The Biotech Sector in
Switzerland, Austria and Germany
Dr. Boris Mannhardt, BIOCOM AG
Brussels, 18 February 2014
OECD definitions of the biotechnology sector
• 
Definition of biotechnology: The application of science and technology to
living organisms, as well as parts, products and models thereof, to alter living or
non-living materials for the production of knowledge, goods and services
• 
Biotech active firm: Defined as a firm engaged in key biotechnology activities
such as the application of at least one biotechnology technique to produce
goods or services and/or the performance of biotechnology R&D, e.g.
pharmaceutical companies, plant breeders, chemical companies.
• 
Dedicated biotech firm: Defined as a biotechnology active firm whose
predominant activity (>75%) involves the application of biotechnology
techniques to produce goods or services and/or the performance of
biotechnology R&D.
• 
Fields of biotechnology: Health/Medicine (including animal health),
Agribiotechnology, Industrial Biotechnology, Non-specific applications,
Bioinformatics.
Methodology
• 
Sample frame: „Secondary sources“. Lists of biotech firms were constructed
from diverse sets of sources, such as biotechnology industry associations,
searching patent data to identify firms that have applied for a biotechnology
patent, results of previous surveys, applicants to government support programs
for biotechnology R&D, etc.
• 
Sample sizes and response rates:
Switzerland: 197 companies contacted; 67% response rate
Austria: 157 companies contacted; 68% response rate
Germany: 781 companies contacted; 78% response rate
• 
Questionnaires: Specially developed contingent four-page document using
OECD’s list-based definitions of biotechnology activities and covering all
relevant indicators. The same questionnaire is made available online as a webbased tool.
Basic figures
Germany
693
biotech-active firms,
thereof
565
dedicated biotech firms
35,190 total biotech workforce,
thereof
17,430 in dedicated firms
Switzerland
197
biotech-active firms,
thereof
Austria
128
biotech-active firms,
thereof
18,100 total biotech workforce,
thereof
95
dedicated biotech
firms
4,300
7,460
total biotech
workforce, thereof
1,570
in dedicated firms
146
dedicated biotech firms
in dedicated firms
Workforce in commercial biotech on a per capita basis
437 per million
inhabitants
2,239 per million
inhabitants
879 per million
inhabitants
Size distribution of dedicated biotechnology firms
CH
AT
5%
2% 1%
6%
DE
3% 2%
7%
1-9
10 - 49
50 - 99
54%
57%
44%
100 - 249
> 250
38%
32%
5% 1%
43%
Fields of activity
CH
AT
Health
Agribiotechnology
Industrial Biotechnology
Non-specific Applications
Bioinformatics
4%
19%
5%
21%
32%
8%
71%
2%
48%
68%
6%
1%
11%
3% 4%
Activities as Percent of
total R&D Expenditure
DE
4%
11% 1%
1%
5%
3%
93%
99%
80%
Money earned and spent
CH
AT
Revenues
in m PPP$
R&D Expenses
in m PPP$
250
4.000
4.000
200
3.000
3.000
2.000
2.000
1.000
1.000
0
0
150
100
50
0
R&D Intensity
DE
70.6%
34.0%
32.3%
Financials in relation to the overall economy
AT
CH
DE
10.000
Revenues
per Million GDP
8.000
6.000
R&D Expenses
per Million GDP
(in PPP$)
3.396
4.000
2.000
662
0
1.172
468
378
Investments in the biotech sector
CH
AT
DE
100
250
500
Research Grants
80
200
400
Public Equity
60
150
300
Business Angels
40
100
200
Venture Capital
20
50
100
0
0
0
Investment in m PPP$
Share of Grants in
Total Investment
Total Investment per
Million GDP (PPP$)
20.4%
3.5%
13.5%
342
679
140
Dedicated biotech firms – The European picture
Can these numbers be compared?
95
127
565
65
193
146
941
146
660
51
53
65
31
70
Conclusions
• 
Consistent and internationally comparable statistics are a valuable tool for
political decision makers to effectively support biotechnology – or in a wider
picture the bioeconomy.
• 
Lessons can be learned from distinct structural differences as a result of varying
political framework conditions.
• 
To date, there is no reliable and standardized structural information available for
biotechnology (or bioeconomy) across Europe.
• 
Basic definitions of an industry / technology help to harmonize statistics but do
not prevent variability of surveys.
• 
Success factors for a industry-specific survey are knowledge of that particular
industry, a short and concise questionnaire, and intensive follow-ups.
Thank you for your attention
BIOCOM AG
Lützowstr. 33-36
10785 Berlin, Germany
+49 30 26 49 21 61
[email protected]