Health Research in Cooperation with Industry and Science

Achieving better interlinking of science and industry is one of the goals of the new Health Research Programme. Results from health research should in future flow more quickly into the processes of the pharmaceutical and medical technology industries. Prospects for innovation resulting from the explosively expanding knowledge can then be implemented more quickly in the development of industrial products and procedures.

This involves more than paving the way to improving medical care for the population. The future development of Germany as a business location also depends heavily on such accelerated and optimal information and knowledge transfer.

Innovative products in the health sector are already an important economic factor today. The health market, with a volume of approx. 264 billion EURO (1997) from all public and private financial contributors (source: Federal Office of Statistics, 1999) and approx. 4.2 million employees in service, industry and medical care, is a frequently underestimated growth market. The export share for medical technology as well as pharmaceutical products is at least 50 percent. The rising demand for care is an economic opportunity for the growth of existing and creation of new markets. New products also make an effective contribution to securing existing and creating new, demanding and secure jobs. The increased use of modern telecommunications and information technology in medicine can provide further stimulus for growth.