What does it take to establish Germany as a leading biotech location?

To discuss this question, Bavarian Minister of Science Markus Blume, Member of the German Bundestag Florian Hahn, and the Mayor of Planegg, Hermann Nafziger, visited the Innovation and Start-up Center Biotechnology (IZB) on February 3, 2025. Their goal was to engage in direct dialogue with scientists, founders, biotech start-ups, and entrepreneurs at the Martinsried/Großhadern campus to explore ways to strengthen Germany as an innovation hub.

Following insightful visits to promising IZB start-ups, a high-profile discussion took place at the IZB Faculty Club with experts from the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, the Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, as well as representatives from biotech entrepreneurs and start-ups. Several key takeaways emerged:

Excellent universities and research institutions are the driving force behind the creation of new biotech companies—yet, there remains significant untapped potential in the translation of science into entrepreneurial initiatives.

The Munich region stands out with its strong economy, international connectivity, and high quality of life. Reducing bureaucracy could make this location even more attractive for scientists, businesses, and skilled professionals.

While there is ample public funding and early-stage support from angel and VC investors, scaling start-ups into unicorns remains challenging without US investors or US IPOs. Germany and Europe should therefore create more incentives for local investors to support larger funding rounds in their own markets.

The political leaders listened attentively, engaged in results-driven discussions, and reaffirmed their commitment to fostering biotechnology in Germany. The IZB remains a key player in this process and will continue to drive the transformation of groundbreaking research into successful companies.