Leipzig/Vienna, 6 November 2025 - BIO-Europe 2025 from 3 to 5 November in Vienna once again provided the central platform for Europe's life sciences industry - with SAXONY! right in the middle of it all. As the only federal state with its own joint stand, the Free State of Saxony presented its innovative companies, research players and networks. The result: over 200 intensive partnering discussions, numerous new contacts and a noticeable dynamic in international dialogue. The Free State thus sent out a clear signal: with its life sciences ecosystem, Saxony is in demand internationally, networked and ready for new partnerships.
Vienna kick-off with momentum
The Welcome Reception in the magnificent Vienna City Hall set a glamorous tone to kick off the event. After being welcomed by the Mayor, the sounds of the waltz and the traditional Radetzky March created a festive atmosphere - the ideal setting for the first meetings in Vienna's city centre. Between historical pillars and modern start-up energy, Vienna proved to be the ideal combination of classic elegance and fresh innovation.
Intensive partnering and full trade fair days
The Saxon joint stand SAXONY! was the focal point for international experts - and the only national stand in Germany. The following companies presented themselves: leap:up GmbH together with medical:forge Leipzig (Andre Hofmann & Carola Graf), BioCity Campus & LEVG Leipziger Entwicklungs- und Vermarktungsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG (Anja Rösler), Wirtschaftsförderung Sachsen GmbH (Barbara Weigert & Tina Jaehnig), the SaxoCell Cluster (Alexander Funkner & Luisa Brückner), the Innovation Region Leipzig ("Leipzig for LifeChangers"), nukliD - Radiopharmacy Cluster Dresden, BIONCaRT GmbH (André Gerth), Meliodays Medical (Simone Sabbione, Trudy Au & Karl Gevers) and Prosperodes GmbH (Arne Ungruh). Among the guests at the stand were long-standing national partners Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI), BioMindz, BIO Deutschland and the Potsdam Science Park.
The first day of the trade fair got off to a busy start with a beautiful sunrise over the Danube. In the evening, the stand reception with wine, beer and Saxon snacks invited visitors to engage in in-depth discussions in a relaxed atmosphere. The second day was also characterised by intensive discussions. The festive finale was the evening event in the Vienna Hofburg at the invitation of LISAvienna - a highlight of this year's BIO-Europe with an impressive backdrop, show acts and an exuberant atmosphere.
Energy and ideas - voices from the Saxon network
The joint stand showcased Saxony's innovative strength in biotechnology, MedTech and cell therapy. "It's always fascinating to witness the passion and innovation that drive the life sciences industry forward," was a fitting quote from one of the social media posts about Saxony's stand.
Andre Hofmann, CEO of leap:up GmbH, emphasised: "For us, the main focus in Vienna was on addressing start-ups - both as potential candidates for our medical:forge Leipzig accelerator and for the newly rolled-out medical:foundry Leipzig programme. At the same time, interest in our regulatory affairs services was pleasingly high. The joint Saxon stand was highly frequented throughout - a clear sign of the attractiveness of Saxony as a life sciences location and the excellent cooperation within our network."
Thomas Horn, Managing Director of Wirtschaftsförderung Sachsen GmbH, emphasised: "BIO-Europe brings together leading decision-makers from the biotechnology, pharmaceutical and financial sectors and is an ideal platform for us to position Saxony's life sciences ecosystem internationally. We use this opportunity to find potential cooperation partners, attract investors and promote networking with other European and international clusters and regions. Together with our partners at the Saxony joint stand, we are demonstrating how innovative and powerful Saxony is as a location in areas such as cell and gene therapy, radiopharmacy and regenerative therapies."
Anja Rösler, Head of Medical Technology and Corporate Support at BIO CITY LEIPZIG - leap:up GmbH, added: "Every year, BIO-Europe is an excellent opportunity to expand our international network and initiate new collaborations. The great interest shown by young, innovative companies from all over the world in Saxony, especially the BioCity Campus as a biotechnology location, was particularly pleasing. By working closely with partners such as the IRL and the Saxony Economic Development Corporation, we are able to generate new companies and further strengthen the visibility of the BioCity Campus and the entire region."
Alexander Funkner from the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Leipzig and Science Transfer Manager for SaxoCell: "In numerous discussions with innovative start-ups working with NK cells and mRNA technologies, among other things, potential collaborations were initiated - with the aim of linking these forward-looking projects in Leipzig and Saxony via SaxoCell in the future. The increased presence of Canadian companies, which are increasingly looking for financing opportunities and partnerships in Europe in view of the political uncertainties in the USA, was striking. This development emphasises the increasing international competition for funding and highlights the need to strategically position and further develop our own projects in a targeted manner."
Importance and outlook
BIO-Europe 2025, organised by the EBD Group (Informa Connect), brought together over 5,900 participants from more than 3,200 companies in over 60 countries. More than 32,000 one-to-one meetings took place The focus is already firmly on the future: preparations are underway for BIO-Europe 2026 in Cologne (9-11 November). The successful appearance in Vienna forms a strong basis for this - and with a wink, we can say: when the doors open in Cologne on 11 November, you will also hear a clear "Kölle Alaaf" from Saxony - combined with new ideas, strong networks and a next chapter of international visibility.