topic Research

Biotechnology

The spectacular advances in the biosciences have drawn the general public's awareness to this new field. Human hereditary material has been largely decoded. The next aim now is to understand its functioning. This promises to be an enormous step towards gaining more knowledge and finding many new apporaches to fighting disease. Supporting biotechnology is a central priority of the Federal Government's research policy. Its Biotechnology Framework Programme aims to ensure the high international standing of the biosciences and to develop new innovation potentials.

Spectacular findings, together with ever quicker technology cycles, have drawn the general public's awareness to research in the biosciences. Human hereditary material, the human genome, and that of numerous model organisms have been largely decoded. The aim now is to understand the functioning of the genome. The structural and functional analysis of the human genome will constitute a new major step in gaining new knowledge and provide many new approaches to fighting disease.

Biotechnology is a typical generaic technology, with a "service character" for numerous application-oriented disciplines such as medicine, chemistry, physics, information technology, materials sciences and others. The use of biotechnological processes is already routine in many areas. For a long time, detergent enzymes, vitamins, food additives and antibiotics have been produced with the help of environmentally benign biotechnological processes. Today biotechnology is a driver of innovation for more growth, employment and prosperity.

Supporting biotechnology is therefore a central priority of the Federal Government's research policy. Its Framework Programme Biotechnology - Using and Shaping Its Opportunities is to ensure the high international standing of the biosciences in Germany in the future and to develop innovation potentials.