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Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
idw - Informationsdienst
Wissenschaft
GOe FUTURE receives funding of up to 10 million euro as part of the national 'Startup Factories' lighthouse competition organised by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE). Supplemented by a further 10 million euro in private capital, the initiative has 20 million euro at its disposal. The initiative aims to strengthen the life sciences ecosystem in the Göttingen/Hanover/Braunschweig region, triple the number of start-ups, and translate the great science in the region to innovation for the benefit of patients.
Significant support for Lower Saxony's life science ecosystem: The Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) has selected the GOe FUTURE initiative (‘GO excellent FUTURE’) in the national funding program “EXIST Leuchtturmwettbewerb „Startup Factories"”as the bioscience innovation lighthouse in Germany. GOe FUTURE aims to develop a world-leading ecosystem for spin-offs in the field of life sciences in Lower Saxony alongside the renowned science locations of Göttingen, Hanover and Braunschweig. GOe FUTURE is thus one of the few thematically focused start-up factories and the only one with a clear focus on life sciences. The aim is to translate scientific findings into innovations for the benefit of patients and society, thereby sharpening the region's international profile.
This project is based on the significant innovation, knowledge transfer and talent potential of the 13 participating universities and non-university research institutions in the Göttingen/Hanover/Braunschweig metropolitan region. Around 90,000 students are educated here, 20,000 of whom study life sciences — providing ideal conditions for spin-offs in this field and creating a unique situation in Germany.
“GOe FUTURE is a genuine lighthouse project that translates Lower Saxony's potential in the field of life sciences into entrepreneurial success. The combined expertise of the University Medical Center Göttingen and seven other universities, internationally renowned research institutions and strong companies from the region is a clear demonstration of this: Lower Saxony is a great place to develop new business fields with innovative ideas. The fact that the federal government is now taking this ambitious project into the implementation phase is a great success for all those involved as well as for our science and business location as a whole. Congratulations!" says Falko Mohrs, Lower Saxony's Minister for Science and Culture.
Up to 20 million euros for GOe FUTURE
With funding totaling uo to 20 million euro, comprising 10 million euro in private capital and up to 10 million euro in federal government subsidies over five years, the startup factory will have the optimal conditions to establish structures to support generation of startups. It aims to become self-sustaining in the long term, following the example of UnternehmerTUM, the leading German center for start-ups and innovation in Munich.
GOe FUTURE represents the consistent strategic development of previous regional efforts to connect science and scientists with innovation and business potential. To this end, Sartorius AG, the Life Science Factory and the University Medical Center Göttingen founded “Life Science Valley GmbH” in Göttingen in 2021, and will be the central structure of the GOe FUTURE Startup Factory in Lower Saxony in the future. Professor Elisabeth Zeisberg, a professor and a biotech company founder, at the University Medical Centre Göttingen (UMG), guided and coordinated the application process from start to finish, giving her unique perspective and experience as a scientist and an entrepreneur. As Chair of the Advisory Board, Professor Zeisberg, will continue to implement the concept of GOe FUTURE: “I look forward to constructively and critically support the implementation of this pioneering concept in the coming years and to promote networking between the partners.”
New era of startup culture
GOe FUTURE aims to increase the number of start-ups in the highly complex field of life sciences to over 100 per year within five years. This will establish Lower Saxony as a European beacon for innovation in the life sciences sector, ushering in a new era of start-ups.
“With GOe FUTURE, we are setting the scene for the future of the life sciences sector in Lower Saxony, Germany and Europe. Receiving funding approval from the BMWE is a recognition of the great potential for the scientific excellence in lower saxony to be translated to innovation and of the hard work and commitment of all partners over the past twelve months. We are proud to be developing the region into a leading innovation hub for life sciences,” says Dr Sven Wagner, Chief Executive Officer of GOe FUTURE.
“GOe FUTURE is a follow-up and realization of the initial joint transfer activities of of the University Medical Center Göttingen and Sartorius AG, fulfilling the mutual vision of Lower Saxony as an excellent innovation hub. Starting with the proposal and this funding we are now integrating further partners from industry, academic institutions, and local authorities from Hanover and Braunschweig on an equal footing, engaging all institutes in Lower Saxony under one roof, for this important task. We look forward to working together in the coming years,” said Professor Wolfgang Brück, Chief Executive Officer of UMG and Head of Research and Teaching.
GOe FUTURE will specifically address the needs of founders and start-ups in the green and red life sciences and medical technology sectors. A management team consisting of experts in the respective fields will provide professional support. Through the initiative, Lower Saxony is establishing a robust platform to stimulate innovation in the life sciences sector, provide an ecosystem for boosting start-up activities and position the region as a leading hub for scientific innovation in Europe.
Partner of the GOe FUTURE start-up ecosystem:
1. University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG)
2. University of Göttingen (UGOE)
3. Hannover Medical School (MHH)
4. Leibniz University Hannover (LUH)
5. University of Veterinary Medicine Foundation Hannover (TiHo)
6. University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HAWK)
7. Private University of Applied Science (PFH)
8. Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences (MPI-NAT)
9. German Primate Center – Leibniz Institute for Primate Research (DPZ)
10. Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine (ITEM)
11. Helmholtz Center for Infection Research in Braunschweig (HZI)
12. Institut für Nanophotonik Göttingen e.V. (IFNANO)
13. Engineering for Health – a research focus of the TU Braunschweig
14. Niedersachsen.next BioRegioN
15. Niedersachsen.next Startup
16. VolkswagenStiftung
17. Näder Foundation
18. Südniedersachsenstiftung
19. Sartorius AG
20. Ottobock SE & Co. KGaA
21. KWS Saat SE & Co. KGaA
22. Symrise AG
23. Sparkasse Göttingen
24. Life Science Factory
25. Rootcamp
26. Biolabs
27. Seed House
28. abberior instruments
29. iTUBS GmbH – Innovationsgesellschaft Technische Universität Braunschweig mbH
30. TRAIN – Translationsallianz in Niedersachsen
31. IBT Lower Saxony – Institute for Biomedical Translation
32. SNIC – Life Science Incubator
33. DHCH – Digital Health City Hannover
34. GWG – Economic Development Urban Development Göttingen
About the EXIST lighthouse competition
Through the EXIST lighthouse competition, 'Startup Factories', the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) is encouraging the creation of start-up centers located near universities and managed by entrepreneurs. The competition aims to strengthen Germany's development into a leading startup nation. UnternehmerTUM at the Technical University of Munich is the best start-up center in Europe and serves as a role model for start-up factories. The competition forms part of the EXIST program, which is the most successful and important federal funding instrument for start-ups in the field of science. The program began in 1998.
Dr. Sven Wagner
sven.wagner@lifescience-valley.de
www.goe-future.de
https://lifescience-valley.de/en/goe-future - more information about GOe FUTURE
The GOe FUTURE team was delighted at the award ceremony at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs ...
Source: BMWE/Dominik Butzmann
Criteria of this press release:
Journalists
Medicine
transregional, national
Cooperation agreements, Science policy
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