Summary

In 2008, in spite of the financial crisis the German biotechnology sector has moderatly grown: The turnover climbed to above 2bn euros (+9 %) and the R&D expenditure again reached 1bn euros (+1.1%). Furthermore, the number of employees showed a slight plus. These are the central findings of the company survey that the information platform biotechnologie.de has conducted on behalf of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) in spring this year. As in the previous year, the survey complies with the guidelines laid out by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and provides an overview of the economic situation of the German biotech landscape.

According to the survey, a total of 500 companies in Germany dealt exclusively or predominantly with modern biotechnological procedures in 2008. These companies had 14,450 employees on their books (2007: 14,360). As was already seen last year, the importance of biotechnology is also increasing in companies for which biotechnology is a business activity alongside others. In 92 of such companies, including in particular pharma firms as well as chemicals and seeds manufacturers, 15,520 people are employed in biotechnology-related areas. With this, the total number employed in commercial biotechnology in Germany is about 30,000, 1.4 % more than the previous year.

Status of the biotech sector in Germany

Source: biotechnologie.de, Firmenumfrage 2009