Profile
Since 1996, representatives of the three nations (France, Germany, Switzerland) working in life sciences, business, economic development and technology transfer have made the region known worldwide. They have helped to create a network of science, industry, politics and finance. With approximately 600 life sciences and medtech companies, including major global players (pharma and agro), 40 scientific institutions and 4 universities with about 280 research groups, BioValley is one of the largest biotech-regions in Europe.

Bundling the power within such a cluster opens up the chance to enhance competition, fill gaps and concentrate competences of world-class level in certain areas. Such an effort requires an active cluster management, which goes beyond the organization of local round tables, but in fact functions as network integrator based on unique proprietary knowledge about the cluster.

To concentrate efforts, initiate and manage dynamic growth, it is necessary to set priorities in the extensive biotechnological and biomedical fields. Cluster management needs to be aware of local strengths and competences to become able to bring together individual institutions and companies, working independently on the same field within the BioValley cluster.

History

Late 80s:	Georg Endress and Hans Briner imagine the creation of a "Silicon Valley" dedicated to biotechnology in the Upper Rhine Region.
1996:	Merger of CIBA SANDOZ into NOVARTIS Implementation of the BioValley® concept, to create a concrete initiative set up by the BioValley Promotion Team.
1997:	BioValley® obtains a budget of € 2,200,000 through the Interreg II Program of the European Union.
1998:	Creation of the legal structures of BioValley®: three national associations and one central tri-national association.
2002-2007:	Interreg III European Program for BioValley® with a global sum of € 2,752,750: "BioValley: from network to tri-national biotech cluster".

Key Figures

• 600 companies: including 40% of the biggest pharmaceuticals companies in the world
• 40 scientific institutions
• 100,000 students
• 50,000 jobs devoted to the sector
• 11 Life Sciences Parks
• 12 Universities and academic institutes offering Life Sciences, Biotech, Chemistry or Nanosciences curricula
• Over 30 qualified technology platforms for scientific services: Screening, ADME, Spectroscopy, NMR, Phenotyping, Clinical research, etc.
  The technology platforms have been evaluated and their services can be offered.