Berlin-Buch campus: science and research mingling in Berlin

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Berlin’s north-eastern district Prenzlauer Berg is well known as a desirable residential area: a stroll through this neighbourhood reveals a good selection of restaurants and bars, fashion and furniture stores, organic food shops…. Prenzlauer Berg is considered by many as the perfect stomping ground for young families as well as discerning hipster, with rising but still affordable apartment rents to add another plus to the equation.

Less well known is another gem further north, but still within the city boundaries of Berlin: the innovation campus Berlin-Buch. The former village of Buch boast a long history in healthcare: back in 1898 Berlin’s city council purchased the grounds and commissioned a clinic complex focussing on the treatment of tuberculosis, plus a second clinic complex for mental health illnesses. A neurological research institute and clinic opened its doors on today’s campus grounds in 1930, and in 1947 the campus became part of the science academy organisation within the former East Germany.

Shortly after Germany’s reunification, one of the science academy institutes was reshaped in 1992 into the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC).The MDC developed into one of the world’s leading biomedical research institutes, and its mission is to understand the causes of disease at the molecular level and to translate the research findings into therapy for the benefit of patients as quickly as possible. The Berlin Buch campus location as well as a close partnership with the Charité contribute significantly to the outcome of this translational research.

As the next stage in the post reunification development spur, the creation of an innovation and founders’ centre in 1995 invited companies to settle in Buch and to benefit from the scientific research ecosystem. The campus atmosphere promotes the exchange of know-how, technology transfer and joint projects. Currently, 63 companies with 800 employees carry out research, development and production in the BiotechPark Berlin-Buch.

The innovation campus took an additional leap of development with the Leibniz Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie aka the FMP, moving here and opening its doors in 2000. This was another important development for the campus, since this institute conducts research projects with all four Berlin-based universities and many universities abroad.

As part of their collaboration with Berlin’s universities, mainly the Humboldt Universität and the Freie Universität Berlin both the MDC and FMP offer PhD programs. Both institutions have a continuous stream of high calibre Postdoc opportunities on offer through their respective research teams. To raise interest in scientific research at an early stage of education, the FMP and MDC are participating in a community outreach program with local schools.

Maximum clinical care institutions which are located close by the campus such as the privately run HELIOS Klinikum Berlin-Buch, the Evangelische Lungenklinik Berlin (ELK) specialising in treatment of lung and other lower respiratory tract diseases and the Immanuel Krankenhaus Berlincomplement the campus in an ideal way.

Companies can benefit from all this state of the art research infrastructure by settling into the innovation campus. For those in need of even more persuasion: the campus is within easy reach of the city centre through public transport. Campus bikes are available for the short journey from the train station to the campus, as well as a public bus route for those visitors who are less keen on exercise.