“BioRN has been central in establishing our first European site in Heidelberg, and I’m excited to consolidate this bond as we continue to build on the strong academic environment in Heidelberg to develop a center for innovation and entrepreneurship,” said Johannes Fruehauf, M.D. Ph.D., Founder and CEO, BioLabs.

“In addition, the commitment by Anavo Therapeutics, faCellitate and Phialogics to locate and grow their companies in Heidelberg’s Rhine-Neckar region is a sign of the region’s strong biotech commercialization potential, and we look forward to supporting and helping them advance their science to benefit patients.”

“The BioLabs hub in Heidelberg is an ideal location for life sciences companies due to the vibrant ecosystem of new and established biotechs and proximity to top-tier research institutions in the region,” said Birgit Zech, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Anavo Therapeutics. “Joining BioLabs’ fully equipped lab space allowed us to jump start our lab operations quickly and will facilitate the scaling of our operations as our programs advance. We are thrilled to be BioLabs’ first tenant in their first hub in Europe.”

By leveraging its partners from academia, industry, and public authorities, BioRN identified BioLabs as the leading provider and key concept to develop the region into an international life science entrepreneurial hub. The City of Heidelberg played a decisive role in the implementation of the concept at the Heidelberg Innovation Park location.

"Our partnership with BioLabs Heidelberg will be key to turning the region into a leading lifescience and entrepreneurial hub, and its state-of-the-art facility at Heidelberg Innovation Park will be expanding with 2.200 sqm of added laboratory and office space in mid-2022," said Julia Schaft, Managing Director at BioRN.

“This is a great example of how close and trusting cooperation between key stakeholders from academia, industry and the public sector can create structures that lift the entire region to the top of the world in the implementation of health innovations."

Five global pharmaceutical companies - Boehringer Ingelheim, Merck, Eli Lilly and Company,AbbVie, and Sanofi - have already signed on as strategic partners of Biolabs Heidelberg. In addition to the financial support the partners provide to BioLabs, they support biotech founders with invaluable expertise and advice, additional sources of funding, and opportunities for strategic collaboration.

BioLabs Heidelberg offers a unique environment of coworking spaces that pair fully equipped and supported laboratories plus furnished office space with an active community-building effort including unparalleled access to capital through the strategic partners. This fertile, supportive ecosystem will allow young companies to shift their focus from lab buildout and operations to experimentation and innovation, so that they can quickly reach their scientific potential and achieve business success.