20 years of BIO CITY LEIPZIG - From a tender seedling to a high-tech biotope

It has been exactly 20 years since BIO CITY LEIPZIG was officially opened on the site of the Old Trade Fair Centre as a unique science lighthouse. In 2003, largely new ground was broken by creating unique working and research conditions for six biotechnology-orientated teaching facilities at Leipzig University and for growth-oriented biotechnology companies on approx. 20,000 m² under one roof. The ambitious idea was to create a technology centre and incubator close to the city centre in economically challenging times. At the time, few would have imagined that the 50 million euros in construction costs for BIO CITY LEIPZIG, financed by the Free State of Saxony and the City of Leipzig, would pay off so positively.

Two decades later, the nucleus of BIO CITY LEIPZIG has grown into a life science and tech park with international appeal. In the meantime, over 50 companies and institutes have settled on the BioCity Campus Leipzig. The scientific core is formed by the Biotechnological-Biomedical Centre of the University of Leipzig (BBZ), the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI, the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) and, last but not least, the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, whose director, Prof. Dr. Svante Päre Anthropologie, is based in Leipzig. Dr Svante Pääbo, was awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine last year.

Founded in BIO CITY LEIPZIG in 2004, c-LEcta GmbH – today employs over 130 people at its headquarters in Leipzig – a perfect example of organic growth and sustainable development. It has long since outgrown its nursery in BIO CITY LEIPZIG and will soon be moving into over 10,000 square metres in a new building on the BioCity Campus Leipzig that is being built especially for it. Dr Marc Struhalla, CEO of c-LEcta GmbH, looks back: "Our path from a spin-off from the University of Leipzig to a globally active, successful biotechnology company was very closely linked to the creation and development of the BioCity Campus and we received a lot of support, especially in the early days. Whether it's the provision of new space or the regional exchange of experience, the BioCity Campus remains the ideal breeding ground for our further growth.

Oliver Schenk, Head of the Saxon State Chancellery and Minister of State for Federal Affairs and Media, also emphasised: "The development of biotechnology in the Free State of Saxony since reunification is a great success story. Leipzig in particular and the BIO CITY LEIPZIG with its many creative start-ups and companies stand for new beginnings and pioneering spirit in an important growth market. The Free State of Saxony supported this development at an early stage with its biotechnology offensive. BIO CITY LEIPZIG is a really good place for exchange, for new ideas and the resulting opportunities.

In particular, the close integration of industry and research here is helping to further advance and strengthen Saxony as a centre of science.

The successes achieved are having an impact and are being systematically continued: LGH Leipziger Gewerbehofgesellschaft is already constructing its third building on the BioCity Campus Leipzig. A laboratory, office and prototyping complex is being built on the foundations of the former exhibition hall 12, which will provide 10,000 square metres of space for new biotech settlements from 2027. „BIO CITY LEIPZIG has generated continuous growth. After an initial start-up phase, it was clear that the building would soon reach its capacity limit. In 2011, LGH therefore began building a further 6,400 m² of laboratory and office space in the directly neighbouring BioCube. All the space there was also quickly taken up, which is why we are now working flat out to develop the next 10,000 m² of rental space in the innovation centre,

summarises Kai Thalmann, Managing Director of LGH, looking back on the development.

However, as important as buildings are, they are no substitute for the driving innovative power of people. Together with the University of Leipzig, the economic sponsors were determined from the outset to create favourable conditions for companies in the long term. Together with the industry association biosaxony, they are characterised by an uncomplicated hands-on mentality. Start-ups receive hands-on support. This ranges from regulatory aspects in the German healthcare system to approaching investors, recruitment and technical support, e.g. with laboratory technology or a modern 3D printer for medical applications in the co-working lab. And the MEDICAL FORGE accelerator accompanies eight companies from Germany and abroad every year through the innovation landscape in Saxony. All in all, this creates a high-tech biotope with ideal conditions for future growth. Clemens Schülke, Leipzig's Mayor and Councillor for Economic Affairs, Labour and Digital Affairs, adds: „The city dedicated the Alte Messe to the life sciences back then. A clever strategy that is bearing fruit today. We must stay on course today and consistently and rapidly develop the last remaining areas on the site for a powerful biotech cluster.

Prof. Dr Eva Inés Obergfell, Rector of Leipzig University, is also looking to the future: „I am excited to see what ground-breaking discoveries and achievements the Biotechnology and Biomedicine Centre has in store for us in the future. The interdisciplinary research expertise at the BBZ, with its broad-based core units, should be strengthened by the field of applied artificial intelligence in order to establish the next generation of innovations in the field of bioengineering. The BBZ has the potential for this. It can make a significant impact on the development of common diseases and the effectiveness of treatments. At the same time, the BBZ can open up new translational fields.“

The potential of the location has also been recognised by specialist property developers. It is therefore not surprising that Vollack broke ground this morning of all mornings for the construction of two further laboratory buildings on the BioCity Campus Leipzig.

A ceremony will be held today at BIO CITY LEIPZIG for invited guests to celebrate the 20th anniversary in style. Greetings to the visitors:

Kai Thalmann, Managing Director of LGH Leipziger Gewerbehof GmbH & Co. KG
Prof. Dr Eva Inés Obergfell, Rector of the University of Leipzig
Oliver Schenk, Head of the State Chancellery and Minister of State for Federal Affairs and Media

Further speeches on the anniversary will be given at today's event by:

Jörn-Heinrich Tobaben, Managing Director of Metropolregion Mitteldeutschland Management GmbH and first Managing Director of BIO-NET GmbH
Dr Marc Struhalla, CEO and founder of c-LEcta GmbH

Contact for the press:
IMMO MEDIA CONSULT, Mr Oliver Obermann
Tel: +49 171 22 22 350 or +49 341 90 97 90 00
Email: o.obermann@immo-media-consult.de

Image material from today's ceremony will be available for download from 7 pm at:
http://cloud.biosaxony.com/index.php/s/Jwefp7xHBoIberW

These images can be used free of charge for press coverage. Please quote „Philipp Kirschner, PK Fotografie“ as the author.