German biotechnology has recovered from the economic crisis. The fifth annual survey of the sector by industry association BIO Deutschland and biotech magazine Transkript, which polled almost 200 companies, shows that confidence in the future has rebounded to pre-crisis levels. 57% of biotech firms say their prospects have improved, while 38% expect no change.
The R&D outlook is also more positive. 45% of companies plan to increase spending on R&D, while 49% expect to keep spending stable. This marks the first time in three years that R&D spending has not been set to decrease. The improving business cycle in the pharma and chemical industries is also reflected in hiring intentions. 59% plan to employ more people this year and a mere 3% will axe staff.
There are currently 530 pure biotech firms, mostly small or medium-sized enterprises, employing around 15,000 people; their turnover reached 2.2 billion euros ($2.98 billion) in 2009. Larger companies with biotech interests account for another 16,500 jobs in the industry.
This article is accessible to registered users, to continue reading please register for free. A free trial will give you access to exclusive features, interviews, round-ups and commentary from the sharpest minds in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology space for a week. If you are already a registered user please login. If your trial has come to an end, you can subscribe here.
Login to your accountTry before you buy
7 day trial access
Become a subscriber
Or £77 per month
The Pharma Letter is an extremely useful and valuable Life Sciences service that brings together a daily update on performance people and products. It’s part of the key information for keeping me informed
Chairman, Sanofi Aventis UK
Copyright © The Pharma Letter 2025 | Headless Content Management with Blaze