Winners of the leading edge cluster competition
This cluster has just emerged as one of the winners of the leading edge cluster competition run by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). Over the next five years it will receive substantial funding for innovative development. Within the region 180 medical technology companies provide 16,000 jobs. Six of the 18 universities in the area around Nürnberg offer a wide spectrum of technical, scientific and medical courses. Moreover, 22 non-university research institutes can be found here, which work directly or indirectly in the field of medicine and technology.
Where then should the latest developments come from, if not from here? Developments such as new imaging diagnostic systems, improved therapies or ophthalmological advances. The government support is certainly well invested here, especially since private businesses will be at least matching the government funding.
Sources of future prosperity
Medical Valley is one of five clusters which have been selected. Two work in the field of medicine, one in the logistics sector, one in software development and one in microsystems technology. A total of 200 million euros has been awarded in funding to the five winners of this second round of the competition. One year ago, at the end of the first round, the BMBF awarded support to five clusters too. Federal Research Minister Annette Schavan has announced that there will be a third round.
"I see the five leading clusters as flagships for new growth, five flagships that are involved in laying the foundations for our future prosperity,” said the Research Minister. Germany is a trail-blazer within Europe with its extensive support for clusters. This is why she wanted to include these in a European High-Tech Strategy.
A total of 23 clusters applied for support under the second round of the competition. In a two-stage procedure, a jury of high-ranking personalities in their fields selected the leading regions. They based their decisions on the strategic concepts, efficiency and on the clusters having attracted substantial private-sector funding from businesses and private investors.
