Biotechnology
Why biotech plays a key role in NRW
Biotechnology in NRW: applications for medicine, industry and everyday life
Whether it is medicines, food or sustainable new products to make the economy less dependent on fossil fuels – in North Rhine-Westphalia, more than 500 life science companies, including 248 with a proven biotechnology focus, work every day to make everyday life safer and healthier.
Business and science drive biotech expertise in NRW
NRW is a leading innovation center in Europe in this field. About one-fifth of the total turnover of the German biotech industry is generated in NRW – from global players to medium-sized companies to highly specialized start-ups working in newly emerging fields of biotechnology.
In addition, there are 56 universities, research institutes and universities of applied sciences offering, among other things, application-oriented basic research to students from all over the world. This close-knit combination of science and innovative companies is complemented by intensive research in a wide variety of areas: Whether it is novel therapies to fight cancer cells, the production of flavors for the food industry or enzymes in detergents in NRW, innovative products are developed using biotechnology.
NRW as a biotech hub: key figures
NRW’s biotech ecosystem: from global players to specialized companies
Key players in the biotech sector in NRW
Major international corporations such as Evonik, Quiagen, UCB and Bayer, which are based in NRW, use biotechnology for pharmaceutical and chemical processes, among other things. In addition, dynamic, medium-sized companies have specialized in biotech solutions. AiCuris, Xell, Paion or Biofrontera are among the more than 100 companies in NRW focusing on biotechnology.

Biotech applications from NRW: case studies
Numerous companies in NRW develop products that make life more pleasant
Phytowelt
Henkel
Abalos Therapeutics
Rain Carbon
Startups advance biotech scene in NRW
Numerous biotech companies that are successful today started out as university spin-offs. They received support from the numerous technology and startup centers located in NRW, as these are usually in the immediate vicinity of research institutions. The aim is to optimize the rapid transfer of scientific know-how to the finished product or process and to provide the young start-ups with an infrastructure that is tailored to their needs. The technology centers include the BMZ Ruhr in Bochum, the BioCampus Cologne and the Technology Center Jülich.
Dalex Biotech
BioSciences GmbH
Mane Biotech
Further information on the biotech scene in NRW
Photo credits
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Welcome to NRW!
The state's innovation topics unite fields with significant growth potential. They underline how business, science and research are developing joint solutions for tomorrow's challenges.
Learn more about the most important innovation topics in NRW:
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