Approximately 350 representatives from the Bavarian, German, and international biotechnology sectors followed the invitation of BioM, the Bavarian biotech cluster organization, to attend the second edition of the “BayOConnect – Forum for Biotech & LifeScience” conference in Munich. On July 1 and 2, leading industry players, SMEs, start-ups, researchers — including members of the Bayresq.net scientific community — as well as representatives from pharmaceuticals, politics, and investment gathered to exchange ideas. Discussions focused on the evolving conditions for innovation in a rapidly changing environment. Start-ups showcased pioneering concepts in gene therapy, RNA targeting, and non-invasive cancer diagnostics. The conference concluded with the ceremonial presentation of the m4 Award, endowed with 2.5 million euros, honoring five Bavarian teams for outstanding achievements in biomedical research.
In particular, Prof. Dr. Michael Hölscher (PI DynamicKit, bayresq.net) took part in a session on “Dealing with Infectious Diseases – Strategies to Prevent Future Outbreaks”, bringing together leading scientists and industry experts to discuss innovative approaches to pandemic prevention. The discussion was about risks of new pathogens and pandemic events in the future, what to learn from Covid 19 and how to tackle possible outbreaks. Prof. Hölscher stated, that we need new forms of vigilant data assessment, to be better prepared for future risks. He also emphasized the lesson, that we have lacked communication skills in the scientific community to the public, during the pandemic.
Earlier that day, Prof. Dr. Fabian Theis (PI DynamicKit, bayresq.net) gave a remarkable introduction into his current work, concerning a broad range of machine learning (ML) approaches in computational biology, with a particular emphasis on single-cell analysis. Accordingly, he also participated as expert in the subsequent science panel “Smart Science: A(I)ccelerating Life Sciences”.
You may find an extensive recap at the official event website: https://www.bayoconnect.org/bayoconnect-2025.html
