From 2011.igem.org

Gold sponsors

Evonik: Core specialty chemicals business Our strategy is aligned to profitable growth and sustained value creation. Our specialty chemicals activities address economic megatrends and give us access to attractive future markets. We see especially promising opportunities in resource efficiency, health and nutrition and the globalization. Our chemicals business already generated in 2010 around 80 percent of sales in areas in which it ranks among the market leaders, supported by unique technology platforms. Our strengths include a balanced spectrum of business activities and end-markets, close collaboration with customers, and market-oriented research and development.

Merck is a global pharmaceutical, chemical, and life science company with approximately 40,000 employees in 67 countries (as of December 31, 2010).

Within its Pharmaceuticals business sector, Merck discovers, develops, manufactures and markets innovative prescription medicines as well as over-the-counter pharmaceutical products. Merck also develops therapies for high unmet medical needs. Through their targeted effect, these help patients to live a longer and better life. Merck’s over-the-counter products can help prevent illness and relieve minor complaints.

The Chemicals business sector offers a very wide range of specialty chemicals for technologically sophisticated applications. The product portfolio ranges from products for the life science and biopharmaceutical sectors up to materials for products that people encounter in everyday life, such as mobile phones, televisions, automotive coatings, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. Top quality and diversity characterize our Chemicals business, as does a customer-centric approach to research and product development along with extensive service.

Merck is the world’s oldest pharmaceutical and chemical company with roots dating back to 1668. From the start of industrial production in 1827 to first research on liquid crystals more than 100 years ago, up to our entry into targeted cancer therapy with the launch of Erbitux®, many milestones provide strong evidence of the pioneering spirit of the people at Merck. Whether with innovative drugs to treat multiple sclerosis, cold treatments, or new technologies for energy-efficient light sources - our pioneering spirit in research and our experience enable us to develop products that improve quality of life.

In 2010, the Merck Group generated total revenues of EUR 9.3 billion, with the Pharmaceuticals divisions accounting for EUR 6.2 billion and the Chemicals divisions for EUR 3.1 billion of the total. Research and development spending amounted to EUR 1.4 billion. The operating result totaled EUR 1.1 billion, and underlying free cash flow was EUR 1.7 billion. Return on sales (ROS) for the Merck Group was 12%.

Since going public in 1995, Merck’s operating activities have been under the umbrella of Merck KGaA. Today, around 30% of the company’s total capital is publicly traded, while the Merck family owns an interest of about 70% via the general partner E. Merck KG. Merck shares have been included in the DAX® 30, the blue chip index of Deutsche Börse, since 2007.

Bio-Circle Surface Technology is bio-chem – the brand that has been standing for the development, production and distribution of innovative chemical-technological products around surface technology for the better of 20 years. Founded by graduate engineers Ulrich and Manfred Berens, over the years Bio-Circle Surface Technology GmbH has developed into an in-ternationally operating enterprise with approx. 110 employees in Germany. Branch offices and production sites have been established in Europe and the world. The product segment encompasses Cleaning, Protecting, Lubricating, Welding, Ice-free and Cleaning Technology. We are working on future-oriented projects and tasks in the fields of “environmental protection”, “bio-technology” and “surface chemistry” with an in-house development depart-ment and in cooperation with several Universities. The point of departure for these scientific works and developments is the customers’ concerns and the issues of tomorrow’s market. So, over the past few years we have been focussing on the development of alternative cleaning agents, with VOC (volatile organic compounds = solvents) reduction being our medium- and long-term objective.

Bio-Circle Surface Technology GmbH offers its customers:

• Personal and competent consulting by the sales field force on site
• Helpline for chemical and technical questions
• Product training for users and distributors in the CB Academy
• High product quality and shortest delivery time
• Practical and competent applications engineering

Customer Service, Quality, Innovation and Competence are the keystones of Bio-Circle Surface Technology GmbH.

Bio-Circle Surface Technology GmbH is certified in line with DIN ISO 14.001 standard and the Eco Management and Audit Scheme of the Euro-pean Union (EU) by Lloyd‘s Register Quality Assurance.

Promega is a leader in providing innovative solutions and technical support to the life sciences industry. Promega Corporation's 2,000 products enable scientists worldwide to advance their research in the life sciences, particularly in genomics, proteomics, and cellular analysis. Their products are also used to support molecular diagnostics and human identification. Founded in 1978, Promega Corporation is headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin, USA, with branches in 15 countries and over 50 global distributors. Since 1997 Promega GmbH is present as the German branch in Mannheim and with 70 employees responsible for the sales of Promega’s product in Germany, Austria and Eastern Europe.

Promega’s products consist of kits and reagents as well as Integrated Solutions for life sciences research and drug discovery. Promega’s products are used primarily by customers to understand the molecular basis of life and potential mechanisms of disease, as well as to identify attractive targets for drug development. The principal customers in the life sciences research and drug discovery markets are laboratories generally associated with universities, medical research centers, government institutions, and other research institutions as well as biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. In addition, the tools are used in applied markets such as forensics paternity testing for human identification.

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