2015 ( in Figures Annual Report BioCon Valley® GmbH Long Version Table of Contents 2015 Top Events – within the Health Economy in the Federal State of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern » . 3 Economic Footprint – Health Economy Leaves its Traces in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern » . 5 BioCon Valley® GmbH – at a Glance » ............................................................. 7 Networks and Industry Monitoring » . 9 Projects – Turning Knowledge into Business » ...................................................... 12 New Markets – Internationalization » ............................................................. 15 Getting Publicity – Providing the right Forum » ..................................................... 17 BioCon Valley Mecklenburg-Vorpommern e.V. » ..................................................... 20 Register of Members – BioCon Valley Mecklenburg-Vorpommern e.V. » . 21 ( 2 ) 2015 Top Events within the Health Economy in the Federal State of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern 2015 was a year of minor and major premiere cooperation, the organizers for the first time facilitated events within the health economy. It has become a separate workshop for a partner country, which was obvious that the industry has left behind a positively received. significant economic footprint in the Federal State of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (MV). Furthermore, the funding of new projects was successful. The EU project “Baltic Blue BioTech Alliance” This is evident from a BioCon Valley® GmbH initiative, with BioCon Valley® GmbH as a stakeholder has where a research study was conducted on behalf of been drafted to bring further development to marine the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Construction and biotechnology within the Baltic Sea region. Tourism MV. The survey, the first of its kind, provides The idea competition which was organized by the comprehensive and comparable statistics on all health Ministry of Economics, Construction and Tourism MV economy sectors and their effect on the economic in 2015 on the topic of health economy has become footprint within the entire region of MV. a creative ideas generator for the local economy. The Furthermore, it also highlights new aspects of the competition reflected the diversity of the heterogeneous role the “German Mittelstand” (small and mid-sized sector. Ten out of 39 innovative project ideas were companies) plays as an economic driving force chosen for funding provided by the European Regional within the health economy sector. The figures verify Development fund (ERDF). the success of the intense work that has taken place throughout the last years and indicate promising 2015 was also a year of personnel changes. new fields and growth generators such as medical At the 8th plenary session of the Board of Trustees for technology, health tourism and health enhancing foods. Health Economy of the Federal State MV, Prof. Wolfgang Schareck, Rector of Rostock University, was appointed The study also confirmed the ever-increasing as the new President of the Board of Trustees for Health internationalization within the health economy Economy by the State Prime Minister, Erwin Sellering. industry. The participation of representatives from the Prof. Schareck assumed the post from the “Nestor health economy sector in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern of Health Economy”, Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. (mult.) Horst at the world’s largest medical trade fair, the MEDICA Klinkmann, who has held the office since the Board was in Düsseldorf, was another successful premiere event. founded in 2004. Prof. Horst Klinkmann was offered This was organized by BioCon Valley® GmbH and honorary chairmanship, in recognition of his years of “Rostock Business” and was based upon the close service. BioCon Valley® GmbH would like to cordially cooperation with the government of the Federal State, thank Prof. Horst Klinkmann for his commitment and which shall be continued in 2016. dedication to the health economy of the Federal State of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. For his new assignments The 11th National Conference on Health Economy as adviser and ambassador of the government of the themed “Enjoy Health”, with its ca. 700 participants Federal State of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in the field from 12 different countries also gained a lot of interest. health economy, BioCon Valley® GmbH whishes The two-day event, which was organized by BioCon Prof. Horst Klinkmann all the best and looks forward to Valley® GmbH on behalf of the Federal State of continue close cooperation. Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, focused on the partner country Portugal. The delegation consisted of At the same time, Prof. Marek Zygmunt, director of the 30 representatives from economy and science and Greifswald hospital for Obstetrics and Gynecology was was headed by the Portuguese Minister of Health and appointed as President of the National Conference on the Portuguese ambassador in Berlin. In addition to Health Economy. the signing of a “Letter of Intent” for international ( 3 ) With the aim of making MV Germany’s “No. 1 Health Is that too much news? Country”, BioCon Valley® GmbH and the agency The latest annual report provides a retrospective “Landesmarketing Mecklenburg-Vorpommern” are overview of the eventful year 2015. At the same time, going to intensify their cooperation. For this purpose, the company looks forward to continuing growth within both partners have signed a cooperation agreement the health economy and at the very least will ensure which shall further develop the image of the sector and that it remains at the same level of success for 2016. help to communicate its strengths and capabilities by The Health Economy has set sail for continued success means of a marketing concept for the health economy in and will stay the course! MV both at a national and international level. BioCon Valley® GmbH is grateful for the dedicated The honeycomb structure of the health economy (see cooperation and partnership. We look forward to covering page) which was achieved in 2015 describes the the continued cooperation with the Federal State of activity fields of the health economy such as Life Science, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the stakeholders within the health care services, Healthy Age(ing), health tourism health economy industry. and healthy nutrition, which collectively demonstrate the growing strength of the health sector in MV. Lars Bauer, Mirja Lin Managing Directors of BioCon Valley® GmbH Prof. Dr. Dr. H.C. (mult.) Horst Klinkmann President BioCon Valley® GmbH ( 4 ) Minister for Economics, Construction and Tourism, Harry Glawe at the presentation of good results for the health economy in December 2015 Economic Footprint Health Economy Leaves its Traces At the end of 2015, the results of the research study In addition to national public interests, the health “The Economic Footprint of the Health Economy in MV” economy industry has met growing economic-political were published. During an opening event in Rostock, interest in a few other Federal States. In this regard, 60 representatives from the political and economic Mecklenburg-Vorpommern stands out as a pioneer for sectors and various organizations, discussed the the economic support and development of the industry. 2 results of the survey, in the presence of the Minister for Economics, Construction and Tourism, Harry Glawe. In order to assess the importance of the health Benno Legler, WifOR economy in relation to the importance the industry has at a national level, a joint project of BioCon Valley® GmbH and WifOR analyzed for the first time, the economic importance of the health economy on the 136,000 basis of valid and comparable data. The analysis was based on the confirmed health ( gainfully employed persons are working economic accounting of the Federal Ministry for in the health economy sector in the State Economics and Energy. The comprehensive research of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern study verifies that the health economy has left behind a significant economic footprint in MV. Therefore, it is an Health and related questions about the state of health above-average economical factor on a national level. of the population, the structure of the health service, and the financing of health services are some of the With a share of 14.7 % of the total countrywide most important political and social issues in Germany. gross value added, every seventh Euro of the GDP is At the same time, the healthcare industry, being the generated within the health sector. largest sector in Germany, is gaining more and more political and economic importance. In 2014, the health Beyond that, the sector is closely intertwined with the sector generated almost every ninth Euro of the gross business and industry in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern domestic product (GDP) and employed almost every and impacts on other business and industrial sectors. seventh person of the working population. With about Combining direct, indirect and induced effects the seven percent it contributed to the exports of the stakeholders in the health sector contribute some world’s champion exporter, Germany.1 10 billion Euro of gross value added and almost one 1 Cf. Health economic accounting of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (2015). 2 Cf. i.a. Master Plan Health Economy Mecklenburg-Vorpommern 2020 (2012). ( 5 ) third of the gross domestic product of the Federal State. particularly combined with medical technology, health tourism, and the production of health promoting foods. The health sector is also an important employer in MV. It contributes with more than 136 000 gainfully For the further