Science and the city
“Munich is at the heart of the European biotech boom. We have seen a rapid increase in the number of cutting-edge collaborations in recent years.”
260
life science and biotech companies
2
universities
4
renowned research centres
>
60
hospitals
“There have been around 40 new start-ups in this region over the past five years alone, with personalised medicine and immunotherapy the breakthrough areas driving this.”
“Our physiotherapy robots can get critically ill patients in intensive care units mobilised soon after admission. This often means they can leave hospital earlier while lifting the burden for caregivers.”
“New technologies like next-generation sequencing and big data analytics open up a whole new world of possibilities. All these new insights will boost our research on tomorrow’s therapies.”
“Nestled between lakes and mountains yet close to the city, Penzberg is a magical place. It is the only Roche site in the world where the full process from the early science to the finished product for both pharma and diagnostics takes place.”
600
million euros invested in the Penzberg biotech centre between 2015 and 2017
>
250
joint research projects between Pharma and Diagnostics
>
70
years of experience in biotechnology
5800
employees (biggest employer in the region)
51
nationalities on-site
420000
m2 total size of the site
“Our databank for cancer immunology collects and evaluates vast amounts of tumour information. Using innovative image analysis and artificial intelligence we can now get an unprecedented glimpse into tumour biology.”
“With more than 12 billion patient data generated year in, year out by our diagnostic tests, data analysis with our new system has never been more important in helping healthcare professionals make better decisions.”
Just 50 km south of the world cultural city of Munich, Penzberg has had industry at its heart for centuries.
A lasting commitment
The town’s rich natural resources saw surface coal mining begin as far back as the 16th century although it was only in 1800 that it became fully industrialised, with the boom lasting until the mine was closed for good in 1966.
Just six years later, in 1972, the biotech history in Penzberg began, with the building of what has now become one of the largest biotech centres in Europe on the site of the old mine. Since then, the small town in the alpine uplands of Upper Bavaria has grown to become Germany’s “cradle” of industrial biotechnology.
The Roche site is the largest employer in the region, with around 5,800 people from more than 50 countries creating a collaborative culture to encourage true creativity.