Current BioPark Financial Report 2020
Life science companies (biotech, pharma and medical engineering, diagnostics and analytics) have been able to expand their business many times during the Corona crisis or directly profited from the high demand in vaccine research or for hygiene and disinfection materials. The current questionnaire for the Regensburg BioRegion, which is conducted each year by BioPark Regensburg GmbH, an enterprise of the City of Regensburg, demonstrates this and was assessed at the beginning of this year. The total number companies in the cluster rose to 61 companies (+3) in comparison to the previous year (see graph 1). Also the number of employees rose slightly from 3,991 to 4,093 (2.5 %). The leasehold capacity at the BioPark was at last count at a total of 98.8 %. Currently the Technology and Startup Center houses in its three buildings of 18,000 m2 gross floor space 35 leaseholders with a total of 718 employees. This is 10% more employees than last year. These include startup companies, university and external university institutions, companies from Germany and abroad as well as service providers and its own childcare facility.
Graph 1
According to BioPark CEO Dr. Thomas Diefenthal the Corona crisis has also been a challenge for the companies at the BioPark. During the first lockdown early in the year 2020 some companies really dealt with reduced working hours due to the collapse of delivery chains. Financing of some companies was also considerably delayed in the course of the last year, which unfortunately led to one provisional insolvency. Meanwhile most companies were able to adapt to the crisis and in particular the delivery industry profited from a strong demand in vaccine research, disinfection and hygiene materials. Some companies at the BioPark and the Regensburg BioRegion were already involved in the field of hygiene and treatment of multiresistent pathogens before the Corona crisis. “This experience and products on-hand can now be used in the fight against the Corona pandemic”, explained Dr. Diefenthal.
Now here are some examples: The BioPark company TriOptoTec GmbH has developed an innovative, antimicrobial coating with anti-viral effect. This self-pathogen removing coating is now applied throughout Germany for the coating of frequently used surfaces such as door handles, light switches and railings. Also the Regensburg company RAS AG has successfully brought a new generation of additives based on nanosilver for multiresistent bacteria and viruses onto the market. The company relyon plasma GmbH, a subsidiary of TDK Electronics AG, is using innovative plasma technology to disinfect and sterilize surfaces. In the field of diagnostics nal von minden GmbH and Labor Friedle GmbH have quick tests for Corona on offer. Since the first onset of the novel coronavirus Thermo Fisher Scientific GENEART GmbH from the Regensburg location has been producing in 7 day shifts synthetic SARS-CoV-2 gene variants for universities and for pharma and biotech companies. The demand for the DNA genetics which code for the virus envelope and corresponding proteins is rising constantly.
Currently in the cluster there are 7 pharma companies with 1,575 employees, 26 medtech companies (medical engineering, diagnostics/analytics) with 1,452 employees and 28 biotech companies with 1,066 employees. (see graph 2). Also although the end of the lockdown is still unknown, most companies are looking towards further development on a positive note for 2021.
Graph 2