Swiss Consul General Visits Pharma Park

At the invitation of the University City of Marburg, Swiss Consul General Dr. Erik Jakob visited the Marburg pharmaceutical hub. During his visit, he gained a comprehensive understanding of the region’s current economic challenges and its significant potential. He was accompanied by Marburg’s Mayor Dr. Thomas Spies, Dr. Martin Egger (Managing Director of site operator INNEXIS), Dr. Niklas Schier (Site Manager of CSL Behring GmbH), Dr. Martin Vey (Managing Director of CSL Innovation GmbH), as well as representatives of Marburg’s economic development office and Jonas Winkler (Director Location Marketing & Investor Services of Hessen Trade & Invest GmbH).

Joint Exchange on Global Developments

The discussions focused on the transformation of the business location, a process that has gained momentum in recent months, particularly since last year, when CSL announced its plan to close its R&D facility, CSL Innovation GmbH, in accordance with a phased approach and more recently, by structural reorganization measures at CSL Behring’s production operations. Similar measures are driving change not only in Marburg but also at the Bern site in Switzerland.

Consul General Dr. Erik Jakob, who is well-versed in regional economic development, highlighted this shared challenge: “The job cuts by the Australian pharmaceutical company CSL represent a significant challenge for Marburg, but also for the site in Bern, Switzerland.” The exchange highlighted opportunities and potential to learn from shared experiences and develop new perspectives for the affected locations.

Furthermore, the Swiss Consul General was amazed by the possibilities offered in Marburg: “I would like to compliment you on this strong location. I am impressed by the accomplishments of this initiative, and I commend the active pursuit and support of cooperation with the city, the university, and the state of Hessen.” The presentation of current developments clearly demonstrated how dynamic the Marburg pharmaceutical hub is and how constructively change is embraced as an opportunity. “The Pharma and Life Sciences Park in Marburg offers ideal conditions for research, development, and production,” the Consul General added.

Marburg: A Strong Location with Excellent Prospects

Mayor Dr. Thomas Spies emphasized the importance of the sector for the region and the city’s ongoing support: “We are proud of the innovative strength that characterizes Marburg today and will continue to do so in the future. We are currently working intensively with various partners on perspectives for the location. We are making significant progress in our efforts to strengthen and expand Marburg's standing as a prominent center for biotechnological research. Consul General Dr. Jakob’s visit once again demonstrates what Marburg has to offer as a hub for the life sciences: excellent infrastructure, highly qualified professionals, close ties to regional universities and institutions of higher education, and a city that is not only an attractive business location but also a great place to live for those who work and conduct research here.”

This was also emphasized by Managing Director of CSL Innovation Dr. Martin Vey. Despite its withdrawal, the company remains strongly committed to the region as part of its regional cooperation efforts: “We aim to further develop the excellent infrastructure in Marburg together and thus make a reliable contribution to the future of the research and business location in Central Hessen.”

Dr. Niklas Schier, Site Manager of CSL Behring, pointed out: “Marburg is a key location within the global CSL network and a key component of the biotechnology value chain in Germany. It is essential to engage in continuous dialogue with political stakeholders and international partners in order to develop future perspectives collaboratively. With investments of around 100 million Euro in this fiscal year alone, we are specifically strengthening industrial innovation, securing qualified jobs, and clearly reaffirming CSL’s long-term commitment to the Marburg site and the region.”

INNEXIS: Shaping the Future with Sustainable Infrastructure

Dr. Martin Egger, Managing Director of the INNEXIS Group, led a tour of the site and emphasized the potential benefits of collaboration among various stakeholders and the site's capacity for significant transformation: “As the owner and operator of a Pharma and Life Sciences Park and a provider of specialized infrastructure solutions, INNEXIS aims to create ideal conditions that allow companies in the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors to focus entirely on their core business. The Marburg site is distinguished by its past achievements and, more notably, its diverse development prospects, the strong commitment of approximately 7,000 highly qualified employees, and a robust regional ecosystem comprising science, business, and politics.”

In terms of sustainability, Marburg is pursuing ambitious goals. The Pharma Park aims to achieve climate-neutral operations by 2030. This commitment is reflected in INNEXIS's strategic investments in renewable energy projects, including the construction of its own wind farm and the development of cutting-edge storage solutions. These initiatives aim to ensure a sustainable and environmentally responsible energy supply for the future.

“Over many years, Hessen Trade & Invest GmbH has maintained a close working relationship with Marburg's economic development office and INNEXIS. The Swiss Consulate General is also an important partner for cooperation projects between Switzerland and Hessen. By bringing together all stakeholders, we have been able to identify exciting new perspectives for the Marburg pharmaceutical site and establish points of contact for future activities,” said Jonas Winkler of Hessen Trade & Invest GmbH.

The visit of Swiss Consul General Dr. Erik Jakob emphasizes the international significance and promising future outlook of the Marburg pharmaceutical hub. Despite global challenges, Marburg continues to demonstrate its status as a dynamic and progressive hub for the pharmaceutical and life sciences industries.