Fraunhofer picks First State
for first U.S. biotech center

Siting cooperation by the state government and the University of Delaware, officials from Fraunhofer USA announced Wednesday, July 18, that the German-based research organization has chosen to locate its first biotechnology research center in the United States at the Delaware Technology Park in Newark.

The parent organization of Fraunhofer USA, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, is Germany's leading organization of institutes of applied research.

The new Fraunhofer Center for Molecular Biotechnology will focus most of its efforts on the study of molecular farming, or the use of plants to grow pharmaceuticals as a way to make vaccines and drugs at a lower cost and in greater quantity.

Dirk Meints Polter, a member of the executive committee of Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft and president of Fraunhofer USA, announced that Barry Marrs will serve as executive director of the ccenter and Vadavi Yusibov will serve as scientific director.

Marrs is formerly director of corporate research and development at Hercules Inc., and Yusibov is former assistant professor microbiology and immunology in the Biotechnology Foundation Lab at Thomas Jefferson University.

"From a German point of view, we see the United States as a good outlet for technology that we have been developing in Germany," Polter said. "There were two reasons we selected Delaware. The state of Delaware, your governor, the community, the University of Delaware and the technology sector have always made us feel welcome. Our decision to locate our Center for Molecular Biology in Delaware was also based on finding a first-rate executive director and scientific director, and we were able to do that here in Delaware."

"The University of Delaware is honored that an organization of Fraunhofer's stature would select the Delaware Technology Park as the site for its new biotechnology center, and we look forward to a long and productive relationship," UD President David P. Roselle said of the announcement. "We believe Fraunhofer will be an ideal partner for the University and for the state of Delaware as we continue to work together to promote scientific research, quality education and enhanced job opportunities."

"Fraunhofer's decision to locate its U.S. biotechnology center in Delaware demonstrates our continuing ability to attract the best and the brightest," Delaware Gov. Ruth Ann Minner added. "We are pleased that Delaware will be home to the new Center for Molecular Biology and host to some of the world's most advanced research in the fields of medicine, pharmaceuticals and life sciences."

The biotechnology center, which will create 20 new jobs, will join the Fraunhofer Center for Manufacturing and Advanced Materials in a fifth building currently under construction at the Delaware Technology Park that will be complete in the first quarter of 2002.

The building is adjacent to the Delaware Biotechnology Institute on Innovation Way, which will house employees of the center until the building is ready.

The Fraunhofer materials center announced in February that it is expanding its operations and expects to employ 40-50 by 2004.

"The attributes that Fraunhofer brings to the Delaware Technology Park fit all of our desired criteria–applied research in advanced materials and biotechnology, job creation with spin-out potential and strong affinity to universities," Mike Bowman, president of the Delaware Technology Park, said.

John D. Wik, Delaware Economic Development Office director, added, "The certainty that Germany's leading research and development institute will expand its presence in Delaware bodes well for our future as a national hub for biotechnology and other high-tech industries, building on our existing critical mass that includes the Delaware Biotechnology Center, AstraZeneca and over 35 other biotechnology businesses. The Fraunhofer Center for Molecular Biotechnology has expressed an interest in working as a catalyst to attract new businesses in life sciences and spin-off businesses, and we look forward to working with them on this initiative."

Key to the Fraunhofer decision to locate in Delaware was the spirit of cooperation and partnership in the state, according to Jill Felix, president of the University City Science Center of Philadelphia, which is a partner in the Delaware Technology Park project.

"This is the model for economic development anywhere in the world," she said, "government, universities and the private sector working together to make a difference. Collaboration works."

The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft currently maintains 48 research centers in Germany, with seven in the United States. The organization has a staff of 9,600, the majority of whom are scientists and engineers.

–Neil Thomas