Lower Saxony lighthouse project GOe FUTURE becomes a life sciences startup factory

Significant support for Lower Saxony's life science ecosystem: The Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) has selected the GOe FUTURE initiative (‘GO excellent FUTURE’) in the national funding program “EXIST Leuchtturmwettbewerb „Startup Factories"”as the bioscience innovation lighthouse in Germany. GOe FUTURE aims to develop a world-leading ecosystem for spin-offs in the field of life sciences in Lower Saxony alongside the renowned science locations of Göttingen, Hanover and Braunschweig. GOe FUTURE is thus one of the few thematically focused start-up factories and the only one with a clear focus on life sciences. The aim is to translate scientific findings into innovations for the benefit of patients and society, thereby sharpening the region's international profile.

This project is based on the significant innovation, knowledge transfer and talent potential of the 13 participating universities and non-university research institutions in the Göttingen/Hanover/Braunschweig metropolitan region. Around 90,000 students are educated here, 20,000 of whom study life sciences — providing ideal conditions for spin-offs in this field and creating a unique situation in Germany.

“GOe FUTURE is a genuine lighthouse project that translates Lower Saxony's potential in the field of life sciences into entrepreneurial success. The combined expertise of the University Medical Center Göttingen and seven other universities, internationally renowned research institutions and strong companies from the region is a clear demonstration of this: Lower Saxony is a great place to develop new business fields with innovative ideas. The fact that the federal government is now taking this ambitious project into the implementation phase is a great success for all those involved as well as for our science and business location as a whole. Congratulations!" says Falko Mohrs, Lower Saxony's Minister for Science and Culture.

Up to 20 million euros for GOe FUTURE
With funding totaling up to 20 million euro, comprising 10 million euro in private capital and up to 10 million euro in federal government subsidies over five years, the startup factory will have the optimal conditions to establish structures to support generation of startups. It aims to become self-sustaining in the long term, following the example of UnternehmerTUM, the leading German center for start-ups and innovation in Munich.

GO^e FUTURE represents the consistent strategic development of previous regional efforts to connect science and scientists with innovation and business potential. To this end, Sartorius AG, the Life Science Factory and the University Medical Center Göttingen founded “Life Science Valley GmbH” in Göttingen in 2021, and will be the central structure of the GO^e FUTURE Startup Factory in Lower Saxony in the future. Professor Elisabeth Zeisberg, a professor and a biotech company founder, at the University Medical Centre Göttingen (UMG), guided and coordinated the application process from start to finish, giving her unique perspective and experience as a scientist and an entrepreneur. As Chair of the Advisory Board, Professor Zeisberg, will continue to implement the concept of GO^e FUTURE: “I look forward to constructively and critically support the implementation of this pioneering concept in the coming years and to promote networking between the partners.”

New era of startup culture
GO^e FUTURE aims to increase the number of start-ups in the highly complex field of life sciences to over 100 per year within five years. This will establish Lower Saxony as a European beacon for innovation in the life sciences sector, ushering in a new era of start-ups. 

“With GO^e FUTURE, we are setting the scene for the future of the life sciences sector in Lower Saxony, Germany and Europe. Receiving funding approval from the BMWE is a recognition of the great potential for the scientific excellence in lower saxony to be translated to innovation and of the hard work and commitment of all partners over the past twelve months. We are proud to be developing the region into a leading innovation hub for life sciences,” says Dr Sven Wagner, Chief Executive Officer of GO^e FUTURE.

“GO^e FUTURE is a follow-up and realization of the initial joint transfer activities of of the University Medical Center Göttingen and Sartorius AG, fulfilling the mutual vision of Lower Saxony as an excellent innovation hub. Starting with the proposal and this funding we are now integrating further partners from industry, academic institutions, and local authorities from Hanover and Braunschweig on an equal footing, engaging all institutes in Lower Saxony under one roof, for this important task. We look forward to working together in the coming years,” said Professor Wolfgang Brück, Chief Executive Officer of UMG and Head of Research and Teaching. 

GO^e FUTURE will specifically address the needs of founders and start-ups in the green and red life sciences and medical technology sectors. A management team consisting of experts in the respective fields will provide professional support. Through the initiative, Lower Saxony is establishing a robust platform to stimulate innovation in the life sciences sector, provide an ecosystem for boosting start-up activities and position the region as a leading hub for scientific innovation in Europe.

For more information, visit the website of GO^e FUTURE.

Partner of the GO^e FUTURE startup ecosystem:

1. University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG)
2. University of Göttingen (UGOE)
3. Hannover Medical School (MHH)
4. Leibniz University Hannover (LUH)
5. University of Veterinary Medicine Foundation Hannover (TiHo)
6. Technische Universität Braunschweig (TU Brauschweig)
7. University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HAWK)
8. Private University of Applied Science (PFH)
9. Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences (MPI-NAT)
10. German Primate Center – Leibniz Institute for Primate Research (DPZ)
11. Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine (ITEM)
12. Helmholtz Center for Infection Research in Braunschweig (HZI)
13. Institut für Nanophotonik Göttingen e.V. (IFNANO)
14. Niedersachsen.next BioRegioN
15. Niedersachsen.next Startup
16. VolkswagenStiftung
17. Näder Foundation
18. Südniedersachsenstiftung
19. Sartorius AG
20. Ottobock SE & Co. KGaA
21. KWS Saat SE & Co. KGaA
22. Symrise AG
23. Sparkasse Göttingen
24. Industrie- und Handelskammer Hannover, office Göttingen
25. Life Science Factory
26. Rootcamp
27. Biolabs
28. Seedhouse
29. abberior instruments
30. Braunschweig Zukunft GmbH
31. iTUBS GmbH – Innovationsgesellschaft Technische Universität Braunschweig mbH
32. TRAIN – Translationsallianz in Niedersachsen
33. IBT Lower Saxony – Institute for Biomedical Translation
34. SNIC – Life Science Incubator
35. DHCH – Digital Health City Hannover
36. GWG – Economic Development Urban Development Göttingen 

About the EXIST lighthouse competition 
Through the EXIST lighthouse competition, 'Startup Factories', the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) is encouraging the creation of start-up centers located near universities and managed by entrepreneurs. The competition aims to strengthen Germany's development into a leading startup nation. UnternehmerTUM at the Technical University of Munich is the best start-up center in Europe and serves as a role model for start-up factories. The competition forms part of the EXIST program, which is the most successful and important federal funding instrument for start-ups in the field of science. The program began in 1998.

Contact GO^e FUTURE GmbH: 
Dr. Sven Wagner, sven.wagner(at)lifescience-valley.de, www.goe-future.de

Press contact:
University Medical Center Göttingen, University of Göttingen
Head of Corporate Communications
Lena Bösch
Von-Siebold-Str. 3, 37075 Göttingen
Phone +49 551 / 39-61020
Fax +49 551 / 39-61023
presse.medizin(at)med.uni-goettingen.de
www.umg.eu