“We are seeing a doubling or tripling of applications from the United States. You can really feel that shift already. People have been offered jobs and professorships and are already here in Heidelberg.”
Dr. Julia Schaft, Managing Director at BioRN Cluster Management GmbH, reveals the significant increase in American scientists exploring opportunities in Germany’s Rhine-Neckar biotech hub as researchers seek new environments that support their work.
Julia brings over a decade of international experience, including 11 years in Australia working with human embryonic stem cells, before returning to Germany to drive innovation at the intersection of industry and academia. She also serves as spokesperson for bioDeutschland’s Working Group of BioRegions.
In the latest PharmaSource podcast episode, Julia explains how changing dynamics are creating new opportunities for European life science clusters and what this means for the global biotech landscape.
Why Heidelberg Attracts Global Talent
The Rhine-Neckar region’s ability to attract top talent stems from its unique combination of “exceptional” world-class research capabilities and strong industrial presence. Julia explains how this positioning rivals the world’s leading innovation hubs.
“Every good innovation needs two things: world-class science, and then the power of industry to make it happen, to bring it to the market. The region has both in very high density, unequalled in Europe, only similar to Boston and Silicon Valley.”
The scientific credentials are impressive: 15 leading life science research institutions with 45 Nobel Prizes, where six of the 10 most cited scientists in oncology work in Heidelberg.
“Seven of the top 20 global pharma companies have significant R&D locations in our region. We have 1,200 life science companies. These big global pharma companies are here because they want to access the innovation coming out of this hub.”
While the influx of American talent creates new competitive pressures for local researchers, Julia emphasises the broader advantages for Germany’s biotech ecosystem.
“It’s making it harder for our local scientists because all of a sudden they have global competition. But I think all in all, it will have a very positive effect on the ecosystem.”
The timing proves particularly advantageous for German biotechnology, which Julia describes as experiencing renewed momentum following the pandemic.
“German biotech is changing. We’ve been riding the wave of the pandemic for a while, and now we are solidly back. The world knows that they can’t do without biotechnology.”
German Coalition Support for Biotech
Germany’s new coalition agreement now prominently features biotechnology, with major funding initiatives creating additional opportunities for incoming researchers.
“If you read through the coalition agreement, you now see biotech mentioned in 20 or so places where before we had one or two or none. It got through to the government that biotech is an important industry.”
The WIN initiative particularly excites Julia as a game-changer for venture capital access.
“The WIN initiative enables large capital sources in Germany – life insurance companies, pension funds – to invest in the venture capital ecosystem. The new government has embraced the WIN initiative and doubled the commitment from 12 billion to 25 billion euros.”
Key Takeaways for Early-Stage Biotechs
Julia shares practical advice for entrepreneurs navigating the commercialisation journey:
Exit Academia Early: “If you’re very early, still in your academic environment, my advice would be to get out of there as quickly as possible and get into an environment that is nurturing the commercial side of your endeavours.”
Leverage Incubator Systems: Consider facilities like BioLabs Heidelberg, where “early founders can rent one bench and increase or downsize as their company grows. You have other entrepreneurs around you, pharma directly attached, and a network of investors incorporated in the system.”
Maximise Public Funding: “Exhaust the public funding system as much as you can. Everything from EIC grants on the EU level, then in Germany there’s EXIST, GO-Bio, and SPRINT has a fantastic new programme for startups.”
Consider Alternative Funding: “I’ve seen a couple of startups now tap into the crowd funding sources, or just engage your private circle of friends and family to get through that first couple of million that you need.”
