"The Commission's initiative comes at the right time. Europe needs a strong life sciences strategy against the backdrop of weak growth rates and increasing protectionism. Research and development secure Europe as a business location in international competition. Funding for research and development is fundamental to boosting the economy with innovations and taking a leading position in the international technology competition with China and the USA," says Dr. Martin Walger, Managing Director of the VDGH. "Germany must now live up to its responsibility and flank the announced EU measures with its own targeted impetus. The coalition agreement between the governing parties provides an excellent basis for this."
The EU Commission's strategy includes targeted measures to promote clinical research, accelerate data-based innovations, strengthen the biotech ecosystem and create innovation-friendly framework conditions for start-ups and SMEs. The VDGH sees this as an important impetus, but one that can only be effective if concrete national steps are taken.
Five points already agreed in the German government's coalition agreement should now be implemented as a priority:
- 1000 heads program to attract international research talent in the safe haven of academic freedom
- Promotion of translational research
- Adoption of the Research Data Act this year
- Promotion of gene and cell therapy as a strategic field of research
- Increase in the funding rate and assessment basis for the research tax allowance
The life science research sector is a key driver of innovation, from basic academic research to industrial implementation in modern diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines. LSR technologies also enable progress beyond healthcare, e.g. in environmental analysis and in the agricultural industry.
"Europe is providing important impetus with its life science strategy," says Walger. "Germany now needs to join forces with health, research and economic policy." The VDGH appeals to the German government to actively support the European strategy. In this way, the claim that Europe and Germany will become global pacesetters in the life sciences can be realized.
