Dr. Peter Hanns Zobel, CEO of IZB, Bids Farewell

Martinsried, September 25, 2023 – After 27 years of successful leadership as the CEO of the Innovation and Start-up Center for Biotechnology (IZB), Dr. Peter Hanns Zobel announces his departure from IZB in March 2024. During this time, he has transformed IZB from its inception in 1995 into an impressive 26,000 square meter hub for biotech start-ups. Dr. Zobel looks back on a fulfilling career at IZB, during which he supported approximately 250 start-ups in establishing themselves in Martinsried and Weihenstephan. “I have always been inspired by their entrepreneurial spirit and innovation. Together with these start-ups, we have created a thriving environment in the state of Bavaria, where many entrepreneurs have flourished. Many influencers from the biotech, pharmaceutical, and venture capital industries have visited Martinsried over the years, connecting with innovative entrepreneurs,” Zobel reflects on his life’s work.

Zobel particularly commends the support and collaboration of the neighboring Max Planck Institutes for Biochemistry and Biological Intelligence, as well as Ludwig Maximilian University (LMU), the Technical University (TU), and the Munich University Hospital in Großhadern. “Together with the two Max Planck Institutes, in which I had the privilege to participate on their board, we successfully realized important projects such as the BioKids kindergartens and the operating company KITA BioRegio e.V.,” Zobel notes with satisfaction.

The construction of the “CAMPUS AT HOME” hotel in 2014, along with the Faculty Club “G2B” located there, has become a popular gathering place for IZB and Campus Martinsried guests. The two restaurants, SEVEN AND MORE and THE BOWL, have been well-received by all Campus participants.

“I am also grateful for the consistently motivated and loyal employees of IZB, who have been the cornerstone of IZB’s economic success. Together, we have operated IZB without subsidies since its inception and maintained full occupancy,” Zobel adds, highlighting the strong teamwork.

Dr. Zobel’s extensive wealth of experience accumulated during his tenure as CEO at IZB will undoubtedly be invaluable in his future professional endeavors. Currently, no specific career plans have been disclosed.

Dr. Zobel extends his best wishes to all involved, both in their professional and personal futures. He emphasizes that the upcoming growth initiatives, including the construction of the subway, the new Großhadern Hospital, and the expansion of the Max Planck Institutes, will further strengthen the Campus Martinsried and the entire state of Bavaria, promising great opportunities ahead.

About the Innovation and Start-up Centre for Biotechnology (IZB) in Martinsried, Munich
The Fördergesellschaft IZB mbH, founded in 1995, operates the Innovation and Start-up Centers for Biotechnology in Planegg-Martinsried and Freising-Weihenstephan and has developed into a leading biotechnology center. 40 biotech companies and five life science firms with over 700 employees are currently based on 26,000 m². Here, work is being done on developing drugs for the most serious diseases, such as cancer, Alzheimer’s and various autoimmune diseases. A key criterion for the success of the IZBs is the physical proximity to cutting-edge research on the Martinsried/Grosshadern campus and the Weihenstephan campus. The new infrastructure measures such as the Faculty Club G2B (Gateway to Biotech), the IZB Residence CAMPUS AT HOME, the Elhardt chemistry college, the two kindergartens Bio Kids and Bio Kids2 as well as the two restaurants SEVEN AND MORE and THE BOWL Food Lounge are also location factors that are highly valued by the founders of the company. Successful companies that emerged from the IZB include Corimmun (today Janssen-Cilag), Crlelux (today Wuxxi AppTec), Exosome Diagnostics (bought by Bio-Techn), ibidi, Immunic Therapeutics, Medigene, Micromet (today Amgen), MorphoSys, Octopharma or Rigontec (now MSD) as well as SIRION Biotech (today Perkin Elmer). More information at www.izb-online.de

Press contact and photo material requests:
Susanne Simon, Head of Press and Public Relations
Fördergesellschaft IZB mbH, Innovations- und Gründerzentrum Biotechnologie
Am Klopferspitz 19
D-82152 Planegg-Martinsried
Phone: +49 (0)89/55 279 48-17,
E-Mail: ed.enilno-bzi@nomis