Heidelberg, 28.05.2020. Dr. Ann Kristin Mueller joins the BioRN team to manage the pre-launch of BioLabs-Heidelberg, in a position financed by the City of Heidelberg. The project aims to establish the first European BioLabs site in Heidelberg.
With the objective to amplify the enormous scientific and biotechnological potential of the region through new translational instruments, BioRN executive board and management team selected Cambridge, MA USA based BioLabs, as the most convincing incubator model from a range of international concepts. BioLabs, the premier life-sciences and biotech co-working company founded in Cambridge (Mass., USA in 2010) operates co-working labs in key life science clusters in the US, making it the most successful life-sciences operator in the USA.
Jointly, BioRN and BioLabs are actively working on adapting its US site planning and business model to the German research and biotech environment.
“We are excited to join with BioLabs/LabCentral in establishing Heidelberg as one of the prime European locations to open a site.” said Julia Schaft, Managing Director at BioRN.“ Johannes Frühauf, President and Founder of LabCentral and BioLabs has selected Heidelberg as part of its European expansion strategy due to its scientific excellence and vast translational potential.
As a former research group leader, founder and Biotech entrepreneur, Ann-Kristin Mueller understands the needs of biotech startups from first-hand experience. She. joined BioRN in May 2020 and is responsible for strategic partner acquisitions, local network relationships and site buildout to lead its launch. “I am thrilled to lead the BioLabs Heidelberg Project and to coordinate the needed steps to welcome new startups in Heidelberg. Like the US facilities, the site will be designed to stimulate creative interaction and collaboration,” commented Ann-Kristin Mueller about her new position.
By financing the position, the City of Heidelberg is showing its fundamental commitment to the BioLabs Heidelberg site. André Domin, managing director of Technologiepark Heidelberg GmbH and BioRN executive board member, commented: “The BioLabs Heidelberg site, with its wet-lease approach and emphasis on a competitive start-up selection and support that goes way beyond lending out lab space, will perfectly complement Heidelberg’s already strong biotech startup ecosystem.”
About BioRN
BioRN is the science and industry cluster of the Rhine-Main-Neckar region around Heidelberg, one of Germany’s strongest biotech hubs. It is a non-profit network fostering health innovations and serving its members by creating a rich translational ecosystem as well as promoting, representing, and connecting the regional innovation stakeholders. Our vision is to develop the region into a world-leading life science cluster attracting international investments and top global talent.
BioRN has about 100 institutional members, including several top academic and research institutions, 7 pharmaceutical companies, a large range of small and medium-sized enterprises bolstering the life science ecosystem as well as local government organizations and interest groups.
About BioLabs
BioLabs is a membership-based network of shared laboratory facilities located in key geographies with proven biotech innovation clusters. BioLabs offers beautifully designed coworking environments that pair fully equipped and supported lab, office, and event spaces with relevant programming and unparalleled access to capital and industry partners. These fertile, supportive ecosystems allow young companies to shift their focus from startup operations to experimentation and innovation so they can reach their scientific potential quickly and achieve business success. Companies can start with a single lab bench and scale-up as they grow. The expanding BioLabs and Affiliates US network of labs now comprises sites in Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts; Durham, North Carolina; San Carlos, San Diego and San Francisco, California; New York City, and Princeton, New Jersey; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and is developing additional domestic and international sites.
Contact
BioRN Cluster Management GmbH
Dr. Annalisa Zuccotti
Communication & Events Lead