1. BUSINESS BAVARIA The Business Promotion Agency of the State of Bavaria
ISSUE 07/08 | 2012
WHAT‘S INSIDE
5 MINUTES WITH ...
Dr. Manfred Stefener - Distinguished by the
European Patent Office as Inventor of the
Year for his portable Fuel Cells
Page 2
IN FOCUS: LEADING EDGE CLUSTERS
Three exemplary Bavarian Clusters and
their Significance for the Industry
Page 3
BAVARIA IN YOUR BRIEFCASE
200 Years of Beer Gardens
Page 4
SUMMER
EDITION
July/ August 2012
CONGRESS ON THE CLUSTER INITIATIVE
SUCCESS PROJECT WITH A FUTURE
That the cluster initiative of the Free State With its cluster initiative, initiated six years ago, tutions that SMEs, for instance, would hardly be
vitalises the Bavarian economy has already the Free State promotes beneficial relationships able to develop on their own.
been confirmed. In the context of a cluster between companies and research establish-
congress, Germany’s Federal State with the ments, service providers and investors. In the framework of the cluster congress, the Free
strongest economy will now define new State will take stock and define innovative goals
goals and continue the success story. Its success cannot be denied: Until now, more for years to come while qualified representatives
than 5,000 participating Bavarian companies have of the individual clusters will present selected
The Free State of Bavaria expects to welcome profited from the services of the cluster teams success projects of their teams. In specialised
well over 1000 companies and organisations of across many sectors of research and business. For forums, experts will discuss and consult on issues
the Bavarian industry to the cluster congress on them, the initiative is a real success story, since which have become vital for today’s medium-sized
Wednesday, 25 July. The meeting will take place the 19 Bavarian clusters of various industries pro- companies, and open up new perspectives. Key
at the research campus of the Technical Univer- vide profitable advantages for tackling the world- issues are, for example: manufacturing technol-
sity of Munich in Garching under the motto ‘Suc- wide competition: ogy, the turn in energy politics within companies,
cessful Through Networking’ - an issue gaining new materials, the future of mobility, information
more and more importance both for business and They establish contacts to important suppliers, technology and corporate financing.
research. customers, service providers and research insti-
http://bayern-innovativ.de/clusterkongress2012/programm
http://bayern-innovativ.de/cluster
NEW FRAUNHOFER CENTRE BOOSTS BAVARIA’S ENERGY RESEARCH
The Free State of Bavaria invests Euro 20 million in the integration of the effort, studies are to be implemented and strategies as well as practical pro-
ATZ development centre with the Fraunhofer Society to advance research cedures developed on how to meet the requirements of the raw materials
focusing on the turn in energy policy. Under the name of UMSICHT-ATZ, the market with its increasingly scarce resources. As a first step, the Fraunhofer
facility, founded in the Upper-Palatinate town of Sulzbach Rosenberg in 1990, Centre for Energy Storage (CES) will be established at the Bavarian locations
becomes part of the Fraunhofer Institute UMSICHT in Oberhausen. In a joint of Sulzbach-Rosenberg and Straubing.
W W W. I N V E S T- I N - B A V A R I A . C O M PA G E 1

2. 5 MINUTES WITH ...
DR. MANFRED STEFENER,
FOUNDER OF THE SMART FUEL CELL AG (SFC) IN BRUNNTHAL AND OF
ELCOMAX GMBH IN MUNICH.
Every year, the European Patent Office, headquartered in Munich, distinguishes the world’s best inventors. When this year’s winners were
announced in June, a versatile entrepreneur from Bavaria was among the laureates: Dr. Manfred Stefener received the award for the first
portable fuel cell in the category ‘Small and Medium-sized Companies’. We spoke with the inventor.
