Major donation of €19,300 for the "Gläsernes Labor Dresden

The "Gläserne Labor" (Transparent Laboratory) in Dresden is delighted to have received new equipment worth €16,800 as well as an additional cash donation of €2,500 for the purchase of further laboratory materials. The support for the extracurricular education programme comes from the Dresden-based molecular diagnostics company BIOTYPE and the Nordostchemie associations as part of the "Pro Chemieunterricht" campaign.

"The hands-on education offered by SBG and the Gläsernes Labor is an extremely valuable addition for schools in eastern Germany. Not only does it help to improve the quality of science education in schools, but it also inspires students at an early age to pursue STEM careers. Ultimately, companies in the region will also benefit from this practical and career-relevant knowledge transfer, as this is where the young professionals of the future are being nurtured. We are delighted to be able to provide this support," says Dr Norman Gerstner, Managing Director of BIOTYPE GmbH. BIOTYPE's extensive donation of materials, ranging from pipettes to screw tubes to balloon bottles, provides the basic equipment for a functioning laboratory. The money donated by the Nordostchemie associations will be used for further special equipment.

Nora Schmidt-Kesseler, Managing Director of the Nordostchemie Associations: "We are delighted to be able to support the work of the Gläsernes Labor with this joint donation. Extracurricular educational programmes are an important building block to inspire young people for science in the long term".

René Günthel, Managing Director of SBG Dresden / Gläsernes Labor: "In the Transparent Laboratory, students have opportunities that are not customarily available in schools. The donations from Biotype and the Nordostchemie associations secure this offer and help to arouse interest in STEM professions. We are very grateful for this donation".

Background "Pro Chemieunterricht

When member companies of the Nordostchemie associations provide financial support to a school as part of the "Pro Chemieunterricht" campaign, the associations match this amount up to a maximum of 2,500 euros. In addition to BIOTYPE's generous donation of materials, the Nordostchemie associations added 2,500 euros.

In June 2004, the Nordostchemie associations launched the "Pro Chemieunterricht" campaign.  Since the start of the fundraising campaign in 2004, a total of about 70 chemical companies in the new German states have participated. More than 150 educational institutions have been supported with a total of over €700,000.

About BIOTYPE

BIOTYPE, founded in 1999, is a German company for in-vitro diagnostics and molecular test systems based in Dresden. The company develops, manufactures and distributes solutions for precision molecular diagnostics and nucleic acid analysis. Its high-quality products and services are used in clinical laboratories, IVD, pharmaceutical and biotech companies and research institutions worldwide.

BIOTYPE is part of the Molecular Diagnostics Group (MDG), which specialises in the development of innovative workflow solutions for precision medicine. By combining excellence in molecular biology, technology development and data analysis, BIOTYPE contributes to improving the quality of life of patients worldwide.

About the Nordostchemie associations

The chemical and pharmaceutical sector in eastern Germany employs around 55,000 people. The Nordostchemie-Verbändegemeinschaft represents the economic and socio-political interests of its more than 350 member companies. In addition to the Verband der Chemischen Industrie e.V. (German Chemical Industry Association), the Landesverband Nordost (East German Regional Association) and its trade associations, the Nordostchemie-Verbände include the Arbeitgeberverband Nordostchemie e.V. (Employers' Association Nordostchemie) and the Allgemeiner Arbeitgeberverband Nordostchemie e.V. (General Employers' Association Nordostchemie).

About the Gläsernes Labor

The Gläsernes Labor in Dresden was founded in 1998 and offers educational programmes in the fields of molecular and cell biology, chemistry and food chemistry. It is an initiative of the Sächsische Bildungsgesellschaft für Umweltschutz und Chemische Berufe mbH (SBG) and has become an important contact point for education and science in Dresden.