Relocation and Expansion in the German capital Region
The German capital region has an international reputation for its excellence in healthcare and life sciences. In recent years, many international companies have decided to open a new location here, while many of the companies already based in Berlin-Brandenburg have grown and expanded continually.
The HealthCapital cluster management, through its teams at Berlin Partner for Business and Technology, and the Brandenburg Economic Development Corporation (WFBB) provides support with free services for foreign companies looking for a new location and companies that want to continue to grow in the region.
Whether it is the search for a suitable location, information on financing, or the search for talents and cooperation partners, we support national and international companies in the healthcare industry and life sciences.
TIPS FROM OUR RELOCATION EXPERTS
#1 TIP
Berlin-Brandenburg has been the location for healthcare companies in Germany for years. We at Berlin Partner for Business and Technology support companies that are interested in locating in Berlin with numerous . Berlin offers a diverse and strong local ecosystem. You can find more about this in our Life Science Report. In the Directory and in the Business atlas you can quickly find the important players, such as companies, universities or institutes.
My special tip applies to the topic “Computational Biology”. This topic is becoming increasingly important for the healthcare industry. The spectrum of applications ranges from automated image evaluation to the identification of target molecules in drug research. You will not only find competent cooperation partners in this field in the capital region, but also well-trained graduates and experienced workers. A brief description as well as an overview of the relevant players in this field can be found here. Are you considering coming to Berlin and need support with relocating and setting up a business? – Talk to me! I look forward to receiving your message.
#2 TIP
Are you looking for qualified professionals in Berlin?
You can publish your job offers on our website. Right after registering you as an employer on our Berlin focused job platform you can start. Let us know once you have published a job add there – we then can promote your jobs on our social media channels on Facebook , LinkedIn and Instagram. Our job portal informs about any Berlin-based job and we promote this platform on national or international job fairs to any Berlin-interested professionals and talents.
Furthermore with the Business Immigration Service, we provide support in the application process for work and residence permits for foreign specialists, which you can adjust for your own needs. Talk to us as early in the process as possible, so that we can help organize the best possible support for the institutions involved.
If you need more suppport with any aspects of talents and recruitment - talk to us! We look forward to receiving your message.
#3 TIP
Relocating to a new city can be tricky, both from a business as from a private perspective.
Our Talent Services team has put together a great landing page with an overview on the main aspects to consider when arriving and living in Berlin, such as visa, health insurance, learning German, housing, international day cares/ schools, etc.
And also from a business perspective we have you covered: Our business location center offers a series of HOW TO Session videos on topics such as setting up a business in Berlin, Berlin public funding overview, etc.
And then you can always contact us relocation managers for more details and further questions.
Looking forward to getting in touch and assisting you in setting up your business in Berlin.
#4 TIP
The decision to relocate to a new city which provides the suitable environment to grow a business is not easy. To make the decision easier for you, we’ve gathered the key facts that you need to decide for Berlin:
Lots of startups in one place are an indicator for a suitable breeding ground. In Berlin every year, more than 500 startups are founded. Read here about starting up in Berlin. It is easy to get financing in Berlin because much money is flowing into startups. For example, the range of programs offered by Investitionsbank Berlin covers the founding and growth phases of startups with grants, loans and equity investments. You will find a comprehensive overview of funding possibilities here: Backing in Berlin.
Berlin offers a very good startup infrastructure: The Startup Heatmap Europe 2022 puts Berlin in first place, ahead of London and Barcelona.
Berlin is an international talent pool and one of the most attractive cities for young professionals.
You can always contact our relocation managers for more details and further questions.
So, what are you waiting for? We are looking forward to getting in touch and assisting you in setting up your business in Berlin.
#5 TIP
Are you looking for funding opportunities in Berlin?
Berlin offers attractive funding opportunities for all phases of business development — from start-up to growth financing. Financial incentives range from public loans, guarantees, and equity capital, to direct grants for investment and innovation projects.
Our experts will find the right financing solution and provide you with valuable information on how to apply for funding. We work closely with project sponsors, development banks, and potential financing partners at the state, federal, and EU levels.
Together, we discuss the plans for your project, which should ideally already be available in the form of a project description or a business plan. We will check with you which funding and financing instruments come into consideration, establish contacts with relevant players, and provide you with important information for your application.
If you need more support with any aspects of funding – talk to us! We look forward to receiving your message.
