Biotop-report 2012

46

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) 

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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.

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