The Octapharma AG, worldwide leading producer of plasma derivatives, invests more than 25 million Euros in the new building of a research centre in the Technology Park Heidelberg. The office and lab space will complete the 25-year old Technology Park and mark its north-eastern borderline in Handschuhsheim, Heidelberg.

Observe here the construction progress

On the 8th of July the laying of the foundation stone was celebrated for the fourth section of the Technology Park Heidelberg. Octapharma founder Wolfgang Marguerre, Lord Mayor  Dr. Eckart Würzner, Carola Schröder, CEO of the Octapharma Biopharmaceuticals GmbH, and the architects Bert and Björn Burger were the guests of honor.

„I am an old Handschuhsheimer: If you get such a fillet property offered, it is difficult to say No“, thanked Marguerre Dr. Würzner. Octapharma has not bought the land, but has received a hereditary lease for 100 years from the Technology Park and the City of Heidelberg.

 Hotspot Heidelberg
„The real Hotspot is not Berlin, not Munich, it is Heidelberg“, according to Würzner. „The fact that this important international enterprise comes now to Heidelberg, is a clear decision for the best science location in Germany.“

Starting 2012 up to 100 Octapharma employees will do excellent research . Their fields of expertise are basic research in immunology, haematology / blood coagulation as well as intensive medicine and emergency medicine. Owner of the new center is the Octapharma Biopharmaceuticals GmbH, a biotechnological research enterprise in the area of the human cell lines for the production of proteins.

With the opening of the new location in close proximity to the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and the University Clinics and Blood Bank the staff should be also increased. CEO Carola Schröder will move in with 37 scientists and engineers from Martinsried to Heidelberg and recruit, in addition, highly qualified employees from the Metropolregion Rhine-Neckar. 

Wonderful sphere
The new research center is the first big investment of the enterprise in the hometown of the founder Wolfgang Marguerre. According to Maguerre Heidelberg and the Metropolregion combine an excellent research infrastructure, family friendliness and quality of life in a special way. Marguerre therefore is sure that a high percentage of the existing workforce in Munich will gladly move to Heidelberg.

Octapharma was founded 27 years ago and maintains 37 locations worldwide. 4,000 employees produce Octapharma products in five countries and expel them in 80 countries on all continents. In 2009 the turnover crossed the border of one billion Euros.