricewaterhouseCoopers, QIAGEN, Rentschler Biopharma, Roche Diagnostics, Sanofi Aventis Deutschland, SAP, Schmidt Versicherungs Treuhand, Simmons & Simmons, Springer Nature, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Vibalogics, ZETA.

Contact:

BIO Deutschland e. V.
Dr Claudia Englbrecht
Schützenstraße 6a
10117 Berlin, Germany
Tel.: +49 30 2332 164-32
Mobile: +49 151 1406 7326
Email: englbrecht@biodeutschland.org

Publication free of charge – specimen copy requested.