Germany’s Biotech Sector Successfully Combating Covid-19 Crisis

Biotech sector meets to discuss Covid-19 progress

Companies active in Germany’s thriving biotech sector met at the second BIO Deutschland “German Corona Showcase” supported by Germany Trade & Invest. During the course of the three-day-event (April 28-30), actors from the domestic biotech industry came together to appraise activities to combat the coronavirus pandemic. This second event came after an initial Corona Showcase e-Vent that was held in June of last year, bringing together participants from 18 countries. 

Germany’s role in the fight against coronavirus 

A considerable part of the global activities for the development and production of diagnostics, vaccines and drugs against Covid-19 takes place at biotech sites in Germany. Companies including BioNTech, CureVac and QIAGEN have garnered international headlines for their efforts to develop vaccines to combat the global coronavirus pandemic, but the strength and diversity of the sector is such that many other smaller actors are enjoying similar successes away from the spotlight. 

Germany’s fast-growing biotech sector 

Germany’s biotech industry is growing dynamically and has been for some years. There are currently around 710 companies active in a sector that generated almost EUR 6.5 billion in turnover in 2020. Overall sector revenue has grown by 36 percent, with research and development spending also up by 37 percent. Turnover generated by publicly trading biotech companies is up 43 percent, with a handful of companies including QIAGEN (EUR 1.5 billion), Evotec (EUR 501 million), MorphoSys (EUR 328 million), and BioNTech (EUR 483 million) accounting for almost 90 percent of the sales of listed companies and almost 44 percent of the sector’s sales. 

Half of companies active in medical biotechnology

More than half of the companies are active in medical biotechnology. This means they conduct research into therapies, diagnostics and vaccines and support research in the form of clinical trials as well as producing biotechnologically manufactured active ingredients. Germany is a European leader in terms of biotechnological drug production capacity, which is extremely relevant for vaccine production.  

GTAI supporting international industry partnership 

The HEALTH MADE IN GERMANY Export Initiative for the German Healthcare Industry provides active support to the biotech sector, supporting events like this year’s showcase as well as collaborating with BIO Deutschland on its German Biotechnology Days platform.

Implemented by Germany Trade & Invest, the initiative provides support to international companies and organizations in order to identify potential German partners and suppliers. It also works closely with all of the major industry associations and is part of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy’s MITTELSTAND GLOBAL umbrella program for SMEs.

The initiative is optimally placed to provide access to German healthcare market information and to help international businesses explore market opportunities in Germany.