biosaxony's "QualiBioPharma" project wins "ClusterERFOLG" competition

Leipzig, 13 September 2024 – The project „QualiBioPharma“ of the Saxon industry cluster biosaxony was awarded the prestigious „ClusterERFOLG of the Year 2024“ prize at the „go-cluster“-conference of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection (BMWK). The project is dedicated to the qualification of skilled workers in biotechnology and makes a decisive contribution to combating the shortage of skilled workers in the Central German region.

With „QualiBioPharma“, biosaxony, the Saxon industry association for biotechnology, medical technology and the healthcare industry in Saxony, has created an innovative solution to counteract the shortage of qualified specialists in biotechnology. As a certified training centre, biosaxony has been training specialists who can be directly employed in the pharmaceutical industry since 2023.

For this successful project, biosaxony received the Golden Buddy Bear award on 12 September 2024 at the „go-cluster“-conference at the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Protection (BMWK) on 12 September 2024 with the golden „Buddy Bear“. This trophy, a golden bear, is awarded annually to the winner of the competition „ClusterERFOLG of the Year“, which recognises outstanding achievements and innovations by clusters in Germany. The competition is part of the „go-cluster“-initiative of the BMWK, which promotes and supports high-performance innovation clusters throughout Germany. The „ClusterERFOLG award“ honours projects that make a particular contribution to economic development and to solving social challenges, such as the shortage of skilled workers. Participants in the competition were able to apply with a short video clip.

Regional cooperation as the key to success

„The Central German region is suffering from a shortage of qualified personnel, particularly in the field of biotechnology. Large companies that can cover their own training needs are rare here, while small companies often do not have the necessary resources, says André Hofmann, Managing Director of biosaxony Management GmbH. „With QualiBioPharma, we have developed a practice-orientated solution in close cooperation with educational institutions, the City of Leipzig, the Metropolitan Region of Central Germany and the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology.“

Training with direct practical relevance

Claudia Fischer, QualiBioPharma project manager at biosaxony adds: „The project offers skilled workers from non-academic backgrounds in particular a good opportunity to gain a foothold in the biotechnology industry. It also enables people with a migration background to enter the German labour market. QualiBioPharma thus makes a decisive contribution to strengthening the innovative and competitive capacity of the entire region.“

The project trains classes of up to 12 participants. Within three months, they learn the most important basics of pharmaceutical production activities in the laboratories of the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology in BIO CITY LEIPZIG and are qualified for immediate employment in the biotechnology industry. With their degree, the specialists already have a solid basis for being deployed in the companies and receiving further training there.

Positive response from industry – Project to be expanded

The success of QualiBioPharma is reflected in the growing demand from industry. With an above-average placement rate for participants, the programme is becoming increasingly important. Numerous companies are showing interest in individually tailored training programmes for their employees. Demand is also increasing at the biosaxony site in Dresden, particularly for training programmes in the field of radiopharmacy. In view of this success, biosaxony plans to continue and further expand the project. In this context, further companies and cooperation partners are being sought in order to expand the successful qualification of specialists in biotechnology.

Contact:

Claudia Fischer | Project Manager QualiBioPharma | biosaxony Management GmbH qualibiopharma@biosaxony.com

Press contact:

Urs Moesenfechtel | Marketing & Kommunikation | biosaxony Management GmbH moesenfechtel@biosaxony.com

Further information:

To the video clip

QualiBioPharma // biosaxony