The newsletter discusses various topics related to business and investment in Bavaria including the opening of the Plastics Campus Bavaria technology and study center, an interview with the plant manager of Concentric on why they remain located in Hof, and a focus on the Medical Valley cluster in Erlangen which brings together medical technology companies, research institutions, and hospitals.

1. Business Bavaria Newsletter
Issue 12 | 2013
What’s inside
Focus:
Health/Medical Valley EMN
Five minutes with ... Bernd Thoß,
Plant Manager at Concentric
Page 2
Focus topic: EMN – Medical Valley top cluster
Page 3
Bavaria in your briefcase:
Bavarian “Hornschlitten” championship
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„Plastics Campus Bavaria“ on course
From late 2014, a modern technology and study centre in Weißenburg, Bavaria,
Competent cooperation between production companies on the ground also guar-
will improve the competitiveness and innovative strength of plastics processing
antees an intensive exchange of ideas within the sector. One of the roles of the
companies in the Altmühl area of Franconia. This ambitious project is bringing to-
regional company network „k-messwerk“, for example, is to design technology
gether Bavaria’s unique expertise in the field of plastics and hopes to establish itself
development models for the joint utilisation of measurement and laboratory pro-
as an internationally recognised centre for education, research and development.
cesses that are not accessible to individual companies for economic or financial
reasons or due to a lack of expertise.
Plastics is the most important industrial segment in the Altmühl area. Applied
research and teaching related to this material will then have a home, in and on
The „Plastics Campus Bavaria“ will make a vital contribution to counteracting the
the new „Plastics Campus Bavaria“. The campus is being built by the rural district
increasing lack of specialist staff for the companies in the region. Extra-occupa-
of Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen and the town of Weißenburg, Bavaria.
tional degree programmes create prospects for the companies to develop their
staff locally – they can retain staff in the region and secure their supply of quali-
It has two universities as cooperation partners: while Deggendorf University of
fied specialist staff for the long term.
Applied Sciences will be responsible for the technology centre section and the
overall management, Ansbach University of Applied Sciences will take on the
www.kunststoffcampus-bayern.de
study centre. Significant companies from the region and other cooperation partners from science and professional associations will also be involved.
The Imaging Source Europe GmbH: focus on Munich
Demand for industrial cameras and optical systems is growing everywhere,
optical inspection), visual inspection and production automation. In future, the
in sectors as diverse as automation and quality control. The strong growth in
office in Bavaria will manage all sales activities in the DACH region. The branch
the southern German and European markets means that providers want to be
is led by Patrick Gailer, Business Development Manager at The Imaging Source
closer to their customers. That is why a Bremen-based manufacturer of image
Europe GmbH.
processing products for industrial, scientific and medical applications – The Imaging Source GmbH – is opening a branch in Maisach, near Munich. The company
www.invest-in-bavaria.com/info-center/aktuelles/pressemitteilungen/
is one of the leading manufacturers of industrial cameras, frame grabbers and
pressemitteilungen-im-detail/article/the-imaging-source-europe-gmbh-bremer-
video converters. These solutions are used in many different sectors and fields,
hersteller-von-bildverarbeitungsprodukten-fuer-industrielle.html
from logistics to security systems, medical technology and science. The company
particularly focuses on the application fields of machine vision, AOI (automated
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2. Five minutes with …
Bernd Thoß, Plant Manager at Concentric
Concentric produces both hydraulic products and diesel motor pumps. The corporation will be expanding its production capacity in Hof significantly by summer 2014.
Concentric’s parent company has now also moved to Bavaria.
Which factors were instrumental in Concentric’s
What support did Invest in Bavaria provide and what
What role do Bavaria’s strengths play for Concentric
decision to remain true to its site in Hof?
steps were taken?
in further market expansion?
We looked intensively at multiple sites, both in other
The team from Invest in Bavaria provided us with indi-
Although specific technical reasons mean that we work
German states and in Eastern Europe. Ultimately, the
vidual advice and played a key role in ensuring that we
together with university research institutions outside
sum of all the benefits led us to make a clear decision
were able to fully exploit all the funding options avail-
Bavaria, the innovation climate here is outstanding
in favour of Hof. The strongest factor was the people
able to us in Bavaria. We were immediately put into
and home to some very active clusters. The excellent
here. We have been located in Hof since 1944 and our
contact with all the contacts important to us. Just 6
infrastructure is another advantage – we benefit from
staff here consists of highly qualified and experienced
kilometres north of here, we would have faced very
close proximity to all our markets and have qualified
people, some of whom have been with the company
different conditions. However, the support from Invest
staff locally. Everything we need to grow even more.
for over 40 years. Their expertise gives us a clear com-
in Bavaria means that we are now able to make Hof the
petitive advantage, and one which would be almost
centre of European hydraulic production.
irreplaceable at another site.
