The BioInnovation Institute (BII) is expanding its European network with new hubs in Munich and Berlin. The expansion is part of CardioMetabolic Bridge, a pan-European initiative supported by the Novo Nordisk Foundation with up to DKK 450 million over six years. The goal is to accelerate the path from groundbreaking research to new treatments for cardiometabolic diseases.
BII is now strengthening its presence in Europe with the establishment of new hubs in Munich and Berlin. Together with London, the two cities will become central hubs for the CardioMetabolic Bridge (CMB), which will accelerate the translation of promising research in cardiometabolic diseases from the laboratory to the development of new treatments.
The expansion will give BII access to some of Germany’s strongest research and innovation environments, while strengthening connections between leading research institutions, clinical environments, entrepreneurs, investors and the pharmaceutical industry across Europe.
CardioMetabolic Bridge is supported by the Novo Nordisk Foundation with up to DKK 450 million (approximately EUR 60 million) over six years. The initiative aims to address a key challenge in European life science: that too many promising research results never make it from the laboratory to the development of new drugs.
“Germany has a strong scientific tradition and is one of Europe’s leading life science environments. In Munich and Berlin, world-class research meets entrepreneurship, advanced infrastructure and strong industrial networks. These are crucial prerequisites for developing new biotech companies. With our presence in the two cities, we strengthen the CardioMetabolic Bridge and create new opportunities for researchers to take their discoveries further towards new treatments,” says Jens Nielsen, CEO of the BioInnovation Institute.
From research to drug candidates and new companies
Europe is an international leader in several areas of cardiometabolic research. Yet many research projects face significant barriers when moving from academic research to commercial drug development. Lack of capital, specialized facilities and access to industrial expertise can slow down or completely prevent the development of promising discoveries.
CardioMetabolic Bridge aims to help remove these barriers.
Through the initiative, selected projects will gain access to funding, laboratory facilities, pharmaceutical research and development expertise, strategic sparring and mentoring, and the opportunity to establish connections with investors and industrial partners.
The effort targets cardiometabolic diseases, including obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases – areas with a significant need for new and more effective treatments.
BII will work closely with universities, hospitals, research institutions and other players in the local innovation environment. The ambition is to identify research with high therapeutic potential and support the development towards validated drug candidates and new biotech companies.
Munich and Berlin strengthen the European network
The new German hubs will become part of BII’s growing European network, which also includes the headquarters in Copenhagen and the hub at Victoria House in London.
By connecting leading research and innovation environments across borders, BII will create a better framework for knowledge sharing, collaboration and commercialization of research. It will provide researchers with access to the expertise, capital and infrastructure needed to bring new scientific discoveries closer to patients.
“CardioMetabolic Bridge will function as a European platform where world-class research is given the best conditions to be translated into concrete health solutions. By connecting strong research environments across Europe, we can help promising discoveries continue through the critical phases from academic research to drug development. It is both about accelerating the development of new treatments for people with cardiometabolic diseases and about strengthening Europe’s position within life science innovation,” says Jens Nielsen.
