"Medical Technology and Health cluster concept" in the second round
The Federal Ministry of Research and Education (BMBF) announced today that the top cluster proposal “Medical Technology and Health Tuttlingen/Neckar-Alb – MedCare TechArea” has qualified for the second round of the “Top Cluster” competition, which is part of the government’s high-tech strategy. The state-owned BIOPRO Baden-Württemberg was responsible for coordinating the application. The government is hoping that the competition will strengthen the innovative force of the most effective clusters combining science and industry.
The cooperative cluster, the draft phase of which was coordinated by BIOPRO Baden-Württemberg GmbH, currently involves 59 companies, 13 associations and networks, 36 research institutions and 19 public partners from cities, municipal districts, chambers of trade and commerce and the state. The cluster was shortlisted for the second round in the Top Cluster competition and will now be developed further in the second phase of the competition. The core of the cluster comprises the regions of Tuttlingen, Hechingen, Tübingen and Reutlingen. Three further proposals from Baden-Württemberg were also selected; in total, 12 cluster proposals from all over Germany have gone into the second round.
Up to 40 million euros in the funding phase
The cluster now has until June 2008 to submit a detailed strategy as well as writing out several lead projects in full. This detailed concept will then be evaluated and the results will be available in September 2008.
If the “Medical Technology and Health” cluster makes it into the final round, then up to 40 million euros in government funding will be available for supportive measures that are aimed at helping the top cluster become one of the best clusters on an international level. A pool of interested stakeholders will be established as a preliminary cluster management organisation, which will recruit people from regional companies as well as city councils, municipal districts and BIOPRO Baden-Württemberg.
Source: BIOPRO Baden-Württemberg GmbH press release - 11.03.2008
Further information on the top cluster :
BIOPRO Baden-Württemberg GmbH
Breitscheidstr. 10
D 70174 Stuttgart
Dr. Ralf Kindervater, CEO
Tel.: +49 (0)711 - 21818500
Petra Pauline Remmlinger, Project Manager
Tel.: +49 (0)711 - 21818512
Karte BUND-LAND-TUT Spitzencluster