Fund investors
In addition to the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) and KfW Capital, the investors in our fourth fund (HTGF IV) include 45 companies from a wide range of industries. Medium-sized companies in particular are strongly represented, along with many large corporations and family offices. Here we introduce our strong partners.
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Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action
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KfW Capital
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Vantage Value
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WACKER
Wacker Chemie AG is a global company with state-of-the-art specialty chemical products found in countless everyday items, ranging from cosmetic powders to solar cells. WACKER’s portfolio comprises more than 3,200 products supplied in over 100 countries. WACKER has a global network of 26 production sites, 23 technical competence centers and 52 sales offices. In 2021, the Group’s 14,400 employees generated global sales of €6.21 billion. Wacker Chemie AG is listed on the Deutsche Boerse Prime Standard and on the MDAX (GSIN: WCH888, ISIN: DE000WCH8881).
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Orca Venture
Orca Venture GmbH, based in Hettenshausen near Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm, is a venture capital company that invests in unlisted companies with business models that are usually still in their infancy, but which promise above-average growth potential. Investments are made both directly and through venture capital funds. Orca Venture GmbH invests primarily in technology-oriented and innovative companies that are in either the start-up or growth phase (seed stage, early stage; expansion stage). The investments are made exclusively on the company’s own account.
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Bert Wilden New Trends GmbH
Bert Wilden New Trends GmbH is a family-owned company in its third generation of ownership with registered seat of business in Regensburg and belongs to a holding of Ffilipa GmbH & Co. KG.
As family office, the company exclusively manages family-owned assets.
Bert Wilden New Trends GmbH is managed by the founder and general manager Bert Wilden and his two sons Patrick and Philipp Wilden. In addition, the company is supported by experienced experts in the various business divisions.
The family-owned company is mainly active in the fields of business private equity, real estate, venture capital as well as financial investments. -
Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft
The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft based in Germany is the world’s leading applied research organization. Prioritizing key future-relevant technologies and commercializing its findings in business and industry, it plays a major role in the innovation process. A trailblazer and trendsetter in innovative developments and research excellence, it is helping shape our society and our future. Founded in 1949, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft currently operates 76 institutes and research units throughout Germany. Over 30,000 employees, predominantly scientists and engineers, work with an annual research budget of €2.9 billion. Fraunhofer generates €2.5 billion of this from contract research. Fraunhofer Venture represents the central spin-off and stake management unit of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. Through an extensive support program, it provides founders, start-ups, industry and investors with access to the cutting-edge technologies of the Fraunhofer Institutes, the Fraunhofer infrastructure and Fraunhofer expertise with over 7,600 patent families through a comprehensive support program.
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Leaps by Bayer
Leaps by Bayer, Bayer AG’s impact investment unit, is spearheading a movement to make paradigm-shifting advances in the life sciences – targeting breakthroughs that could fundamentally change the world for the better.
Across healthcare and agriculture, Leaps is aiming to conquer ten huge challenges, ’10 Leaps’, facing humanity, such as reducing the environmental impact of agriculture or curing cancer. These ’10 Leaps’ build the framework for Leaps impact investment strategy. Leaps has to date invested more than 1.5B USD in more than 50 companies. -
QIAGEN
QIAGEN N.V., a Netherlands-based holding company, is the leading global provider of Sample to Insight solutions that enable customers to gain valuable molecular insights from samples containing the building blocks of life. Our sample technologies isolate and process DNA, RNA and proteins from blood, tissue and other materials. Assay technologies make these biomolecules visible and ready for analysis. Bioinformatics software and knowledge bases interpret data to report relevant, actionable insights. Automation solutions tie these together in seamless and cost-effective workflows. QIAGEN provides solutions to more than 500,000 customers around the world in Molecular Diagnostics (human healthcare), Applied Testing (primarily forensics), Pharma (pharma and biotech companies) and Academia (life sciences research). As of March 31, 2022, QIAGEN employed more than 6,000 people in over 35 locations worldwide.
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PwC (Germany)
PricewaterhouseCoopers GmbH Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft
Our clients face diverse challenges, strive to put new ideas into practice and seek expert advice. They turn to us for comprehensive support and practical solutions that deliver maximum value. That’s why we use our full potential for each client: experience, industry knowledge, expertise, quality standards, innovative strength and our international network of experts.
Building a trusting and cooperative relationship with our clients is particularly important to us – the better we know and understand our clients’ needs, the more effectively we can support them.
