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The importance of biotechnology was recognized ealy on in the BioRiver region: in 1977 the Institute for Biotechnology was created at the Research Center in Jülich, and in 1982 the world-renowned genetic research center was established in Cologne. Qiagen, Germany's by far largest biotech company, was established in 1985 as a spin-off from the University of Düsseldorf.
The area's innovative research landscape is characterised by internationally renowned universities and research institutes in Düsseldorf, Cologne, Bonn, Aachen and Jülich. They provide an environment that fosters internationally competitive research and forward-looking ideas jointly presented as BioRiver Science.
Biotech incubators have been formed in close proximity to universities to improve the technology transfer process. 18 technology centres have joined forces as BioRiver Parks and provide start-ups with access to a total area of over 200,000 sq m, of which over 70,000 sq m are laboratory space (www.bioriverparks.com).
Mayor players in the pharmaceutical and chemical industry have established their main headquarters along BioRiver. Global companies like Bayer, Henkel, Degussa, Schwarz Pharma or Aventis offer excellent opportunities to start ups in the modern biotech scene. BioRiver Companies such as Amaxa, Biofrontera, Dasgip, Exelixis, Memorec, Paion, Qiagen and Verigen are prime examples of growth and innovation, and underline the broad scope of the biotech sector's development in North Rhine Westphalia, with 18 million inhabitants Germany's most densely populated state.
The world's highest concentration of motorways and railways, four international airports and Frankfurt Airport within one hour´s reach from Cologne link BioRiver® with the world.
A word on the BioRiver Cities: Attractive and affordable places to live, almost infinite expansion opportunities for growing biotech companies and last but not least the broad variety of cultural activities and the famous cultural heritage - these factors set BioRiver® apart from other biotech clusters, particularly those concentrated in a small area. Within a circle with a radius of less than 25 miles you find over four million inhabitants. Together with its outstanding transport infrastructure, this makes BioRiver® compact and accessible.
The key players of this biotech region - representatives of the universities forming BioRiver Science, the cities, economic promotion agencies and chief administrators, the BioRiver Companies, the Chambers of Industry and Commerce, technology centres and initiatives like LSA Life Science Agency and several local biotech networks - they all present the potentials of this leading biotech cluster worldwide using the brand BioRiver®.
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