#TIP 6
One of the many advantages of Berlin as a business location is its high density of high-calibre research institutions which are ideal partners for many product development projects from the industry. Check out our Brain City Berlin website for an overview on Berlin’s diverse scientific landscape, researcher profiles, transfer stories and much more.
Let us know, if you are considering setting up your business in Berlin. We are happy to help.
#TIP 7
Berlin Partner’s Economy Overview Map – a helpful tool when deciding on the perfect location
In order to decide which address and area of the city to choose when relocating to Berlin, the Economy Overview Map is a very useful resource. With this tool you can discover Berlin in 3D (including major ongoing building projects), get an overview of companies/academia from a specific industry, find co-working spaces and determine the distance from your home to your workplace by car and public transport options.
Our location team and I are happy to answer any questions you might have in this regard.
#TIP 8
Mass spectrometry is becoming essential in healthcare and Berlin offers an ideal setting for its development. The city hosts numerous research institutes and core facilities dedicated to mass spectrometry and related analytical technologies, fostering strong collaboration between academia and industry.
Thanks to close proximity to major hospitals, Berlin’s mass spectrometry research is quickly moving into clinical applications. High-throughput analytics, such as liquid biopsies for cancer screening, spatial proteomics or single-cell proteomics analysis, are enhancing diagnostics and accelerating therapeutic developments. This close integration with healthcare providers positions Berlin as a leader in translating scientific breakthroughs into healthcare solutions.
Supporting this landscape, Berlin’s hubs—especially Berlin-Buch and Adlershof—feature a concentration of analytical service providers focused on biopharmaceutical applications, making it an ideal ecosystem for startups in advanced diagnostics.
For a closer look, our Life Science Report highlights Berlin’s mass spectrometry strengths, and our Life Science Directory provides a comprehensive view of key players in the region. Interested in establishing your mass spectrometry venture here? Connect with us to discover how Berlin Partner can support your growth!
With a total of eight technology parks in the life sciences, this infrastructure is unique in Germany in terms of its size and diversity. The parks include berlinbiotechpark Charlottenburg, Biopark Luckenwalde, Campus Berlin-Buch, Campus Dahlem FUBIC, Innovationspark Wuhlheide, Potsdam Science Park, Technologiepark Hennigsdorf and the Technology Park Adlershof. They cover a total area of around 250,000 square metres. Scientific institutes, technology-oriented and research-related companies, as well as start-ups, find ideal conditions at these locations.
The companies and start-ups are provided with modern laboratories and rooms to meet their needs, thus contributing to success and growth in the region. The close proximity of science and business makes the parks melting pots for interdisciplinary technology development.
This success story is set to continue, as demand for additional space grows and sites will continue to expand and invest in new facilities. The new BerlinBioCube building complex on the Berlin-Buch campus has created 8,000 square metres of space for around 400 new workplaces specifically for start-ups and spin-offs, primarily from the local scientific institutions. Over the next few years, the FUBIC will be set up as a new location in close proximity to Freie Universität Berlin, which will create a further 50,000 square metres of new space for life science companies. The first office and laboratory building, named FUHUB, was inaugurated in 2024, marking a first milestone.
There are already concrete expansion plans for the coming years at the berlinbiotechpark Charlottenburg, Potsdam Science Park and TZ Hennigsdorf locations. The available space will almost double, which will create the best conditions for further growth of both existing and new companies.
Launching in November 2024, Bayer Co.Lab will be a purpose-built biotech incubator in Berlin, with a focus on gene and cell therapies as well as breakthroughs in oncology. The offer for early-stage companies ranges from equipped laboratory and office space, access to Bayer expertise to networking with the ecosystem.
The Berlin Center for Gene and Cell Therapies planned for 2028 on the Bayer Campus at Berlin Nordhafen will also offer fully equipped and scalable laboratory space for 15 to 20 biotech start-ups in addition to a GMP-certified production area. With more than 500 start-ups founded every year, the capital region is Germany's undisputed start-up metropolis and is extending its nationwide lead.
Start-ups from the life sciences sector also benefit from this start-up dynamic, with new companies in the biotech and medtech sectors and an increasing number of digital health start-ups emerging every year. They can draw on a wide range of support services to professionalize and accelerate the start-up process.
There are over 100 accelerators, incubators and coworking spaces that support start-ups in the early stages, many of which specialize in the life sciences.
