Biotech Innovation in Europe and Germany
Falling Walls Circle Tables are lending the spotlight to world-leading scientists, science strategists and policy-makers from academia, business and politics discuss how we can apply science, research and innovation to get the world moving again.
How could Europe create a global ‘hotspot’ of biotech innovation? In this Falling Walls Circle Table, panelists discuss what Europe can uniquely offer, and the challenges it must overcome before it could compete with biotech powerhouses in America and China.
Within Europe, Berlin presents a promising option as a biotech hotspot, as it shares many crucial traits with the world’s leading hub – Boston. The capital of Germany offers a rich balance of ingredients including researchers, policymakers, regulators and – of course – money. What’s more, the boundaries between these sectors are increasingly blurred, as processes become more fluid.
Nevertheless, Boston brings not only innovative biotech companies, but also pharmaceutical giants. This provides both employment security and an environment where entrepreneurial willingness to fail is encouraged, drawing talented biotech workers in. Berlin – or any European city – must create the right framework to support people as they translate research into commercial products. For this, the network between industry, academia and regulators must continue to be strengthened – something that the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrates can yield unprecedented results from biotech.