Bavaria is a highly dynamic location, especially established the company Elcomax which offers a
when it comes to promoting the development of technology platform for maximum output fuel cells
new technologies. for the industry. Three years later, i. e. in 2010, I
created Elcore which today - with its product ‘El-
HOW DOES ONE ACTUALLY INVENT A FUEL core 2400’ - markets a particularly compact and
CELL? efficient power-heat-coupling device allowing fuel
I started out studying chemical engineering in cell technology to be applied for environmentally-
Dortmund. Between 1997 and 2000, I worked as friendly power supply applications in single-family
a scientific assistant on the subject of fuel cells homes. Fuel cells can make a vital contribution
at the Duisburg University, at the research centre here, easing the strain on electric grids, saving pri-
in Jülich and finally for the Technical University of mary energy and reducing CO2 emissions.
Munich. Then I wrote my thesis at the Technical
University on the topic of “Electrode Structures FOR WHICH FIELDS IS YOUR PORTABLE FUEL
for Direct Methanol Fuel Cells” which I completed CELL PARTICULARLY USEFUL AND IMPOR-
‘magna cum laude’. TANT?
The Technical University of Munich proved very The portable fuel cell offers many possible appli-
HOW EXACTLY CAN WE VISUALIZE YOUR helpful in connecting technology with business. cation scenarios. It can certainly be highly useful
PORTABLE FUEL CELL? DOES IT FIT INTO A In 1999, I was able to win the ‘Munich Business when camping, sailing or on expeditions, but it is
BAG? Plan’ competition and could thus develop a helpful also suited for industrial application, or to support
The ‘EFOY Comfort’ by SFC Energy is available for network of investors and business angels. In 2000, governmental tasks where independence from
standard use in everyday life situations or for lei- I ended up creating the company SCF Energy. power sources or the provision of a back-up so-
sure applications - for instance in a boat, a mobile lution in case of a possible power failure are re-
home or a mountain cabin. AS CEO AND FOUNDER OF SFC ENERGY AG quired.
YOU INVENTED THE PORTABLE FUEL CELL, BUT
WHICH ADVANTAGES WERE PROVIDED BY THEN YOU SET UP NEW ENTERPRISES - THE www.elcore2400.com
THE LOCATION IN BAVARIA DURING THE ELCOMAX / ELCORE GROUP IN MUNICH. WHY?
DEVELOPMENT AND INVENTION OF THE Once SFC had turned into a success, I identified
PORTABLE FUEL CELL? new potential industrial applications for the fuel
From a technological and scientific perspective, cell technology. Five years ago, I consequently
€ 7.1 BILLION
NUMBER
OF THE
MONTH
This is the trade volume between Bavaria and China in the first quarter a significant increase in demand for products ‘Made in Bavaria’ overall.
of 2012. For the first time, the Middle Kingdom has now become the most The growth is owed, in particular, to the automotive industry (+7.4 per
important trade partner of the Free State. The extent of trade between cent), the mechanical engineering sector (+12.9 per cent) and the pro-
China and Bavaria today even exceeds the trade volume between the ducers of chemical products (+11.7 per cent).
Free State and Austria, its direct neighbour. Bavaria can also be proud of
W W W. I N V E S T- I N - B A V A R I A . C O M PA G E 2

3. IN FOCUS: LEADING EDGE CLUSTERS
THE APPROPRIATE NETWORK FOR THE RIGHT LOCATION
comments George Kääb, spokesperson of m4. Two thirds of the companies
involved in the Munich-based biotech cluster m4 are small and medium-sized
companies, many of them spin-offs of the academic institutes of Ludwig Maxi-
milians University, the Technical University of Munich, the bio-scientific Max-
Planck-Institutes and the Helmholtz Centre Munich.
The advantages are manifold. The CEO of a Biotech company in Munich in-
volved in the cluster describes his experience as follows: “Only by the new ori-
entation in the cluster has the subject of ‘personalised medicine’ come into fo-
cus, which has been affecting our project strategy quite considerably ever since.”
