German Biotechnology Days 2024

The German Biotechnology Days (DBT) will take place in Berlin on April 16 and 17, 2024. Here, entrepreneurs will meet with researchers and partners from politics, funding institutions and administration. BIO Deutschland e. V., the trade association of the German biotechnology industry, and the Working Group of German BioRegions have been jointly organizing the German Biotechnology Days since 2010. This year, Rhineland-Palatinate and the state capital Mainz are the regional partners for the German Biotechnology Days.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, biotechnology from Rhineland-Palatinate provided hope to the entire world, made possible by decades of basic research. Rhineland-Palatinate is a biotechnology location which combines a long tradition of basic research, along with innovative applications, a diverse portfolio, and a mix of established and emerging companies. With the development of the world's first COVID-19 vaccine by BioNTech, Mainz has gained international attention.

The success story is set to continue, with close cooperation between the city and the state aiming to take a leading role in biotechnology.

By 2026, up to €800 million euros will be available for biotechnology and life sciences throughout Rhineland-Palatinate. As a part of the state’s biotechnology initiative, targeted investments in research infrastructure have already been made. Additionally, new structures have been established, including the Biotechnology Coordinator of the State Government, Prof. Dr. Eckhard Thines, the Advisory Board for Biotechnology, and the Biotechnology Academy.

Furthermore, the TechnologieZentrum Mainz (TZM) is being expanded into a technology and startup center for biotechnology/life sciences, with support from both the state and the state capital. At the same time, TZM is facilitating the establishment of a platform that connects the economic and scientific communities in the fields of biotechnology and life sciences. These activities aim to promote networking and increase the visibility of the biotechnology location Rhineland-Palatinate, both nationally and internationally. The state capital Mainz is making approximately 30 hectares available for the establishment of companies and startups, and a city planning competition is currently exploring development prospects for an additional 50 hectares. Moreover, the city has established biomindz, its own company for the ongoing development of the biotechnology sector in Mainz.

The state of Rhineland-Palatinate, in collaboration with the state capital Mainz, is participating as a special regional partner in the German Biotechnology Days 2024, to provide on-site information about current projects and developments, showcase the research diversity of Rhineland-Palatinate, and highlight companies in biotechnology and life sciences in the state capital while also offering research institutions and companies a platform for knowledge exchange and networking with national and international players.