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Innovative Solutions to Challenges in Life Sciences in Germany
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At a conference hosted by the Consulate General and the State of Hessen US Office for Economic Development on October 6th at the German House New York, Dr. Christian Garbe, Managing Director of FIZ Frankfurt Biotechnology Innovation Center and Dr. Nathan Tinker, Executive Director of the New York Biotechnology Association (NYBA) signed a memorandum of understanding, commiting both parties to increase cooperation in biotechnological research.
The conference featured guests from research outfits as well as venture capital funds. Speakers were Dr. Christian Garbe, Managing Director of the FIZ Franfkurt Biotechnology; Dr. Scott Lauder, Global Head of Protein and Cell Sciences, EMD Serono; Christian Scheiner, Chairman, D42C; and Gregg Blake, Managing Partner, Brocair Partners LLC. Following their speeches, Dr. Garbe and Dr. Nathan Tinker, Executive Director of the New York Biotechnology Association (NYBA) signed the memorandum of understanding, committing themselves to foster cooperation between their respective research organizations.
Addressing the participants of the conference, Consul General Horst Freitag highlighted the many contributions of German researchers to life sciences. Not only did he mention the likes of Max Planck or Albert Einstein, but also those scientists who made groundbreaking discoveries in the recent past, such as Erwin Neher, Bert Sakmann, Christiane Nüsslein-Vollhard or Harald zur Hausen. All of these won a Nobel prize for their research. The latter of these scientists, Harald zur Hausen, who won the Nobel prize in medicine in 2008, lives in a small town in Hessen, the German state sponsoring this event.
As the Consul General pointed out, Hessen is one of the core regions in Europe with world class skills in pharmacy and applied life sciences. Hessen is also the home of Frankfurt, which is not only a hub for tourists, businessmen and (central) bankers, but also to the Frankfurt Biotechnology Center (FIZ), a key institution for Germany's health industry.
Just like the New York Biotechnology Association, the FIZ is a public-private partnership fund bringing scientists and economists together. The Consul General commended both contract parties for their joint initiative to establish and enhance their networks and expertise by signing the memorandum of understanding.