The Medical Valley EMN - The Innovation Network
The Medical Valley Europäische Metropolregion Nuremberg (EMN) has made
similar experiences. The over 500 cluster partners with approximately 4,500
employees in the Franconian metropolis region develop products and services
to improve health care efficiency: Innovative ideas in sectors such as imaging
diagnostics, intelligent sensor as well as therapy systems and ophthalmology.
The three leading edge clusters of the Free State have led the way: The cluster, in which universities, colleges and non-academic research estab-
Scientific innovation and economic know-how result in economic suc- lishments are involved, develops - for instance - service concepts allowing se-
cess, many new jobs and fresh perspectives. The success of the M·A·I nile dementia patients to live at home longer.
Carbon, m4 and Medical Valley EMN clusters demonstrates how im-
portant networking really is in practice, and which role the site condi- Medical companies simply find ideal conditions in the Free State: In addition
tions offered by the Free State play. to 250 medium-sized companies, some of the economically most influencal
medical technology and pharmaceutical companies world-wide are represent-
Research, development, innovation and high-quality production: the Free ed here, including global players such as Siemens Healthcare, Baxter, Beck-
State of Bavaria is considered one of the most interesting investment loca- manCoulter, Fresenius Medical, GlaxoSmithKline, Viasys, Roche and General
tions world-wide. Not for nothing - after all, the state has an exceptionally Electric with its European Research Centre in Garching. Medical Valley’s Jörg
well-developed high technology industry. With its cluster initiative, Bavaria Trinkwalter (Head of Cluster Marketing & Development, Member of the Man-
strengthens cooperation networks across the entire state between companies, aging Board) is confident: “In the next decades, the issue of health care will
universities and research establishments, service providers and investors in sustainably improve medical technology.”
19 core competence fields in the sectors of mobility, material development,
man and environment, information and electro-technology, services and media. M·A·I Carbon – The Material Experts
What the Medical Valley is in health care, M·A·I Carbon is to the user indus-
The results of this governmental support have long been bearing fruit: two tries of automotive engineering, aviation and space as well as mechanical
years ago already, the Federal Ministry of Research honoured the Munich- engineering and plant construction. The cluster located within the triangle of
based biotech cluster m4 and the Medical Valley Europäische Metropolregion Augsburg, Munich and Ingolstadt is a member of the umbrella cluster ‘New
Nuremberg (EMN). The M·A·I Carbon cluster won this year’s national leading Materials’ in the field of material development. Among others, members of
edge cluster competition. the fibre-reinforced lightweight construction and the Security & Safety Cluster
Munich are participating. A total of 72 partners are now involved in the leading
m4 - Medicine of the Future edge cluster initiative. One objective is to establish high-performance fibre-
The best example of the clusters’ continued dynamics is the biotech cluster reinforced plastic materials and thus making valuable contributions to resource
m4 in Munich which was founded back in the 90‘s and belongs to the Bavarian efficiency. M. A. I. Carbon is primed for this in the best possible way: Among
bio-technology network. About 262 companies and organizations with a total its founding partners are successful enterprises such as Audi, BMW, Premium
of 90,000 employees from the entire biotechnology industry have organised AEROTEC, Eurocopter, Voith and the SGL Group as well as the Institute for
themselves in this group. Carbon Composites (LCC) of the Technical University of Munich.
Since not every therapy leads to equally positive results among patients and
side effects often have different impact, the cluster currently focuses on the www.mai-carbon.de
key issue of ‘personalised medicine and targeted therapies’. It is important to www.medical-valley-emn.de
develop detailed diagnostics as well as an individually tailored therapy ap- www.m4.de
proach. On a well-founded scientific basis, the cluster selects targeted me-
thods to “treat severe illnesses optimally and to - ideally - fully cure diseases”,
W W W. I N V E S T- I N - B A V A R I A . C O M PA G E 3

4. BAVARIA IN YOUR BRIEFCASE
BAVARIA CELEBRATES 200 YEARS OF BEER GARDENS
with the Michaelmas celebrations on 29 September. During this period, the
kettles had to remain cold, so a supply of beer was stocked for the summer
months which was brewed in March - the so-called ‘Märzen’.
