More than just a groundbreaking ceremony: Construction begins for the Berlin Center for Gene and Cell Therapies
A groundbreaking ceremony kicked off the construction work for the Berlin Center for Gene and Cell Therapies (BC GCT) – a project with the potential to make Berlin a hotspot for the development of innovative therapies. Bayer AG and Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin first presented their plans for the joint project in June last year. Today, construction officially began in Berlin-Mitte alongside their new partner, the Berlin Institute of Health at Charité (BIH), in the presence of Federal Minister of Finance Lars Klingbeil and Kai Wegner, Governing Mayor of Berlin.
By focusing on the “translation” of medicine, the Berlin Center for Gene and Cell Therapies aims to accelerate the rate at which groundbreaking technologies are translated from basic research into treatment options more quickly. Gene and cell therapies bring hope to people when conventional therapies have failed or when no effective treatment options exist.
This initiative aims to create a biotech ecosystem which supports start-ups to bring their novel therapeutic approaches into clinical development. The center is significantly funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research as well as the State of Berlin.
Since the project’s launch in June 2024, Charité and Bayer have welcomed the Berlin Institute of Health (BIH) as an additional partner. Today, together with project developer iQ spaces, the three partners participated in a groundbreaking ceremony for a new building that will serve as the centerpiece of the project.
At Berlin’s Nordhafen, a state-of-the-art building with approximately 20,000 m² is being constructed to house the BC GCT. Among the tenants will be Bayer Co.Lab, Bayer's start-up incubator that has been supporting biopharma startups since 2024 with fully equipped labs, offices, expertise, and networks. With its relocation and expansion in 2028, Bayer Co.Lab will contribute its experience to the new project and the community that is taking shape around it.
The BC GCT will feature an incubator with fully equipped laboratory and office space, providing room for 15 to 20 start-ups at various stages of development. An additional aspect is a facility certified by Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) production facility for the development of gene and cell therapies up to clinical phase II.
The architectural firm HENN has been commissioned with the general planning. The incubator will be operated by Gene and Cell Therapies Incubator Berlin GmbH, which Charité and Bayer founded specifically for this purpose. BIH has commissioned the Berlin-based CDMO ProBioGen AG to operate the GMP facility. The Berlin Center for Gene and Cell Therapies is scheduled to open in 2028.
Further information, contact details and image material can be found in the press release below.