PwC Germany. More than 12,000 dedicated people at 21 locations. €2.4 billion in turnover.
The leading auditing and consulting firm in Germany. -
BÜFA
The BÜFA Group is an independent, medium-sized company in the chemical industry. The family company based in Oldenburg has its roots in a trading company for colored woods, oils and chemicals founded in 1883. Today, BÜFA offers a multitude of products and services internationally in the three business areas Chemicals, Cleaning and Composites. Our customers include companies in the food processing, textile, industrial and vehicle cleaning, wind energy, rail and commercial vehicle industries as well as boat and ship building.
Anchored in the company principles, BÜFA is strictly based on the principle of sustainability. BÜFA relies on “New Chemistry” and combines economic efficiency with social responsibility. -
Robert Bosch GmbH
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media + more venture
How can media companies position themselves for the future and which trends and technologies can media houses use for this purpose? media + more venture has been answering these and other questions since 2012, investing primarily in the areas of content, marketing, digitization and data-driven technologies. As a strategic partner, media + more venture brings financial resources and media expertise to the partnerships with start-ups, as well as a broad network inside and outside the German media landscape.
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adesso
adesso focuses its consulting and software development activities on the core business processes of companies and public authorities. adesso’s strategy is based on three pillars: the comprehensive industry-specific know-how, extensive expertise in technology that is independent of manufacturers and the application of reliable methods in software implementation projects. adesso delivers the right IT solutions to increase the ability of companies and organisations to compete in the core sectors of insurance/reinsurance, banking and financial services, healthcare and life sciences, energy supply, public administration, automotive and manufacturing industry, trade, transport, media, entertainment and lottery.
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Eppendorf SE
Eppendorf is a leading life science company that develops, manufactures and sells systems for use in laboratories around the world. Organized as the business areas Liquid Handling, Consumables, Separation & Instrumentation, Bioprocess and Digital Lab Solutions, the portfolio comprises high-quality products and services for laboratory work. Eppendorf has been active since 1945, is headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, and employs more than 5,000 employees in 33 countries worldwide. They all act in accordance with the purpose formulated by the company’s founders: to improve human living conditions.
Looking into the future, Eppendorf established the Eppendorf Innovation Company – EpIC – as a division of the Eppendorf SE in 2021, to strengthen our focus on innovation.
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Haniel
Franz Haniel & Cie. GmbH manages a portfolio of independent companies with the goal to create value for generations as Europe’s leading purpose-driven investor. To this, Haniel aligns its portfolio strictly “enkelfähig,” i.e.: along clear sustainability and performance criteria. The companies are managed based on a common business model – the Haniel Operating Way (HOW) – and share a performance-oriented culture. Currently, the Haniel portfolio comprises eight investments: BauWatch, BekaertDeslee, CWS, Emma – The Sleep Company, das kinderzimmer, Optimar, ROVEMA and TAKKT. In addition, Haniel manages a financial stake in CECONOMY and direct investments in young, high-growth companies.
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igus
igus GmbH develops and produces motion plastics. These lubrication-free, high-performance polymers improve technology and reduce costs wherever things move. In energy supplies, highly flexible cables, plain and linear bearings as well as lead screw technology made of tribo-polymers, igus is the worldwide market leader. Research in the industry’s largest test laboratories constantly yields innovations and more security for users.. In recent years, the company has expanded by creating internal startups, e.g. for ball bearings, robot drives, 3D printing, the RBTX platform for Lean Robotics and intelligent “smart plastics” for Industry 4.0.
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SAP
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Maschinenringe
Sharing knowledge empowers people to help themselves to improve their lives. We machinery rings have been Germany’s first address for agricultural self-help since 1958. Our main focus of work, the mechanization of agriculture, is now internationally scalable. More than 190.000 members are united in the Federal Association of Machinery Rings.
We machinery rings see ourselves as an engine of progress. We are helpers, service providers, advisors and often also rescuers in difficult times. Our members benefit from the power of our community in 240 regional machinery rings in twelve German states. We support them with social farm- or household-help, in the digitalization of agriculture, through an extensive service-business, attractive purchasing-advantages and through forward-looking knowledge transfer.
We do all this with the aim of making it as easy as possible for our members to produce top-quality food and to keep agriculture efficient, sustainable and independent.
Sharing knowledge empowers people to help themselves to improve their lives. We machinery rings have been Germany’s first address for agricultural self-help since 1958. Our main focus of work, the mechanization of agriculture, is now internationally scalable. More than 190.000 members are united in the Federal Association of Machinery Rings.
