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July 24, 2002--The new Fraunhofer Center for Molecular Biotechnology was dedicated Wednesday, July 24, in the Delaware Technology Park adjacent to the University of Delaware campus in Newark.
This is the first biotechnology research center in the United States for Fraunhofer USA, a German-based research organization that announced one year ago it had selected the site primarily because of cooperation offered by the state government and UD.
The parent organization of Fraunhofer USA, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, is Germany's leading organization of institutes of applied research.
The new Fraunhofer Center for Molecular Biotechnology will focus most of its efforts on the study of molecular farming, or the use of plants to grow pharmaceuticals as a way to make vaccines and drugs at a lower cost and in greater quantity.
Dirk Meints Polter, a member of the executive committee of Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft and president of Fraunhofer USA, said the firm selected Delaware largely because “the state of Delaware, your governor, the community, the University of Delaware and the technology sector have always made us feel welcome."
UD President David P. Roselle welcomed the new center, saying, "The University of Delaware is honored that an organization of Fraunhofer's stature would select the Delaware Technology Park as the site for its new biotechnology center, and we look forward to a long and productive relationship.”
Roselle added, "We believe Fraunhofer will be an ideal partner for the University and for the state of Delaware as we continue to work together to promote scientific research, quality education and enhanced job opportunities."
"Fraunhofer's decision to locate its U.S. biotechnology center in Delaware demonstrates our continuing ability to attract the best and the brightest," Delaware Gov. Ruth Ann Minner said. "We are pleased that Delaware will be home to the new Center for Molecular Biology and host to some of the world's most advanced research in the fields of medicine, pharmaceuticals and life sciences."
The biotechnology center, which will create 20 new jobs, joins the Fraunhofer Center for Manufacturing and Advanced Materials, already in place on Wyoming Road.
The new building is adjacent to the Delaware Biotechnology Institute on Innovation Way.
"The attributes that Fraunhofer brings to the Delaware Technology Park fit all of our desired criteria–applied research in advanced materials and biotechnology, job creation with spin-out potential and strong affinity to universities," Mike Bowman, president of the Delaware Technology Park, said.
John D. Wik, Delaware Economic Development Office director, added, "The Fraunhofer Center for Molecular Biotechnology’s presence in Delaware will strengthen our state's position as a leader in biotechnology. The ground-breaking research taking place at Fraunhofer creates a host of opportunities and partnership possibilities for our universities, agriculture community and the significant number of Delaware businesses involved in the life sciences."
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