Start of Location Analysis of Healthcare Industry Regensburg

In the last year BioPark GmbH celebrated its 15 years of existence and since its foundation has been able to demonstrate impressive development. To begin with was the core competency of the   BioPark - biotechnology (1999-2001). Then medical technology, the field of pharmaceuticals,  diagnostics and analytics and the area of the life sciences were opened up (2002-2006). Then with the project "IA-Biotech" (Interdisciplinary-Agency) the expansion into other companies in different fields that interact  interdisciplinary with the life sciences, e.g. in the fields of biogas or biofunctional surfaces in the metal, textile, plastics and glass industry (2006-2011). As a further consequence the BioPark has networked with companies from the healthcare industry and already has settled a first start-up at the BioPark.

"We see quite clearly an overall trend for further alliance of the biotech and medtech industries with the healthcare industry here at this location", said Dr. Thomas Diefenthal, Managing Director of BioPark Regensburg GmbH. "By doing so we can illustrate with the stakeholders in the region the complete value-added chain from research and development, through licencing and production, to  diagnosis and treatment, meaning application for patients at this location". A first study of AOK-Regensburg in 2011 has proved a continuous boom in the health care region in Regensburg. "According to the study the healthcare industry currently offers 15,500 jobs in the city and district and has a turnover 1.4 billion €", cited Dieter Daminger, Councelor for  Economic, Financial and Research Affairs of the City of Regensburg.

So what distinguishes a healthcare region as excelling and what can be done to promote the healthcare industry competetively in national and international locations? The Lord Mayor Joachim Wolbergs and concurrent chairman of the board of BioPark GmbH would also like to know how to answers these questions professionally. "In the coalition agreement for the legislative period 2014-2020 we have already decided upon a location analysis on the healthcare industry here. We do not wish to deal with this important theme hastily", explained Wolbergs. "In Bavaria alone there are 20 healthcare regions with rehabilitation facilities, clinics, health spas, wellness and recreational tourism. Here we must and wish to define ourselves and develop our own profile."

Also for consultant Dieter Daminger it is important to first conduct a thorough location analysis. "Free of constraints and conditions we would like to quite openly undertake a detailed strength and weakness analysis of the location on the breadth of the healthcare industry". In the past the BioPark GmbH has already undertaken several location analyses with prominent consultancy companies and derived successful development concepts for the location. "For a successful concept it is important to identify the themes and stakeholders which faciliate sustainabable initiatives", he commented from experience in recent years. The BioPark is itself a good example for sustainable support measures - it is self-financing.

In the framework of the location analysis, in June and July interviews are being run with around 40 stakeholders, meaning policymakers from politics and management from clinics, companies, tertiary institutions and education institutions. Parallel to this data research is to take place and comparable regions in Bavaria and Germany will be analysed. The result will be a detailed SWOT analysis of the region in the field of the healthcare industry, demonstrating the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and risks. On this basis competencies and focal points are to be worked out. Together with the stakeholders this should be used as a basis for the creation of potential concepts for the promotion of the healthcare industry. First results are expected at the end of 2015.