We machinery rings see ourselves as an engine of progress. We are helpers, service providers, advisors and often also rescuers in difficult times. Our members benefit from the power of our community in 240 regional machinery rings in twelve German states. We support them with social farm- or household-help, in the digitalization of agriculture, through an extensive service-business, attractive purchasing-advantages and through forward-looking knowledge transfer.
We do all this with the aim of making it as easy as possible for our members to produce top-quality food and to keep agriculture efficient, sustainable and independent.
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IDS Imaging Development Systems GmbH
IDS Imaging Development Systems GmbH is a leading industrial camera manufacturer and pioneer in industrial image processing. The climate-neutral family business with around 350 employees develops high-performance USB, GigE and 3D cameras as well as models with artificial intelligence (AI). The range of applications in equipment, plant and mechanical engineering is almost unlimited. With the online marketplace visionpier, IDS brings together suppliers of ready-made image processing solutions and interested end customers. The headquarters in Obersulm, Germany, is both a development and production site. With subsidiaries and offices in the USA, Japan, South Korea, UK, France and the Netherlands, the company also is globally represented.
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KARL MAYER GROUP
The KARL MAYER GROUP is a machine builder that in addition to extensive expertise in machine and plant engineering, also offers its own digital solutions.
We are the innovative market leader and trendsetter in textile machinery and their applications for knitting processes, weaving preparation systems and technical textiles.
Founded in 1937, we remian family owned and have over 3,100 employees. In addition to the headquarters in Obertshausen near Frankfurt am Main. we produce, develop and serve our customers from our operations in nine other countries – exactly where our main customer are. -
R-Biopharm
R-Biopharm AG is one of Germany’s leading biotechnology companies.
The family business, managed by the second generation, sees itself as a pioneer for health and quality of life. With excellent solutions from its three business units food and feed analysis, nutrition care and clinical diagnostics, it aims to provide precision, safety and certainty – in prevention, therapy and healing. R-Biopharm is an internationally recognized to suppier and the world market leader in test systems for allergen analysis and combines development, production and sales under one roof. R-Biopharm is multiple winner of the “Sustainability Award“ for sustainable and profitable growth. -
Schunk Group
The Schunk Group is a global technology company. The company is a leading supplier of products made of high-tech materials – such as carbon, technical ceramics and sintered metal – as well as machines and systems – from environmental simulation and air conditioning to ultrasonic welding and optical machines. The Schunk Group has around 9,000 employees in 27 countries and achieved sales of around €1.4 billion in 2022.
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Wilh. Werhahn KG
Founded more than 180 years ago as a diversified family business, Werhahn has developed into a corporate group with a diverse array of activities, both in Germany and abroad. A close relationship with our markets and customers, reliability and social responsibility are the values that the mid-sized family-run business has always practiced and maintained. Werhahn continues to be one-hundred percent family-owned and resides in Neuss. From here, the Wilh. Werhahn KG directs the group’s ventures.
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Volksbank Mittweida
Volksbank Mittweida is considered as one of the leading cooperative banks in Germany. The regional bank stands for innovation and further development. The bank is growing in terms of customers, earnings and employees. With almost 200 employees the bank serves approximately 39,000 private and corporate customers with all classic banking services. In 2022 Volksbank Mittweida was awarded the TOP100 seal for the fourth time as one of the 100 most innovative companies in the German SME sector.
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Deutsche Bank
Deutsche Bank provides retail and private banking, corporate and transaction banking, lending, asset and wealth management products and services as well as focused investment banking to private individuals, small and medium-sized companies, corporations, governments and institutional investors. Deutsche Bank is the leading bank in Germany with strong European roots and a global network.
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Hübner Group
As a global system supplier for the mobility industry, for manufacturing and for life sciences and research applications, the HÜBNER Group is the worldwide leader in gangway systems for buses and railway vehicles (Mobility), a well-recognized specialist for sophisticated elastomer solutions and products, insulation and composite materials (Material Solutions), as well as a supplier for applications in the field of laser, terahertz and high frequency technologies (Photonics). The HÜBNER Group employs more than 3,500 persons worldwide. In addition to the headquarters in Kassel, Germany, HÜBNER has established more than 30 locations around the world.
