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In
July the ZAFES-board and director,
in conjunction with the executive
Vice President Aventis Pharma
Dr. Frank Douglas presented
the innovative ZAFES-concept
to the Mayor. Petra Roth assured
her full support of the Center-
in particular to the networking
to a pharmaceutical-think-cluster.
Highly
relevant for industrial pharmaceutical
research
The relevance of ZAFES
to pharmaceutical research lies
in the establishment of a pharmaceutical-think-cluster.
For example, the Boston area
in the US demonstrates that
location advantages can be gained
if first class universities
collaborate with one others,
as well as with industrial partners.
Numerous universities, institutes
and industrial companies can
be reached quickly from Frankfurt.
This benefits Frankfurt and
also explains Aventis’
engagement in ZAFES, declared
Dr. Frank Douglas. With the
help of ZAFES, the Frankfurt
University should be able to
better capitalize on its huge
intellectual resources provided
by its 40,000 students. It is
important that as many students
and Ph.D. students as possible
benefit from ZAFES. According
to Dr. Hartmut Schwesinger,
the director of the Frankfurt
Economic Development GmbH, ZAFES
will then be able to make a
significant contribution to
the realm of international competition.
Breathtaking
progress
The progress ZAFES
has made in one year is breathtaking,”
commented Prof. Josef Pfeilschifter,
noting the rapid development
of ZAFES. “We have to
take the next step now: The
establishment of a strong pharmaceutical
think-cluster in the Rhein-Main
area. To do so we will need
help from politics, perhaps
with the initiation of infrastructural
arrangements.”
Political
support is necessary
ZAFES is, according
to Roth, a German cluster of
excellence, which needs further
support. ZAFES should work together
with the city of Frankfurt,
in particular with the Frankfurt
Economic Development GmbH. The
Federation needs to recognize
this and promote the proper
centers. After all, the Human
Capital, which is available
at ZAFES is extremely competitive.
As Mayor of Frankfurt, Roth
will do everything in her power
to contribute to ZAFES, especially
in regards to a city-wide networking
of ZAFES competencies.
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