Baden-Württemberg is currently home to 193 biotechnology companies, most of which specialise in so-called ‘red biotechnology’ - i.e. applications in the medical and pharmaceutical sectors. The biotech sector includes not only traditional biotechnology companies, but also companies from the fields of bioinformatics, diagnostics, analytics and biotechnological production.

Baden-Württemberg is the leading location for the pharmaceutical industry in Germany. In addition to international industry giants such as Roche, Pfizer and Boehringer Ingelheim, numerous medium-sized pharmaceutical companies and innovative biotechnology companies specialising in pharmaceutical research and development are also based in this region.

Developing replacement methods for animal testing is the main goal of the 3R network. One of three new 3R centres in Baden-Württemberg was launched at Ulm University at the beginning of the year and has now officially started work with a kick-off event. The abbreviation 3R stands for "Replace, Reduce, Refine", i.e. replace and reduce animal testing and improve the conditions for unavoidable animal experiments.

Artificial intelligence: opportunities for healthcare - 06/11/2025

More than just deskwork: opportunities and obstacles for generative AI in healthcare

Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) has enormous potential in healthcare, ranging from automating time-consuming deskwork to supporting diagnoses. It is not just for the big players; there are also cost-effective ways for smaller companies and institutions to utilize GenAI.

Ependymomas, brain tumors that occur particularly in young children, are especially difficult to treat and more than half of the children affected have an increased risk of relapse. As part of an international consortium, the KiTZ, the DKFZ, the MFHD and UKHD have received a grant of 1.5 million pounds sterling (GBP) from the British organization The Brain Tumor Charity to develop a new type of immunotherapy for ependymoma.

Worldwide, almost one third of women of childbearing age suffer from bacterial vaginosis. Such a disorder of the vaginal flora can cause urogenital infections, abscesses on the ovaries or fallopian tubes or premature births. As part of a BW Sprint project, the DITF have laid the basis for the development of a panty liner that supports the health of the vaginal environment and can prevent bacterial vaginosis.

Researchers have developed a new method that greatly improves the accuracy of brain-state classification with functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). The brain-imaging technique fNIRS allows researchers to measure neural activity: Active brain cells need more oxygen, so variations in blood flow and oxygen saturation indicate which brain regions are at work. fNIRS detects these changes safely and without invasive procedures.

In the PRECISION-ImmunoRad project, a multidisciplinary team of scientists from Heidelberg, USA, and Cyprus will unite their expertise to develop novel curative therapeutic strategies for currently hard-to-treat cancers. These strategies will integrate high-precision ion beam therapy with genetically engineered immune cells therapies (CAR-T cells), personalized cancer vaccines, and the targeted reprogramming of the tumor immune microenvironment.

Endometriosis, menopause, ovarian cancer – still poorly researched and often misdiagnosed. Ângela Gonçalves combines AI, molecular biology, and clinical findings to develop non-invasive tools for early detection, personalized care, and healthier aging. The scientist from the DKFZ-Hector Cancer Institute is the winner of the Falling Walls Foundation's “Breakthrough of the Year 2025” award in the Women's Impact category.

A team from the DZHK sites in Heidelberg/Mannheim and Berlin has discovered that a single enzyme in the heart plays a key role in determining whether the organ develops in a healthy manner. If this molecular protective factor is missing, serious congenital heart defects can develop.

At the new Institute for Adaptive Mechanical Systems (IAMS) at the University of Stuttgart, the focus is on a new generation of walking robots and “soft robotics”. The researchers are developing adaptable robots inspired by natural movement patterns and made from innovative soft materials. The applications range from healthcare and industrial production to energy supply.

LICIT Solutions completes Series A financing to accelerate the development and commercialization of next-generation sustainable active ingredients for hygiene, preservation, and protective applications LICIT Solutions GmbH, a spin-out from the Institute for Clinical Anatomy and Cell Analysis at the University of Tübingen, has successfully completed its Series A financing round.

The Fraunhofer Industrial Quantum Computing Consulting and Testing Center INQUBATOR is implementing innovative, easy access offerings to help industrial users get started with quantum computing. The aim is to identify and evaluate new application-related use cases where the use of quantum computers promises a foreseeable advantage.

A new software enables brain simulations which both imitate the processes in the brain in detail and can solve challenging cognitive tasks. The program was developed by a research team at the Cluster of Excellence ‘Machine Learning: New Perspectives for Science’ at the University of Tübingen. The software thus forms the basis for a new generation of brain simulations which allow deeper insights into the functioning and performance of the brain.

Researchers from the German Cancer Research Center and the University of Freiburg show how certain painkillers influence the iron metabolism of liver cancer cells and can thus contribute to iron deficiency and anemia in cancer patients.

Light affects how we sleep, feel, and perform – yet public awareness of its impact remains limited. The Light for Public Health initiative aims to make evidence-based knowledge on light and health both accessible and actionable, thus turning scientific insight into public benefit.

Dossier - 20/11/2025

Prevention as the key to health

Many serious illnesses can be prevented or at least mitigated through healthy lifestyles and early diagnosis. However, effective prevention requires holistic approaches at all levels of healthcare and the reinforcement of individual health literacy.

Neurodegenerative diseases - 12/12/2022

Blood-based biomarkers allow the early prediction of Alzheimer's risks

Most dementia diseases develop insidiously and are only detected at an advanced stage. Researchers at the University of Heidelberg and the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) have now identified the glial fibre acidic protein (GFAP) in the blood as a promising biomarker that can be used to determine an increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease up to 17 years before diagnosis.

New treatment methods: DNA origami-based nanodevices precisely control immune response - 24/04/2025

Bottom-up synthetic immunology for novel therapeutic approaches

Modern therapies for combating cancer and infectious diseases increasingly leverage the body’s own immune system. Several research groups at Heidelberg University are using innovative bottom-up approaches in synthetic immunology to develop new treatment methods that can control the immune response more precisely than previously possible.

Enhancing human perception of the imperceptible - 28/08/2025

AI-driven imaging expands possibilities in surgery

Doctors frequently experience a restricted view of the surgical field, particularly during endoscopic procedures. A novel technique developed by Prof. Dr. Lena Maier-Hein's team at the DKFZ in Heidelberg integrates spectral imaging with AI-driven data analysis. This innovation facilitates accurate tissue differentiation and delivers real-time insights into organ function.