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Feindrahtwerk Adolf Edelhoff GmbH & Co. KG
Feindrahtwerk Adolf Edelhoff GmbH & Co. KG is a technology leader and hidden champion for demanding surface-finished special wire solutions. Edelhoff serves high-tech industries such as automotive, aerospace, electronics, renewable energies and music.
ae aqua, Edelhoff’s inhouse start-up, serves the strongly growing demand for anti-microbial solutions to clean drinking water and industrial process fluids.
Founded in 1760, Edelhoff is one of the oldest companies in the Sauerland region.
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Volksbank eG – Die Gestalterbank
Volksbank eG – Die Gestalterbank is a cooperative bank based in Offenburg and Villingen-Schwenningen. We are the strong partner in the banking industry, as providing financial support for our more than 117,000 members is our top priority. With total assets of almost €11 billion, we are a financially strong bank with 33 branches in southwest Germany. At national level, we offer tailored financial transaction solutions to our customers.
With our roughly 960 employees, we are actively helping to shape the digital transformation and supporting strong ecosystems in which various players are creating value together. We support the principles of sustainable economics and are a strong advocate for our region. As a cooperative bank, our goal is to benefit everyone – we are SHAPING | THE FUTURE | TOGETHER. -
DÜRR DENTAL
DÜRR DENTAL was founded in 1941 by the Dürr brothers as a precision mechanical workshop in Stuttgart. Today, CEO Martin Dürrstein is the third generation to lead the internationally active family business. With its system solutions DÜRR DENTAL is a competent partner for dental practices and dental laboratories worldwide. Many standards in modern dental practices can be traced back to developments by the company. A total of 1,300 employees currently work for DÜRR DENTAL, of which 475 are based at the company headquarters in Bietigheim-Bissingen. In 2021, DÜRR DENTAL SE achieved a sales revenue of more than 325 million euros with customers in 146 countries.
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Dräger
From hospitals to fire departments to industrial customers, people around the world rely on our products: cutting-edge technology that combines real engineering with the digital future. With over 130 years of experience, passion and the bold ideas of more than 15,000 employees, we are committed to turning technology into ›technology for life‹.
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VOCO GmbH
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ALTANA AG
ALTANA is a global leader in true specialty chemicals. The Group offers innovative, environmentally compatible solutions for coating manufacturers, paint and plastics processors, the printing and packaging industries, the cosmetics sector, and the electrical and electronics industry. The product range includes additives, specialty coatings and adhesives, effect pigments, sealants and compounds, impregnating resins and varnishes, and testing and measuring instruments. ALTANA’s four divisions, BYK, ECKART, ELANTAS, and ACTEGA, all occupy a leading position in their target markets with respect to quality, product solution expertise, innovation, and service. About 7 percent of the total sales is invested in research and development each year.
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Evonik Venture Capital GmbH
With a fund size of €400 million, Evonik Venture Capital (EVC) has made more than 45 investments since 2012, both direct and fund investments. EVC has offices in Germany, the USA and China and invests in innovative technologies and disruptive business models in the fields of Nutrition & Care, Specialty Additives and Smart Materials, as well as enabling digital technologies. The EVC team of experienced investment managers provide portfolio companies comprehensive support. The investment scope ranges from early stage to growth stage with investment volume per portfolio company of up to €15 million.
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DHL Group
DHL Group is the world’s leading logistic company. The Group connects people and markets and is an enabler of global trade. It aspires to be the first choice for customers, employees and investors worldwide. To this end, DHL Group is focusing on growth in its profitable core logistics businesses and accelerating the digital transformation in all business divisions. The Group contributes to the world through sustainable business practices, corporate citizenship and environmental activities. By the year 2050, DHL Group aims to achieve zero emissions logistics. The Group is home to two strong brands: DHL offers a comprehensive range of parcel and international express service, freight transport, and supply chain management services, as well as e-commerce logistics solutions. Deutsche Post is Europe’s leading postal and parcel service provider. DHL Group employs approximately 590,000 people in over 220 countries and territories worldwide. In 2021, the Group generated revenues of more than 81 billion Euros.
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Brückner Group
The Brückner Group in Siegsdorf, Upper Bavaria, is a medium-sized group of companies, family-owned since its foundation in 1960. This has shaped the character of the company to this day and is particularly evident in its long-term strategic orientation.
The Brückner Group is represented on four continents with a good 2,900 employees and 24 locations. Under the umbrella of the management holding and lead company Brückner Group GmbH, the group members act as market and technology leaders in their respective markets and develop, project, design and build special machines and complete production lines for the plastics and packaging industry worldwide.
