A groundbreaking ceremony in Berlin marked the official start of construction for the Berlin Center for Gene and Cell Therapies (BC GCT), a transformative public-private partnership that aims to accelerate the development of advanced therapeutic medicinal products from laboratory research to clinical application. The September 16, 2025 ceremony brought together key stakeholders including Federal Minister of Finance Lars Klingbeil and Berlin's Governing Mayor Kai Wegner.
The ambitious project represents a collaboration between Bayer AG, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, and the Berlin Institute of Health at Charité (BIH), with significant backing from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, which has committed €76.5 million over the next 10 years.
Addressing Critical Translation Gaps in Gene and Cell Therapy
Gene and cell therapies, classified as Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs), represent some of the most promising innovations in modern healthcare. These "living drugs" have the potential to fundamentally transform treatment approaches for cancer, autoimmune diseases, neurodegenerative conditions, and rare genetic disorders. However, despite hundreds of ongoing clinical trials worldwide, only a limited number of these therapies have received European approval.
"Gene and cell therapies bring hope to people when conventional therapies have failed or when no effective treatment options exist," according to the project announcement. The BC GCT specifically targets this translation challenge by creating an integrated ecosystem that bridges the gap between groundbreaking research and patient care.
Comprehensive Infrastructure for Innovation
The new facility, designed by architectural firm HENN, will occupy approximately 20,000 square meters at Berlin's Nordhafen. The ten-story building will house multiple components designed to support the entire development pipeline for gene and cell therapies.
The center will feature an incubator capable of supporting 15 to 20 startups at various developmental stages, providing fully equipped laboratory and office spaces. A critical component will be the GMP-certified production facility, operated by Berlin-based CDMO ProBioGen AG, which will enable the development and manufacturing of gene and cell therapeutics up to clinical phase II.
Bayer Co.Lab, the company's startup incubator that has been supporting biopharma startups since 2024, will relocate and expand to the new facility in 2028, bringing its expertise in supporting early-stage biotechnology companies.
Strategic Vision for European Biotechnology Leadership
The project aligns with Germany's National Strategy for Gene and Cell Therapies and represents a significant investment in the country's biotechnology infrastructure. Berlin's Governing Mayor Kai Wegner emphasized the city's ambition to create a "Boston on the Spree," establishing Berlin as a premier European biotechnology hub.
"The Translational Centre for Gene and Cell Therapies is the first central building block of a life science campus in the heart of Berlin, where science and research, start-ups and established companies are working on the future of medicine," Wegner stated during the groundbreaking ceremony.
Stefan Oelrich, member of Bayer AG's Board of Management and Head of the Pharmaceuticals Division, highlighted the project's broader significance: "The groundbreaking ceremony of the new building for the Berlin Center for Gene and Cell Therapies and the Berlin Co.Lab is a signal that Germany wants to play a leading role in the key technologies of the 21st century as an innovation and industrial location."
Clinical Impact and Patient Benefits
The center's integrated approach aims to significantly reduce the time required to translate research discoveries into patient treatments. Prof. Heyo K. Kroemer, Chairman of Charité's Executive Board, emphasized the clinical benefits: "By bringing together both research and production of these highly innovative drugs under one roof, the Berlin Center for Gene and Cell Therapies shortens the path from the experimental stage to application."
The facility's GMP certification will ensure compliance with international quality standards for pharmaceutical manufacturing, enabling the production of therapies that can advance through clinical trials more efficiently.
Economic and Scientific Ecosystem Development
The project represents more than just infrastructure development; it aims to create a comprehensive biotechnology ecosystem that supports innovation at multiple levels. Federal Minister of Finance Lars Klingbeil noted the economic implications: "The Berlin Center for Gene and Cell Therapies supports startups in bringing innovative treatments directly to patients – while also creating high-quality jobs with strong prospects for the future in Germany."
The center will be operated by Gene and Cell Therapies Incubator Berlin GmbH, a company founded specifically for this purpose by Charité and Bayer. This operational structure ensures dedicated focus on the unique requirements of gene and cell therapy development.
Timeline and Future Outlook
Construction is expected to continue through 2028, when the Berlin Center for Gene and Cell Therapies will officially open its doors. The facility's proximity to the existing Bayer campus in Berlin will facilitate collaboration and knowledge transfer between established pharmaceutical operations and emerging biotechnology companies.
Prof. Christopher Baum, Chairman of the BIH Executive Board and Director of Translational Research at Charité, highlighted the project's role in implementing national strategy: "With the groundbreaking ceremony of BC GCT, the National Strategy for Gene and Cell-Based Therapies is becoming a reality."
The Berlin Center for Gene and Cell Therapies represents a significant step forward in European biotechnology infrastructure, combining public and private resources to address one of the most challenging aspects of advanced therapy development: the translation from promising research to effective patient treatments.
