Mainz is exploring further areas for a biotech position

New biotechnological center Mainz is exploring further areas for a biotech position

04.05.2022Source: dpa

Since Biontech’s success, Mainz has been considered the world’s pharmacy. Now the state capital will become a major international biotech location. But not just her.

Mainz – The city of Mainz has provided an additional 50 hectares of planned land for its planned expansion into an international biotech location. A competition of urban planning ideas for this predominantly agricultural area is expected to begin this year, Mayor Michael Ebling and Marianne Grosse (both SPDs) reported in Mainz on Tuesday. “In the long run, we need more space,” Grosse said in the justification.

According to the regional initiative Rhein-Nahe-Hunsrück, the development of biotechnology has potential even beyond Mainz. Together with chambers and universities, he wants to develop the “Mild West” – between Birkenfeld and Mainz – in the “Biotech Valley”. Together with the Technical University of Bingen and the Birkenfeld Environmental Campus of the University of Trier, a study is being developed to show the foundations.

The international competition for urban planning ideas of the city of Mainz, in stages, is expected to end in the course of the next year. Most of the designated areas are privately owned, and the city property management company is looking into the willingness to sell, Grosse said. A microclimatic assessment will accompany the competition. “Cold air corridors and climatic conditions play a fundamental role.” However, an initial assessment still considers urban development in the area west of the university to be possible. The exact need for what is to be built is currently being determined. The public will be involved as soon as possible.

Over the next ten years, Mainz expects some 5,000 new jobs in biotechnology and an estimated investment volume of one billion euros, Ebling recalled. “The numbers are becoming more realistic by the day and will likely be revised upwards in a few years,” she said. For this, an area of ​​30 hectares has already been selected, independent of the planning area of ​​50 hectares.

The 30 hectares consist of twelve hectares on the site of a former barracks in the immediate vicinity of Biontech, the university hospital and the non-profit research institute Tron. According to plans presented on Monday by the state government and Biontech boss Ugur Sahin, this will be expanded to around 200 million euros by 2025. The city wants new technologies to be developed and prepared for market on the twelve-hectare site. There are also 18 hectares of commercial area near the university. This can likely be developed by August, and construction can begin six months later, Ebling said.

(ID: 48285678)

–