This very strong beer had to be stored cold, otherwise it would have gone bad.
So the owners of the breweries built underground cooling cellars such as the
Löwenbräu or the Hofbräukeller in Munich. The breweries planted trees with
large leaves and dense foliage - mostly chestnut trees - over their ‘March
cellars’ and added a layer of gravel to provide for cool temperatures. Now, only
Augustiner - Keller Munich
a few tables and benches were missing to enjoy a freshly tapped beer - and
so the concept of the beer garden was born. Soon, small meals were served
Imposing chestnut trees rise up into the blue sky providing shadow in addition to the cold beer, which did not please the innkeepers, of course,
for beer benches and long tables. Birds are singing, people laughing, since the breweries were now taking away their customers. Massive protests
and the clanking of beer jugs overflowing with chilled beer fills the followed, whereupon King Max I issued the beer garden regulation allow-
air: A summer scenery to be witnessed in thousands of Bavaria’s beer ing brewers to go on selling beer, but no meals. From then on, guests were
gardens for over 200 years now; this is how long beer gardens - both allowed to bring their own food - a rule which has survived and is still main-
highly popular and well-known all over the world - have been around. tained in many beer gardens to this day.
On 4 January 1812, Bavarian King Max I issued the beer garden regulation. “200 Jahre Biergarten“: Special Exhibition, until 1 September 2012
It says that “By sovereign rescript, His Majesty - The King grants that local Bier und Oktoberfest Museum, Munich
brewers may consume and offer brewed beer above their March cellars in the www.bier-und-oktoberfestmuseum.de
months of June, July, August and September ‘in minuti’ and serve their guests
with beer and bread. However, they are expressly prohibited from serving “Festival of Brass Music and Traditional Costumes“: Historic anniver-
meals and other beverages…“ sary celebrations with coopers, whip-cracking and traditional beer mugs, on
21 July 2012 Augustiner Keller
But how did the beer garden regulation come about in the first place? A 16th www.augustinerkeller.de and the ‘Biergarten am Viktualienmarkt’,
century decree triggered it all. When brewing beer, the kettles had to be both in Munich
heated to high temperatures.
This was particularly risky during hot summer months, because fires broke out “Hofbräu-Dult“ mit Brauereifest: with brewery party, brewery tours and
easily back then and so the brewers were not allowed to brew their barley market stands, on 21 July 2012 on the premises of the Hofbräu brewery in
juice between April and September. This prohibition, based on the Bavarian Munich-Riem
brewing order of 1539, commenced on St. George’s Day (23 April) and ended www.hofbraeu-muenchen.de
FAIRS & EVENTS
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16 – 19 AUG. 2012 12 – 15 SEP. 2012 THE IBC 6 – 11 SEP. 2012 ILA AIR SHOW 11 – 16 SEP. 2012
Bicycle Exhibition International Trade Fair for Urban IN AMSTERDAM | THE NETHERLANDS IN BERLIN | EXPOCENTER AIRPORT
www.ispo.com/prj_54/view/index. Green and Open Spaces
cfm?LNG=2&nv=0&elb=&clb= www.galabau.info-web.de/en Your Contact: Your Contact:
Mr. Peter Englert Mr. Bernd Buchenberger
Tel.: +49 89 24210-7520 Tel.: +49 89 2162-2582
peter.englert@invest-in-bavaria.com bernd.buchenberger@invest-in-bavaria.com
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IMAGE SOURCES: P. 1: Dirkauskiel / photocase.com | P. 2: www.elcore2400.com TEL.: +49 89 24210-7500 ART DIRECTION | INTERNET: ALEX PODOLAY
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W W W. I N V E S T- I N - B A V A R I A . C O M PA G E 4