The biopharmaceutical innovation system in Germany

Biotechnology has become the driving force of dramatic changes of the innovation process in the pharmaceutical industry. The traditional chemical paradigm of drug discovery and development is replaced by a new biotechnological paradigm. This has important consequences for the structure and functioning of the biopharmaceutical innovation system: Biotechnology firms and public sector research organisations are becoming key actors generating the new knowledge, tools and substances for the pharmaceutical industry, which needs to build up additional skills required for adopting and mastering the new technology. Regulations, standards, IPR-schemes have to deal with new types of components, and on the demand side new solutions for so far unmet medical needs are emerging. This book presents a systematic analysis of the structure, dynamics and performance of the German biopharmaceutical innovation system and identifies innovation barriers and drivers. It concludes with recommendations for innovation policy. The book is based on an international study initiated by the OECD, which elaborated a systematic comparison of biopharmaceutical innovation systems in eight OECD countries.