About the Location

Biotechnology momentum
Positive development and the success story continues

“We have shown that companies can start up here and become very successful. BioNTech is a dynamically growing global corporation based in Mainz, proving that the city has an international appeal that has enormously enhanced the reputation of its research landscape. Newcomers can also benefit from this appeal and the existing ecosystem.”

Internationally recognized center of science
Excellent research and development

The success of BioNTech, Ganymed and TRON prove how the fundamental research performed at the city’s university hospital, Universitätsmedizin Mainz, can be translated into innovative products. There are more than 30 universities in the region, with some 250,000 students, representing an attractive skilled labor market. Companies can build relationships with the students at an early stage.

Excellent growth prospects
Ample commercial space and start-up support

The city of Mainz is investing in the future of the location. There are 30 hectares of city-center space available in the short and medium term for the successful launch of start-ups and the relocation of established businesses. The technology center operated by the city and state will offer laboratory and office space for start-ups with easy financing terms, as well as tailored advice and support. The assessment rate for trade tax has been reduced on a sustained basis.

Unique location and infrastructure 
Biotech metropolitan region and powerhouse in the heart of Europe

The hub is in one of the economically strongest regions of Germany and offers excellent land, water and air transport infrastructure, providing good access to world markets. The region as a whole is in excellent shape, boasting major companies from the life sciences and biotechnology industry (such as BI, Merck, Sanofi, BioNTech and Schott). Internationally renowned educational and research facilities make a considerable contribution to economic prosperity.

Excellent quality of life
World-class art and culture, coupled with the unique “Mainzvibes”

Mainz possesses over two thousand years of history and an extensive range of cultural and leisure activities. The metropolitan region also offers a huge volume of world-class art, sports and cultural events. Its unique culture rooted in hospitality, openness, cordiality and a down-to-earth mentality forms the Mainzvibes, which set the city apart from other locations. It creates an environment that is open to new ideas, allows innovation and entrepreneurship to flourish and offers room for growth.

A study by Deloitte identifies the success factors for the expansion of Mainz as a biotechnology hub:

• Focus on setting up a central campus in the vicinity of the university as a starting point for the further development of the location and formulating a relocation plan for a minimum of ten years
• Mixed-use development is essential; modern, flexible offices and laboratories equipped with basic technology is necessary to be competitive
• Incorporate sustainability aspects concerning energy supply and mobility, for example, as well as social factors, into urban planning from the outset

The shared goal is to set up an internationally recognized and constantly growing biotechnology cluster with a strong start-up scene and successful technology transfer.

Promoting start-ups with the aim of developing flagship projects to attract international talents as well as small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to Mainz. More information on starting a business and support can be found here:

• Establishing a strong network of partners that includes existing networks and organizations
• Creating networking events and attractive spaces for interaction and engagement throughout the campus
• Promoting start-ups with the aim of developing flagship projects to attract international talents as well as small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to Mainz
  -TechnologieZentrum Mainz (TZM)
  -City of Mainz economic development department
  -Chamber of Commerce for Rheinhessen (IHK Rheinhessen)
  -Ministry of Economic Affairs for Rhineland-Palatinate
  -Investitions- und Strukturbank Rheinland-Pfalz (ISB)

• TechnologieZentrum Mainz (TZM) GmbH is a joint subsidiary of the state of Rhineland-Palatinate and its capital city Mainz. It provides consulting services to technology entrepreneurs and start-ups from the fields of biotech and life sciences.
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• More information on starting a business can be found on the city of Mainz economic development website.
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• Gründungswerkstatt RLP is a service from the chambers of commerce and industry (IHKs) in Rhineland-Palatinate to support prospective start-ups and new companies.
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• The Ministry of Economic Affairs, Transport, Agriculture and Viniculture of Rhineland-Palatinate (Ministerium für Wirtschaft, Verkehr, Landwirtschaft und Weinbau, MWVLW) provides a website containing extensive information on setting up a business and succession. 
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• The Investitions- und Strukturbank Rheinland-Pfalz (ISB) is the development bank of the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, offering companies the relevant aid programs to help them set up. 
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• Gründungsbüro Mainz is an alliance between the Startup Center at University Mainz, the university hospital and Mainz University of Applied Sciences. Its goal is to support and accompany students, professors, employees and alumni from science and research who are interested in setting up an academic start-up or spin-off company. 
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• At the Johannes Gutenberg University Startup Center, people from all departments and status groups who are interested in setting up a company receive initial information, advice concerning their specific questions and assistance with funding applications, as well as any necessary referrals to external agencies.
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• The university hospital’s Gründungsbüro develops innovative products in partnership with the region’s universities (TU Darmstadt and GU Frankfurt am Main), forms interdisciplinary start-up teams and actively supports them on their way to becoming successful businesses.
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• The Start-up Campus at Mainz University of Applied Sciences rounds things out. The start-up campus “meins” (Mainz for Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Nachfolge [Succession] and Start-up) brings together all start-up-related institutions, players, offers and services of Mainz University of Applied Sciences.
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Grundstücksverwaltungsgesellschaft der Stadt Mainz mbH (GVG) is a wholly owned subsidiary of the city of Mainz. It was set up in 1991 to develop commercial and residential properties and thereby improve the social and economic structure in the city of Mainz. The person to contact is:

Franz Ringhoffer, Managing Director of GVG
Phone: + 49 6131 124444
Contact

The state of Rhineland-Palatinate and its capital city Mainz are situated in the heart of Europe. The region offers a strong economy, plenty of access to nature and great prospects for families. In addition to the city’s economic development department, the Mainz city authority compass offers helpful information for people who have recently arrived in Mainz to live and work here.

The state’s website provides further information on living and working in Rhineland-Palatinate.