Does the market for hydraulic pumps have a very
The Swedish parent company is now also moving
international character?
its headquarters to Upper Franconia. What are the
Definitely. Today, we are one of the leading manufac-
reasons behind this?
turers of hydraulic geared pumps and generator sets
Concentric’s goal is to consolidate its position in
with added value. Our customers include the world’s
Europe in order to concentrate its strengths ready for
largest manufacturers of construction and agricultural
international expansion. The Swedish assembly plant
machinery, forklifts, cherry pickers and gear boxes.
is therefore now being integrated into our production
Another quantum leap is soon to be made, allowing us
plant in Hof. German engineering has an excellent
to expand our advantage significantly.
reputation, especially in our sector. In the hydraulic
products segment of the market, we now have a production site on each of three continents – Asia, Europe
and North America. Hof will be our headquarters.
“For us, the staff’s expertise is the top factor drawing us to this location.” Bernd Thoß, Concentric
­
11
Number
of the
month
The number of Bavarian urban and rural districts among the top 20 in Germany in the
Source: www.prognos.com/zukunftsatlas/13/
PROGNOS „Zukunftsatlas“ study. These include the city and rural district of Munich,
the cities of Erlangen, Ingolstadt, Regensburg, Landshut and Coburg, and the rural
districts of Starnberg, Ebersberg, Erlangen-Höchstadt and Pfaffenhofen a.d. Ilm.
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3. Focus Topic
Medical Valley (EMN) top cluster: The heart of medical technology beats in Erlangen.
Ageing populations in industrialised nations, an increase in chronic illness, a rapid rise in the world’s population, all demanding medical care: the global health care sector
is facing huge challenges. The increasing pressure on costs in state-run health care systems is further aggravating the situation.
Modern medical technology is increasingly seen as an engine of innovation. Intel-
Although its size is already impressive, the Medical Valley EMN continues to grow.
ligent processes in diagnostics and treatment can fundamentally improve the effec-
When companies that are only partly involved in medical technology, for example
tiveness and efficiency of health care provision. Domestic companies hold a top posi-
those who are merely suppliers, are included, the Medical Valley is home to over 500
tion internationally in this field. Today, the German market for medical technology is
companies, employing over 45,000 people.
the largest in Europe and the third-largest in the world . And many of the key players
are located in Middle Franconia. The Medical Valley in the European metropolitan
Medical Valley Center – incubator for pioneers
region of Nuremberg (EMN) was named the top national cluster for medical tech-
Located in the centre of Erlangen, the Medical Valley Center (MVC) is one of Ger-
nology by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) in January 2010.
many’s most successful start-up and innovation centres and plays a key role when it
comes to innovation. The MVC has supported around 60 entrepreneurs in develop-
Erlangen – Germany’s medicine capital
ing, implementing, financing and establishing their concepts and projects since it
As a business location, Erlangen in Middle Franconia can look back on a long tradi-
was founded in 2003. Many of these start-ups have turned into established compa-
tion in medical technology. Siemens Healthcare, one of the world’s largest industrial
nies, such as corscience GmbH & Co. KG, a full-service provider in the field of cardio-
companies in this field, is present here. The Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlan-
vascular diagnosis and treatment.
gen-Nuremberg and various non-university research institutions such as Fraunhofer
and Max-Planck have always worked closely together with the companies. It is this
Another centre is now being built to provide a home for progress and innovation. The
close connection between science and business that the city of Erlangen and the
second Medical Valley Center will open in Forchheim in 2015 and will be orientated
Free State of Bavaria have been promoting in a targeted way – and that ultimately
towards smaller and medium-sized companies in health care IT and health care ser-
received funding from the federal government, too.
vices from Germany and abroad.
In future, the topics of health care IT and medication in particular will be pushed forward as part of the „Franconia Model Region for the Digital Health Care Economy“.
