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BioTOPics 44 | May 2012
BioTOP-Report
Education
Knowledge-Based Leadership
Berlin is one of the world’s most interesting and attractive cities – especially for young people. Here and in the
adjacent region, they find excellent living conditions and outstanding sites of learning at five universities, seven
technical colleges and more than 60 private and public research facilities. Especially in the life sciences, Berlin
and Brandenburg are leading centers of academic teaching and research. The new edition of the German-
language student guide „Studienatlas des Netzwerks Gesundheitswirtschaft HealthCapital Berlin Brandenburg“
published in spring 2012 offers a comprehensive overview of the region’s study programmes in the health and
life sciences. It can be downloaded at www.atlas-studium.de
In Berlin and Brandenburg, science and industry cooperate close-
ly and with impressive success. Due to intense networking be-
tween academic institutions and the region‘s many companies
in the biotechnology, medical engineering and pharmaceuticals
sectors, students can directly apply their knowledge in practice,
deepen it and demonstrate it in their exam theses on cutting-
edge themes. And the region also offers graduates many exciting
career opportunities both in established companies and young
start-ups.
To maintain and extend its position as one of the world’s leading
life science locations, the German Capital Region devotes consid-
erable effort to attracting, educating and keeping the best young
brains here. These activities include a wide range of continuing
education programmes in both academic and extramural facili-
ties as well as attractive funding programmes, some of which we
present to you below.
Independent and international: The Helmholtz
Association supports junior scientists
The junior scientist programme of the Helmholtz Association is
unique in Germany and offers young researchers from Germany
and abroad the opportunity to conduct independent research at
an early stage. In this programme, young scientists receive grants
of up to 250.000 Euros annually for a period of up to five years.
With these funds, they can set up and direct their first own re-
search group. And, in doing so, they benefit from the excellent
infrastructures of the Helmholtz Centers and from being part of a
distinguished international working environment.
This programme has enhanced the attractiveness of the Helm-
holtz Centers for junior scientists from around the world. At the
Max Delbrück Center (MDC) in Berlin, which forms part of the
Helmholtz Association, 84 % of junior research group heads have
arrived from a position abroad, and more than half of these come
from the United States. The German Chancellor, Angela Merkel,
was impressed by the MDC’s efforts in promoting junior scientists
and by the successful development of Germany as a research lo-
cation during a visit at the MDC on 13 September 2011.
www.helmholtz.de
www.mdc-berlin.de
German Chancellor Angela Merkel (center) at a roundtable discussion with junior
researchers at the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) with Prof. Dr.
Walter Rosenthal, Chairman of the MDC Board of Directors, Prof. Dr. Matthias Sel-
bach, cell biologist and head of a Helmholtz junior research group at the MDC, Nuria
Cerdá-Esteban, a Spanish postgraduate at the MDC, and Prof. Dr. Jürgen Mlynek,
President of the Helmholtz Association. (Photo: David Ausserhofer/Copyright: MDC)
47
BioTOPics 44 | May 2012
Education
BioTOP-Report
Interdisciplinary and with a strong focus on practical
application: 25 years of biotechnology at Beuth
University of Applied Sciences
The Biotechnology Programme at Beuth University of Applied
Sciences in Berlin, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this
year, is characterised by a high level of interdisciplinary coopera-
tion and a strong focus on practical application on the interface
between academic teaching, research and industry. Bachelor and
Master students of biotechnology are trained here in biochemis-
try, bio-process engineering, microbiology as well as cell and mo-
lecular biology. After graduating they work in different industries
and a range of fields in research, development, production or
sales. Since Beuth University of Applied Sciences is participating
actively in the future use of the Tegel Airport site, Campus Wed-
ding and Tegel will gain additional space for modern teaching
using the best facilities and equipment, including state-of-the-art
laboratories.
www.beuth-hochschule.de
In Berlin and Brandenburg, biotechnology is also taught at Tech-
nische Universität Berlin (TU) and at Lausitz University of Applied
Sciences in Cottbus.
Lifelong learning: BB LIFE seminars for
entrepreneurs and service providers
BB LIFE is designed for SMEs in the sectors pharmaceuticals, bio-
technology, medical products/medical engineering and in vitro-
diagnostics.
The seminars provide extensive information about the condi-
tions and recommended procedures for the development, test-
ing, manufacturing, approval and marketing of products and for
the provision of services for these product groups. In addition to
some “classics”, new themes are continuously researched based
on the information needs of participants to ensure that all current
developments in the regulatory field are addressed optimally. In
the seminars, participants heard talks from more than 250 speak-
ers to date, the majority of whom work in regional companies
and research establishments.
An early start into the world of science
To kindle enthusiasm for the life sciences among young people
and foster their interest in scientific work at an early stage, Ber-
lin-Brandenburg offers many initiatives which address school
students in the region. They include the SchülerBIONNALE or-
ganised by BioTOP which attracts up to 1000 pupils every year.
In lectures and at the booths of companies, educational facilities
and universities, they can form a vivid impression of profession-
al work and career prospects in the life sciences. Another very
successful initiative is Call-a-Scientist which is organised by the
Biotechnologieverbund Berlin-Brandenburg (bbb). More than 80
Prof. Dr. Steffen Prowe
Director of Study Course Biotechnology
at Beuth University of Applied Sciences Berlin
Our students from Germany and abroad are always fascinat-
ed by Berlin as a site of higher education. Student life is less
expensive here than in other major cities, and the German
capital offers a uniquely broad range of culture and leisure
activities. Berlin’s closely networked biotechnology scene
enables students to discover the many career options in the
region’s biotechnology companies and institutions during
their practical training phases. In addition, they benefit from
the extensive industry experience and contacts of their pro-
fessors and visiting lecturers from many institutions in Berlin
and Brandenburg.