Using biology to drive the economy: recommendations for a sustainable economy based on biotechnology
(Berlin – 18 July 2024) The biotechnology industry association, BIO Deutschland e. V., is presenting its position paper “Using biology to drive the economy” today. Industrial biotechnology is one of the main drivers of the transformation from a fossil-based economy to a bio-based and sustainable economy, known as a bioeconomy. This transformation is essential to achieving the climate targets that have been set. However, Germany is falling behind in the international competition for industrial applications of biotechnological processes. In the current position paper, BIO Deutschland's experts bundle recommendations for action to counteract market failure and ensure the future viability and competitiveness of the German economy, such as taking into account the ecological footprint of a product and material specifications.
Christine Lang, co-head of BIO Deutschland's Industrial Bioeconomy working group, explains: “We have excellent research in the field of industrial biotechnology in Germany. However, as in many other areas, the transfer from the laboratory to the industrial scale is problematic. There are many reasons for this. We must therefore use various levers to avoid losing our connection and sovereignty in this future-oriented field. It would be important to include all costs, including the ecological footprint, when comparing bio-based products with traditional fossil-based products. This would make the advantage of the new products more visible. Of course, we also need a market pull. This means that there must be binding rules for the ingredients of new products, such as in the form of blending quotas and material specifications.”
Jörg Riesmeier, also head of the working group, adds: “We also need capital to bring our biotechnological innovations to market and promote innovation. This starts with customized funding programs for pre-competitive pilot plants and the first scale-up in industrial demonstration plants. Above all, we need more venture capital for the growth phases of promising young companies. That is why we have to create legal opportunities for German and European capital collection points to be able to invest more in this asset class.”
About BIO Deutschland:
BIO Deutschland e. V. is an independent biotechnology organization. The business association represents the interests of its members at national, European and global level. Biotechnology transfers biology into industrial application. For example, it has already demonstrated visible benefits in medicine. Innovative bio-based economic systems can enable Germany and Europe to achieve sovereignty and prosperity in the long term. The association's network is interdisciplinary and unique. Its members research, develop, produce and market globally. BIO Deutschland is a strong association. It relies on diversity, openness and equal opportunities and is committed to the free democratic basic order. Oliver Schacht, Ph. D., is chairman of the board of BIO Deutschland.
Further information is available at: www.biodeutschland.org
BIO Deutschland's supporting members and industry partners are:
AGC Biologics, Avia, Baker Tilly, Bayer, BioSpring, Boehringer Ingelheim, BüchnerBarella, Centogene, Citeline, CMS Hasche Sigle, Deutsche Bank, Ernst & Young, Evotec, KPMG, Lonza, Miltenyi Bi otec, MorphoSys, Novartis, Pfizer, PricewaterhouseCoopers, QIAGEN, Rentschler Biopharma, Roche Diagnostics, Sanofi Aventis Deutschland, Simmons & Simmons, Thermo Fisher Scientific, SpringerNature, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Vibalogics, ZETA.
Contact:
BIO Deutschland e. V.
Dr. Claudia Englbrecht
Schützenstraße 6a
10117 Berlin
Tel.: +49 30 2332 164-32
Mobile: +49 151 14067326
E-Mail: englbrecht@biodeutschland.org