Biotop-report 2014

26

BioTOPics 47 | May 2014 

BioTOP-Report

 Spotlight on European Business and Internationalization 

Spotlight on European Business and Internationalization

The Enterprise Europe Network Berlin-Brandenburg

The Healthcare Industries cluster Berlin-Brandenburg has been an active member in a variety of  European networks 

and initiatives for many years. With the launch of  Horizon 2020, the new EU research funding program, one network 

in particular has taken center stage: the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) Berlin-Brandenburg. With 20 experts on 

Europe from the three participating host organizations Berlin Partner for Business and Technology, Brandenburg 

Economic Development Board (ZAB) and the East Brandenburg Chamber of  Commerce and Industry, it is the basis 

for internationalization in the region – primarily for small and medium-sized companies.

Helping SMEs find business and technology partners throughout 

Europe, the EEN provides information and advice on the innova-

tion-oriented developments, initiatives and programs of  the Eu-

ropean Union. The EU Commission initiated the network, which 

connects 100 regional consortia in approx. 60 countries in Europe 

and the world to each other, at the beginning of  2008. Over 500 

regional economic development institutions, chambers of  indus-

try and commerce and technology agencies with a total of  4,000 

employees collaborate closely within the network. Supporting 

small business is a cornerstone of  the EU's drive for growth and 

jobs: 99% of  all companies in the EU are small and medium-sized 

(SMEs) and they account for 67% of  the jobs. The EEN’s services 

are tailored to SMEs, but are also available to all other businesses, 

universities and research centers.

Services tailored to small companies

Taking part in an EU-funded research project is a great way to 

boost a company's competitiveness. SMEs need the right partners 

for successful projects, and the Enterprise Europe Network helps 

by identifying companies' needs and potential and connecting 

them with each other. The network does not fund any projects itself, 

but helps companies to tap into the EU's funding opportunities. 

Horizon 2020 leads the way – it is the EU's latest research funding 

program, launched in December 2013 with a volume of  almost 

€80 billion. Normally, its consortia must consist of  companies from 

three different EU countries, but the EEN also assists SMEs with 

this aspect. The network’s business cooperation database is one 

of  the world's largest and contains thousands of  company pro-

files. Companies can meet potential business partners in person 

at EEN’s matchmaking events, which often take place at interna-

tional fairs to help keep travel and accommodation costs low. 

For example, the Enterprise Europe Network Berlin-Brandenburg 

played a major role in opening up the annual BIONNALE – the key 

biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry meeting place in the 

capital region – to an international audience. Almost 80 partici-

pants, including a larger company delegation from partner coun-

try Denmark, gathered for the matchmaking event EEN organized 

in 2013. On the day of  BIONNALE 2013, the participants held 

around 160 meetings.

The regional EEN contact point for all themes relating to the 

healthcare industries:

Wolfgang Korek

Project manager EEN Healthcare Industries

Phone [phone] 

[e-mail]

www.berlin-partner.de

Dajana Pefestorff

Project manager International Business

Director EEN

Phone [phone]

[e-mail]

www.zab-brandenburg.de

Elias Zafirakos 

Science & Innovation Network Manager  

Biopeople Københavns Universitet

The matchmaking session organized by the Enterprise Europe 

Network gave the Danish delegation a valuable opportunity 

to meet with potential German collaboration partners at the 

Bionnale 2013. The EEN setup made it possible to plan and 

book meeting ahead of  the conference and was a great help in 

exposing the Danish Delegation towards the German audience.

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27

BioTOPics 47 | May 2014 

BioTOP-Report 2014

Alacris Theranostics GmbH 

Alacris Theranostics GmbH is a Berlin-based 

company with the mission to exploit next gen-

eration sequencing and other omics data 

through its predictive modelling system Mod-

CellTM for drug development and person-

alised medicine in oncology. This approach 

was originally developed at the Max Planck 

Institute for Molecular Genetics in Berlin and 

is exclusively licensed to Alacris.

Alacris provides extensive bioinformatics 

expertise and well equipped facilities includ-

ing a next generation sequencing lab for 

clinical application and a powerful IT infra-

structure. Alacris works together with clinics 

and industry leaders in the fields of person-

alised medicine, biomarker application, and 

drug development.

With its proprietary ModCell™ System, 

Alacris Theranostics applies a new, revolu-

tionary systems biology modelling approach 

to better match patients to therapies and 

therapies to patients. ModCell™ provides a 

'Virtual Patient' model allowing predictive 

analysis of cancer patient samples on thera-

py outcome. ModCell™ integrates next gen-

eration sequencing derived genome and 

transcriptome information with a generic can-

cer model of molecular processes in tumour 

onset and progression. ModCell™ facilitates 

the simulation of the effects of different 

drugs for the development of new personal-

ized medicine approaches in the clinic and 

for effective development and approval of  

drugs for the pharmaceutical industry in 'Vir-

tual Clinical Trials'.

Address 

Alacris Theranostics GmbH

Fabeckstraße 60-62

Phone [phone]

14195 Berlin · Germany

[e-mail]

www.alacris.de

Unlocking The Power Of

Individualised Medicine

co.don AG

The biopharmaceutical company based near 

Berlin is one of the leading specialists world-

wide in cell cultivation for the regenerative 

treatment of articular cartilage defects and 

spinal disc defects. In many cases the use of  

the company's patented pharmaceutical 

product can avert the need for joint and spi-

nal disc replacement surgery. Orthopaedic, 

accident and neuro-surgeons are increas-

ingly applying these regenerative treatment 

methods. co.don

®

 AG manufactures cell-

based tissue engineering therapeutics to the 

highest quality standards. Its products repre-

sent a revolutionary pro cess in the biological 

replacement of dam aged articular cartilage 

and invertebral disc by building up strictly 

autologous tis sue without the involvement of  

any external carrier materials or additives.

The applica tion of the products may be mini-

mally inva sive or arthroscopic and so surgery 

and reha 

bilitation times are significantly 

reduced for both doc tor and patient. Because 

no external materi als are used, the risks of  

rejection, inflamma 

tion and infection are 

reduced to the minimum. co.don

®

 AG is certi-

fied in accordance with DIN EN ISO 

9001:2008. Furthermore, pro duction, quality 

control and quality assur ance have been cer-

tified in accordance with European Guide-

lines for Good Manufactur ing Practice (EU-

GMP). co.don

®

 AG‘s technological, produc-

tion and regulatory expertise makes the com-

pany a first mover in the market for biological 

carti lage and disc tissue replacement and a 

provider of highly effective, safe treatment 

options not only resulting in relief of pain, but 

actual repair of damaged tissue. 

co.don

®

 AG is listed on the Frankfurt Stock 

Exchange (ISIN: DE000A1K0227).

Address

co.don AG 

Warthestraße21

14513 Teltow · Germany

Contact

Matthias Meißner, M.A.

Head Corporate Communications/IR/PR

Phone [phone] 

Fax 

[phone]

[e-mail] · www.codon.de

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