Ranking: The most promising locations for clinical research 2007 - 2020 - First release for Germany, Europe and worldwide

[idw]

Hamburg, Germany, May 15, 2007. Last year four German regions were among the world's top ten locations of clinical research and development: Berlin, Hamburg, the Ruhr, and Dresden/Leipzig. However, studies released for the first time of one of the biggest research organizations (Asklepios proresearch) lead to the conclusion that in 2020 only two European and no German metropolises will be among them. Cornelia Wolf, Director of Asklepios proresearch: "In 2020, medical progress will stem from Russia, India or China." London will drop from 4th to 10th place, Moscow will move up from 9th to 5th place, according to Cornelia Wolf.





The basis of the ranking released for the first time are demographic scenarios, planned schemes in the health care system, regional potentials, overall economic mega trends of the individual economies, as well as the prioritization of these factors. Even today, clinical research is mainly performed in metropolitan regions. This trend will strengthen with increasing development and industrialization of more and more urbanized agglomerates outside today's Western world.


Saying goodbye to one of the biggest growth industries of the 21st century


The fact that Germany, according to the studies presented here, will no longer be among the ten most relevant regions in the world in 2020 does not necessarily mean that medical care will become worse. "However," warns Cornelia Wolf, "the current development within the hospital sector results in Germany saying goodbye to one of the biggest growth industries of the 21st century."


The fundamental logical error is to consider national health care only to be a cost factor and not an economic factor, continues Wolf. Yet, especially hospital care could be one of Germany's structural competitive advantages. Cornelia Wolf explains why: "The health care industry functions according to the same principles as mechanical engineering, where Germany is the world leader in export, or other industries. Only those who possess a high degree of expertise in their own economy can generate respective products or services and export them at a profit."


Germany could market its knowledge and services above all in emerging economies like India or China. Accompanied by increasing wealth, the need for health will cause the demand for specialized knowledge in national health care to explode. "But if hospitals have to reduce costs more and more, it means we will also be rationalizing our way out of our biggest capital: the comprehensive knowledge of clinical care of a multimillion population."


National development: Conglomerates will take up clinical research in Europe


Over the next two decades, the fundamental market significance of the Federal Republic will result in big European clinic conglomerates taking up clinical research coordinated from Germany. The aim is to differentiate oneself through quality. One problem will be to carry out research with regular staff in view of the condensation of services in clinical care. That is why the research units of these conglomerates will employ their own staffs who relieves the workload of colleagues in regular care. That is also why hospitals with active research will be able to offer better medical care than hospitals without research. These conglomerates must not necessarily be private clinic chains, although they should be among the top players following the acquisition of university clinics. However, a cooperation of several clinics would also be conceivable - for example of non-profit institutions which join forces across European borders.


Hamburg's Opportunities


The life science cluster of Biotech companies, pharmaceutical companies and the maximum care providers among the clinics is in a slightly better position compared to Berlin. However, the capital has the Charité, which is a clearly superior university clinic. Hamburg's only chance is to strengthen the life science cluster, which also includes the well-being of Hamburg's maximum care hospitals. If the Hanseatic city succeeds in sustainably strengthening this cluster, then Hamburg could not only retain its level but could even reach Germany's top. Following the example of German mechanical engineering, Hamburg could also manage to win over the top ten locations worldwide as customers and not to fear them as competitors.


Rankings


The most important conurbations worldwide in 2006:
1. New York
2. Los Angeles
3. Paris
4. London
5. Berlin
6. Hamburg
7. Dresden-Leipzig
8. the Ruhr
9. Moscow
10. Milan


The ten most promising conurbations worldwide in 2020:
1. Bombay
2. Delhi
3. Mexico City
4. Shanghai
5. Moscow
6. Seoul
7. Sao Paulo
8. New York
9. Los Angeles
10. London / Tel Aviv-Jaffa


The most important conurbations in Germany in 2006:
1. Berlin
2. Hamburg
3. Dresden-Leipzig
4. the Ruhr
5. Heidelberg-Mannheim-Ludwigshafen
6. Frankfurt/Main


The most promising conurbations in Germany in 2020:
1. Hamburg/Berlin
2. Berlin/Hamburg
3. the Ruhr
4. Dresden-Leipzig
5. Heidelberg-Mannheim-Ludwigshafen
6. Frankfurt/Main


The most important conurbations in Europe in 2006:
1. Paris
2. London
3. Berlin
4. Hamburg
5. Dresden/Leipzig
6. the Ruhr
7. Moscow
8. Milan
9. Barcelona
10. Madrid


The most promising conurbations in Europe in 2020:
1. Moscow
2. London
3. Paris
4. Kattowitz
5. St. Petersburg
6. Warsaw
7. Hamburg/Berlin
8. Berlin/Hamburg
9. the Ruhr
10. Milan


Clinical Research / Asklepios proresearch:
Clinical research in Germany is still associated more with universities than with big clinics which ensure a maximum of medical care. Even though in practice, clinical studies are often especially performed by these. This also makes sense because naturally more patients with corresponding medical indications are treated in these clinics. In contrast to the academically oriented basic research (where many years after an innovation only about five of 10,000 approaches are implemented in patients' everyday life), clinical research, being one of the last stages before the release for general use, offers numerous stories and news from real life in medicine and hospitals.


Asklepios:
Asklepios is one of the leading international clinic chains. The group is responsible for more than 90 facilities, more than 30 day hospitals, 20,000 beds and 34,000 employees in Germany, Europe, the US and in the future also in China. Every year about one million patients entrust their health to Asklepios. With these characteristic numbers and a turnover of about 2.3 billion euros of the overall group, Asklepios is the biggest private clinic chain in the Federal Republic of Germany and in Europe. In the Hanseatic city, the most important clinic market in Germany, the Asklepios Clinics, part of LBK Hamburg, are the biggest private employers with about 11,000 employees. Asklepios Clinics in and around Hamburg are located in the following areas: Altona, Barmbek, Harburg, Klinikum Nord (Ochsenzoll / Heidberg area), St. Georg, Wandsbek, Westklinikum Rissen, Bad Oldesloe, and Bad Schwartau.


Weitere Informationen:
- http://www.asklepios.com

Quelle: idw