Austria on the fast track
The Whos Who of the biotech industry relies on Austria. Every second biotechnology company is located in the hotspot of Vienna, where a leading research centre the Campus Vienna BioCenter has emerged. Multinationals and startups benefit from an extensive value chain, from basic research to production and distribution. The national investment promotion agency Austrian Business Agency (ABA) is the first point of contact when making the leap into the Austrian market.
The combination of two vaccines is not only a promising approach against the coronavirus but also in the fight against cancer. This is the conclusion of a recent study published by the Medical University of Vienna, the Medical University of Innsbruck and other partners such as the biotech startup Vira Therapeutics and the Institute for Molecular Pathology (IMP) Vienna. Cancer research is one of Austrias major strengths, as demonstrated by the commitment of the German pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim, amongst others. Since the year 2000, Vienna has served as the centre of the entire groups oncology research. An optimal mix in the collaboration of multinationals, leading institutions in the field of basic research such as the Comprehensive Cancer Center Vienna (CCC) and innovative startups such as QUANTRO Therapeutics make Austria a leading location for cancer research. Moreover, competence centres such as the Vienna BioCenter and Oncotyrol in Innsbruck provide the necessary specialised environment.
Boehringer Ingelheim not only carries out the entire spectrum of basic, clinical and applied research in Austria, but also coordinates its production and distribution activities here. At present, the company is further expanding its biopharmaceutical production capacities and will open a Large-Scale Cell Culture (LSCC) facility in Vienna in October 2021. Takeda is also making a double-digit million euro investment and will produce the latest generation of gene therapy drugs against blood cancer in Austria starting in 2022. On balance, more than 900 biotechnology, pharmaceutical and medical engineering companies, including Novartis, Octapharma, Merck MSD and Pfizer, generate 5.8 percent of Austrias GDP, employing a workforce of 55,000 people in the country.
Production and platform technologies
Better, faster, cheaper Austria has a wide variety of companies providing enabling technologies across the whole value chain of production processes. These range from Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) know-how for setting up pharmaceutical plants to companies producing plasma, special enzymes and other biological substrates and even stem cell products for the repair of bones, cartilage or muscular tissue. Close cooperation between universities, research centres and industry, as well as highly trained and experienced local scientists, experts and technicians, ensure the highest quality of products and services.
ABA as the first point of contact
The Austrian Business Agency provides free and customised support to companies on all issues relating to the business location, setting up business operations and searching for specialised employees. We establish contact with funding institutions and other key players, help to find laboratory space and everything needed for a successful start in Austria.
Contact us:
Marlis Müllner
Austrian Business Agency
Tel. +43 1 588 58 239
email: m.muellner@aba.gv.at
www.investinaustria.at
SLAS
SLAS - Alexandra Csuport Photography