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Schneider Electric
Schneider’s purpose is to empower all to make the most of our energy and resources, bridging progress and sustainability for all. We call this Life Is On.
Our mission is to be your digital partner for Sustainability and Efficiency.
We drive digital transformation by integrating world-leading process and energy technologies, endpoint to cloud connecting products, controls, software and services, across the entire lifecycle, enabling integrated company management, for homes, buildings, data centers, infrastructure and industries.
We are the most local of global companies. We are advocates of open standards and partnership ecosystems that are passionate about our shared Meaningful Purpose, Inclusive and Empowered values.
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Hettich
Hettich was founded in 1888 and is today one of the world’s largest and most successful manufacturers of furniture fittings. Over 7,400 members of staff in almost 80 countries work together towards the objective: developing intelligent technology for furniture. Hettich thus inspires people all over the world and is a valuable partner for the furniture industry, trade and craft. The Hettich brand stands for consistent values: for quality and innovation. For reliability and customer proximity. Despite its size and international significance, Hettich has remained a family business. Being independent of investors means that the company has a free hand in shaping its future with a focus on the human element and sustainability.
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CEWE
We are Europe’s leading photo finishing provider, and we successfully offer commercial online printing services. We focus on innovation and enjoying photography, as well as on trustworthy professionalism across all areas. With our brand-name products, such as the CEWE PHOTOBOOK, wall art, calendars, traditional prints and various photo gifts, we offer a wide range of high-quality photo finishing products. We are represented in the retail industry in a number of countries, offering our customers multi-channel concepts in the form of brick-and-mortar stores and online shops.
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GBU Gesellschaft für Beteiligungen an mittelständischen Unternehmen mbH
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Jungheinrich
As one of the world’s leading providers of intralogistics solutions, Jungheinrich has been advancing the development of innovative and sustainable products and solutions for material flows for 70 years. As a pioneer in the sector, the Hamburg-based family business is committed to creating the warehouse of the future. In 2021, Jungheinrich and its workforce of over 19,000 employees generated revenue of €4.24 billion. The global network covers 13 production plants and 41 service and sales companies. The share is included in the MDAX.
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Schwarz Gruppe
With around 550,000 employees in 32 different countries, the Schwarz Group is one of the world’s leading retail companies. In the 2021 fiscal year, the group generated a total sales volume of EUR 133.6 billion. The company advocates for a functioning circular economy and operates along the entire supply change, from production and retail to disposal and recycling.
The two retail divisions Lidl and Kaufland represent the pillars of the food retail sector with more than 13,350 stores worldwide. Many of their own-brand products, such as ice cream, baked goods, chocolate, and beverages, are manufactured by Schwarz Produktion. In terms of waste and recycling management, the environmental service provider PreZero pursues a vision of closed-loop material cycles, thus investing in a clean future.
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Acondis GmbH
Acondis is a single-family office in which the activities and holdings of its shareholders are pooled.
The company’s objective is to manage its own assets and make investments in other companies. One pillar of the investment strategy, which is to be further strengthened, is investments in the venture capital sector.Due to existing roots in the pharmaceutical industry, the focus of the investment is on the life sciences sector. In principle, the diversification of the portfolio is in the foreground. In addition, the identification of synergies in the operational pharmaceutical area is also conceivable. The HTGF network is a promising starting point for Acondis to identify and accompany current developments in this area.
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Etengo
Etengo specialises in digital and IT freelancing. A highly specialised staffing service provider with around 200 employees, we organise digital and IT freelancers for projects at companies of all sizes and in all sectors across Germany. Due to our constantly updated network comprising the top DIG.IT specialists on the market, we are able to provide the required skills and competences for planned or ongoing IT projects at short notice. This is how we help our customers achieve their IT-based visions on time and on budget, and create Germany’s digital future.
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MEDICE
MEDICE, a dynamic SME, fully-integrated family business in the third-generation. Led by medical professionals, the company exemplifies a longstanding tradition and expertise in pharmaceutical and clinical development, quality-controlled production at its Iserlohn, Germany site, as well as international distribution of pharmaceuticals and medical devices. MEDICE focuses on CNS, nephrology, urology and dialysis medicine in the prescription drug market. Furthermore, MEDICE, with its numerous familiar brands, is well positioned in general medicine, in the pharmacy, and among end users. With almost 1000 employees and annual growth of around 10% over the past 20 years, MEDICE has become a successful owner-managed family company in the German pharmaceutical industry and sees itself as a typical representative of the SME sector so important for Germany.
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Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund