In its “MED x TECH” event, Frankfurt Forward asked, among other things, what impact Covid-19 has on innovations in the healthcare sector.
Markus Frank, Head of the Department of Economic Affairs of the City of Frankfurt am Main and patron of the project, emphasized the importance of the pharmaceutical and medical sector for Frankfurt: “The pharmaceutical industry is one of the strongest performing industries in our city. Especially now we can show what contribution the research and development of established groups as well as the innovations of young start-ups in medicine make to solving current challenges”.
The kick-off event of the second project year was subject to special conditions due to the current situation caused by Corona and was broadcast in a live stream for the first time thanks to the support of Montagsgesellschaft e.V. “Especially in turbulent times like these, it is important to us to continue to bring start-ups and industry together on current topics and to promote cooperation,” said Oliver Schwebel, Managing Director of the Frankfurt Economic Development Corporation.
Moderated by Dr. Stefan Söhngen (Montagsgesellschaft e.V.), start-ups and industrial companies held lively discussions on current developments in the medical and pharmaceutical sectors. Prof. Dr. Jochen Maas, Managing Director Research and Development of the pharmaceutical group Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH and Otto Philipp Braun, Member of the Management Board of ALMO-Erzeugnisse Erwin Busch GmbH, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of disposable syringes, provided insights into the approaches and measures of the groups. Benedikt Sons, CEO of the med tech start-up Cansativa, specifically pointed out the regulatory challenges, but also the long-term opportunities in the industry for young companies.
“Especially in times of crisis, innovative solutions are needed faster and more urgently than ever. Cooperations between industry and start-ups and the courage to invest promptly in new approaches are essential here,” added Christian W. Jakob, Head of Frankfurt Forward.
The recording of the event can be accessed here.
