Biotechnology concerns itself with the research into and production of substances and thereby uses knowledge and techniques from the fields of biology and biochemistry. Micro-organisms produce certain enzymes which can alter the existing basic materials. This knowledge has already been used by mankind successfully for centuries, for example for the making of bread, cheese, wine or beer.

Medicinal preparations, transgenic organisms or intelligent clothing are part of today?s range of products. Biotechnology is considered a key technology of the 21st century and an important future industry. As a cross-sectional technology it is, alongside the pharmaceutical sector and medicinal technology, assigned to the sector of the so-called Life Sciences as one of the central pillars thereof.

Within Germany the region around Munich has advanced to one of the leading locations in the field of biotechnology. This is characterised by cooperations and networks between the biotechnological and pharmaceutical companies, as well as the research and educational institutes associated with this sector. Examples for this are the three biotechnologically oriented Max Planck Institutes for Neurobiology, Biochemistry and Psychiatry, the Research Centre for Environment and Health (GSF), the specialised faculties of the Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) or the Technical Colleges of Munich and Weihenstephan. The pharmaceutical industry is represented in the region in the shape of numerous branches of major international and medium-sized companies.

In terms of the structure of production, predominantly so-called red biotechnology is being produced in the Munich Metropolitan Region. One understands by this biotechnology for application in the field of medicine, for medicinal preparations and diagnostics research. Almost half of all companies from this metropolitan region are active in this sector. The biotechnological companies are concentrated at the locations of Martinsried and Freising-Weihenstephan. Thanks to the construction of the planned Life Science Park in Freiham near Munich the region will continue in the future to be an attractive location for companies from this industry.