8.5 million euros for innovative start-up teams to strengthen biotechnology in Bavaria
Bio M opens new start-up incubator
BioM Biotech Cluster Development GmbH together with State Secretary Tobias Gotthardt has officially opened the start-up incubator "Munich Accelerator Life Sciences & Medicine" (MAxL) in Martinsried. MAxL supports innovative founders in the field of life sciences and medicine. Around 120 invited guests from politics, science, industry and the investment sector celebrated the opening.
Managing Director Prof. Ralf Huss (right) and StS Tobias Gotthardt cut the red ribbon for MAxL with co-leads Dr. Petra Burgstaller (2nd from left) and Christina Enke-Stolle.
© BioM / Andreas Schebesta
Focused on the early phase of company foundation from science and research, MAxL sets new standards for the biotechnology sector in Bavaria with its tailor-made range of services on approximately 900 m2 in the Biotechnology Innovation and Start-up Center (IZB). The incubator is funded by the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs with 8.5 million euros. The new early-stage incubator, managed by BioM, is specifically designed to support pre-seed and early-stage start-up teams in the life sciences and healthtech sectors and fills an important gap in the ecosystem. By funding MAxL, the state government is thus sustainably strengthening Martinsried's role as one of the leading biotechnology locations in Germany and Europe.
Biotechnology offers decisive solutions for healthcare. With BioM as its biotech cluster management organization, Bavaria has developed into a leading start-up ecosystem for biotechnology over the last 25 years. The promotion of entrepreneurship plays a pivotal role in the successfu transformation of innovative ideas from research into real life applications. MAxL fits seamlessly into Bavaria's vibrant start-up landscape and offers solutions that go beyond the possibilities of existing programs.
The perfect start for young companies
The early phase of founding a biotech company is characterized by major challenges: raising capital, building a solid network, dealing with regulatory framework and the transition from theory to practical implementation often present considerable hurdles. MAxL tackles these problems with a comprehensive and specific support program and a network of experienced industry and financial experts to successfully bring the start-ups' ideas to the market. Pre-seed teams can use MAxL's premises for a maximum of three years, early start-ups for up to two years. The incubator's services also include the intensive encouragement of interdisciplinary collaboration, which is considered a key to success in biotechnology. "With the opening of our start-up incubator MAxL, we are setting an important milestone in the promotion of innovative ideas and young companies in the field of life sciences and medicine. We are proud to accompany the next generation of biotech pioneers on their way and to play an active role in shaping the future of medicine," explains Prof. Dr. Ralf Huss, Managing Director of BioM.
First tenants to explore CRISPR platform for biomarker tests and RNA therapies for inflammatory lung diseases
The first start-ups have already moved into the MAxL. Leopard Biosciences is developing a proprietary new CRISPR platform with which several biomarkers can be detected in a simple point-of-care test and thus close to the patient. This should lead to faster and better diagnosis and treatment of patients. The tests could provide decisive added value for infectious diseases or genotyping, for example, but could also be used for tuberculosis or neglected tropical diseases in regions without access to clinical laboratory infrastructure.
Second tenant RNATICS has developed an RNA-based inhibitor that specifically counteracts the overactivation of the immune system in pneumonia following a viral infection and prevents permanent damage to the lungs. The active substance is effective regardless of the current virus variants and is to be tested in a clinical phase I trial this year.
Dr. Petra Burgstaller, Incubation & MAxL Co-Lead at BioM, emphasizes: “Our incubator MAxL creates optimal conditions for aspiring founders in the burgeoning sectors of life sciences and healthtech. With state-of-the-art laboratory spaces, inspiring co-working areas, and access to our valuable network, we provide the ideal environment to turn founders’ visions into reality. “
Investing into the future
The technologies and solutions developed at MAxL have the potential to strengthen Bavaria's competitiveness on the global market.
Tobias Gotthardt, State Secretary at the Bavarian State Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy, says: “Our support for the incubator in the amount of 8.5 million euros is an excellent investment in Bavaria. MAxL will take the biotechnology sector in Bavaria to a new level. I am looking forward to the future developments and impulses.”
Partnerships with industry and investors
MAxL's success is based on close collaboration between government, BioM, science, investors and industry. These partnerships are crucial to creating a dynamic and innovative ecosystem that combines cutting-edge research and entrepreneurship. From strategic collaborations between MAxL and big pharma, biotech, CROs, investors and other industry partners, MAxL start-ups gain access to valuable opportunities. The globally active companies WuxiBiologics and Merck could already be won for this and provide support with expertise in the field of discovery, development and production of biological active substances from the concept phase through to commercialization. Equipment and reagent manufacturer Promega is also supporting MAxL with both expertise and access to state-of-the-art instruments. Further partners are to follow soon.
State-of-the-art laboratory and communication rooms
Within eight months, it was possible to equip the existing laboratory space with state-of-the-art technical infrastructure that offers founders and start-ups optimal working conditions. The laboratory area offers 18 immediately usable laboratory workstations and a laboratory with shared equipment as well as a cell culture area. The joint areas were transformed into bright, modern offices and communication areas in collaboration with the architecture studio Sweco. The design of the areas is intended to provide a creative and productive working environment and thus promote the exchange of ideas, interdisciplinary collaboration and the development of innovative solutions.
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