According to BIO Deutschland’s annual biotechnology sector survey, the German biotech industry is optimistic for 2016. Many companies are planning to invest more in R&D and company personnel, with a little less than 60% of firms expecting business in the biotech sector to improve. Generally, two thirds of respondents believe nothing will change for German biotech firms in 2016. In 2015, biotech companies raised €553 million ($782.5 million) in capital, which is 38% greater than 2014 and the highest level since 2010. Venture capital in the industry grew 53% from 2014, with private groups investing €263 million. In January, BRAIN went public, the first German biotech company to do so since 2007. The positive outlook on the biotech sector is complemented by the improvement in European capital markets. A total of €6.26 billion was raised through stocks by European biotech firms in 2015, an 82% increase from 2014. Overall, according to the survey’s individual index, the current business situation is up 3.67 points to 101.14, the future business situation is up 5.22 points to 97.34 and R&D investment is up 2.47 points to 97.49.

Source: BIO Deutschland