Franconia has grown to become a region renowned for its strength in biochemical and medical research and development.

The cooperation-triangle of the Universities of Bayreuth, Erlangen-Nürnberg and Würzburg as well as the strong pharmaceutical and medical technology industry in Franconia sustain this strength. The State of Bavaria in conjunction with the Franconian district-governments and city halls have identified these rapidly growing fields of technology as priority areas for economic growth. In support of existing centres of excellence the State of Bavaria is investing more than 130 million US$ into the development of life-sciences in Franconia (“High-Tech-Offensive”).

In this setting, in 1999 the non-profit-organisation BioMedTec Franken e.V. was founded by leading members of the Universities of Bayreuth, Erlangen-Nürnberg and Würzburg. Thus BioMedTec Franken e.V. has first hand access to the bio-medical research at the Franconian Universities. Its primary mission is to help develop the commercial potential of cutting-edge biotechnology in Franconia.

With the support of the “High-Tech-Offensive” launched by the State of Bavaria, BioMedTec Franken e.V. opened an executive office in the beginning of the year 2000.

The goals of BioMedTec Franken e.V. are to

support and advise innovative biotechnology start-ups,raise funds for biotechnology-projects,foster contacts and the exchange of ideas between basic science, pharmaceutical industry and existing biotechnology companies,coordinate and network biotechnology activities in Franconia,provide scientific management to the innovation centre BioMed-Würzburgcooperate with other business-development organisations in Franconia