Medical Value of the Future: Medical Valley Summit 2014
The „Gesundheitswirtschaft Bayern“ initiative has been leading the way here since
On 18th February 2014, players from the medical technology and health
late 2012: founded by Prof. Dr.Dr.h.c. Peter Oberender, the initiative is closely inte-
care sector will meet at Universitätsklinikum Erlangen to discuss the
grated into the Medical Valley EMN infrastructure.
latest technologies and developments and to initiate new projects.
Medical Valley EMN: Science and business closely connected
As a top medical technology cluster, the Medical Valley brings together the expertise
of established international and up-and-coming companies with research institu-
Polymedication – optimising the medication process
tions of worldwide renown. Above all, it integrates the medical service provision
Experts estimate that around 30,000 people die every year as a result of incorrect
side, in order to find solutions to the current and future challenges for health care
medication. The more medication a patient is taking at the same time, the greater
provision together. The players include:
the risks. That is why topics such as the central patient card, which gives all players
access to all important information, from the latest laboratory findings to previ-
– 180 dedicated medical technology companies with around 16,000 staff,
ous illnesses, are becoming an ever greater focus both in the Medical Valley and
– over 40 hospitals treating over 500,000 in-patients every year,
elsewhere. The aim is to allow everyone involved to view the patient’s individual
– over 60 chairs and professorships at the University and universities of applied
medication regime transparently.
sciences with focus topics in medical technology in teaching and research,
– over 20 non-university research institutions with close links to medical
technology, and
„International cooperation and the ever closer connection between
– established networks with services throughout the medical technology
science and business require our full attention.“
innovation chain.
Matthias Hiegl, CEO of the Medical Valley Center, Erlangen
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4. Bavaria in your briefcase
Bavarian “Hornschlitten” championship
part of the fun. After all, the title of Bavarian champion is at stake. The sledges
are two to three metres long and were once used by the mountain farmers as
tools and a means of transport in winter, for bringing hay or chopped wood from
the remote meadows down into the valley. The name „Hornschlitten“ comes from
the special shape of the runners, which are extended upwards at the front and
reminiscent of a goat’s horns. It takes a lot of strength and skill to steer a sledge
like this. Pushing and pulling on the horns warps the shape of the frame slightly,
influencing the direction the runners slide in. Many of the sledges taking part in
the race in Garmisch-Partenkirchen are originals – often over 60 years old. In 2012,
the route was around 1 kilometre long, with a height difference of 160 metres. The
race starts at the Partnachalm every year on Epiphany.
Epiphany 2014: Bavarian “Hornschlitten” championship
www.gapa.de/Garmisch_Partenkirchen_Aktuelles-Termine_VeranstaltungOn Epiphany (6th January), Garmisch-Partenkirchen will be turned upside down,
shighlights_Hornschlittenrennen
as fearless men and women meet for the Bavarian „Hornschlitten“ championship. The pilots race down the hill at speeds of up to 100 kilometres per hour, with
teams of four sharing a wooden sledge. Daring manoeuvres and falling off are all
Trade Fairs and Events
… in Munich
… in Nuremberg
... by and with
Invest in Bavaria
opti
10th – 12th January 2014
International trade fair for optics and design.
www.opti.de
EUROGUSS
14th – 16th January 2014
International trade fair for die casting:
technology, processes, products.
www.euroguss.de
Invest in Bavaria at the
“Successful in Lower Bavaria. Exploiting
potential – making ideas reality” event
16th January 2014 in Deggendorf | Bavaria
Your contact:
Lisa Titze | Tel.: +49-89-2162-2605
vlr@invest-in-bavaria.de
ISPO
26th – 29th January 2014
International sports business trade fair
with over 2,300 exhibitors.
www.ispo.com
Spielwarenmesse
29th January – 3rd February 2014
International trade fair for the toy sector.
www.spielwarenmesse.de
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Publisher
Business Bavaria
Image sources
Invest in Bavaria – The Business Promotion Agency of the Bavarian Ministry of
Coordination: Alexandra Schmidhuber
P. 1: © Thinkstock
Economic Affairs and Media, Energy and Technology and Bayern International
Art Direction: Alex Podolay
P. 2: © Concentric
Prinzregentenstr. 22
Editorial Department: www.red.de
P. 4: © Marc A. Hohenleitner, www.light2pixel.net
80538 Munich | Germany
Translation: www.aa-boundless.com
Phone +49 89 24210-7500
Layout: www.red.de
welcome@invest-in-bavaria.com
HTML Version: www.kirchbergerknorr.de
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