This is the second time in succession that Dr. Klaus Eichenberg has been confirmed in office, and he clearly appreciated this renewed show of trust from his peers throughout Germany’s biotechnology regions. “We will be working even more intensively together to inspire the enthusiasm the life sciences deserve.” Dr. Thomas Diefenthal, Managing Director of BioPark Regensburg GmbH, an energetic deputy spokesman since 2008, did not stand for re-election this time, on the grounds that: “After being part of the representative committee for seven years, the time had come to pass on the baton. Apart from that, my new role as Vice-President of the ADT (Federal Association of German Innovation, Technology and Incubation Centres) requires my attention,” he added. Dr. Eichenberg thanked him for his many years of constructive service on the representative committee, especially for the impetus he had provided for marketing efforts.

The working group of Germany’s biotechnology regions is a voluntary association based at Biotechnologie-Industrie-Organisation Deutschland e. V. (BIO Deutschland) in Berlin. Its 30 members focus on issues such as funding, founding new companies, technology transfer and the public image of Germany’s biotechnology sector. In 2007, AK BioRegio launched Germany’s biotechnology regions’ annual award for innovation, a pan-German competition for application-oriented ideas conceived at the country’s universities. It also co-organises the German Biotechnology Days together with BIO Deutschland, the industry association for the biotechnology sector. In 2016, the working group will be hosting this major annual convention of sector representatives in the city of Leipzig.

Dr. Hinrich Habeck (Life Science Nord Management GmbH), Dr. Klaus Eichenberg (BioRegio STERN Management GmbH), Dr. Heinrich Cuypers (BioCon Valley GmbH), photo credit: Thomas Prexl / AK BioRegio