Panel Spotlights Austria's Global Life-Sciences Potential

Vienna, 17 June 2025. AOP Health and DerStandard joined forces to host the panel discussion at AOP Health’s Vienna headquarters on Austria’s emerging role in gobal Life Sciences: “Life Sciences from Austria: Internationalisation as a Location Opportunity.” Moderated by DerStandard Senior Editor Erich Frey, the panel explored Austria’s role as a growing force in global life sciences and its potential for deeper transatlantic engagement.

Panelists: Dr. Severin Gruber, Secretary General, Federal Ministry of Labour and Economy (BMWET), Sebastian Mörth, Board Member, American Chamber of Commerce in Austria (AmCham), Nicole Schlautmann, Vice President, PHARMIG – Austrian Pharmaceutical Industry Association & Managing Director, MSD Austria, Bernhard Nachbaur, CEO, AOP Health

Group photo, from left to right: Bernhard Nachbaur, LL.M., CEO AOP Health, Sebastian Mörth, Board member of the American Chamber of Commerce in Austria (AmCham), Director Public Policy DACH, Intuitive, Nicole Schlautmann, Vice President Pharmig Association, Managing Director, MSD Austria, Eric Frey, Senior Editor DerStandard, Baron Lobstein, Head of Political and Economic Affairs Division, US Embassy, Dr. Severin Gruber, Secretary General, Federal Ministry of Economics (BMWET)

Celebrating a FDA Approval Milestone
The event opened with a warm welcome by Baron Lobstein, Head of Political and Economic Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Austria, who congratulated AOP Health on its recent milestone—the U.S. FDA approval. He highlighted the significance of Austria’s contributions to the U.S. market and underlined the human impact of life sciences, both economically and personally. “We’re very excited to welcome you to the largest and most innovative healthcare market in the world,” said Lobstein.

Austria as Hub for Life Sciences Talent
Bernhard Nachbaur (CEO, AOP Health) highlighted Vienna’s talent pool and advocated for greater entrepreneurial spirit and further investment in industry-academia innovation. Nicole Schlautmann (Pharmig, MSD Austria) underscored that there is a sufficient supply of skilled people globally—but structural barriers can make them difficult to access. She stressed that Austria needs to maintain its edge in science, production, and market access for global scalability, while addressing the issue of delays in patient access to medication.

Photocredit: ©AOP Health/APA-Fotoservice/Martin Hörmandinger

Government Strategy and Support
Dr. Severin Gruber (Ministry of Economics) reaffirmed the Austrian government's commitment to life sciences, citing continued and increased research funding, as well as plans for a dedicated life sciences strategy. He also detailed efforts to improve talent attraction, including immigration reforms and digitalization of processes, via the Austrian Business Agency’s “Work in Austria” initiative.

US Market: Gateway to Global Scale and Innovation
Sebastian Mörth (AmCham) called the U.S. the "global reference market," and noted its major role as both a trading partner and an innovation ecosystem as especially relevant for R&D-intensive companies. Nachbaur underscored the transformative impact of entering the U.S. market, including the need for high investment and adaptive marketing strategies. The panel called for more support of early-stage funding for biotech startups, especially at the Series A stage. Both public and private voices called for a more risk-tolerant culture akin to that of the U.S., where failure in venture-backed initiatives is less stigmatized and mobility and flexibility are stronger.

Public Trust, and Science Communication
Panelists advocated for clearer fact-based dialogue and open-mindedness to bridge divides caused by science skepticism. Schlautmann and Nachbaur emphasized the role of companies and institutions in engaging with the public to encourage trust in scientific advancements.

Future Outlook
The event concluded asserting Austria’s ambition to scale life sciences innovation—as barriers are lowered and collaboration continues. Panelists agreed on the importance of reducing bureaucratic hurdles, fostering public trust in science, and investing in talent attraction and retention. The discussion closed with a shared vision: to position Austria not only as a hub of pharmaceutical innovation but as a model for international cooperation in life sciences.

Read the Austrian news article in DerStandard here.

About AOP Health
AOP Health is a global enterprise group with roots in Austria, where the headquarters of AOP Orphan Pharmaceuticals GmbH ("AOP Health") is located. Since 1996, the AOP Health Group has been dedicated to developing innovative solutions to address unmet medical needs, particularly in the fields of rare diseases and intensive care medicine. The group has established itself internationally as a pioneer in integrated therapy solutions and operates worldwide through subsidiaries, representations, and a strong network of partners. With the claim "Needs. Science. Trust." the AOP Health Group emphasizes its commitment to research and development, as well as the importance of building relationships with physicians and patient advocacy groups to ensure that the needs of these stakeholders are reflected in all aspects of the company’s actions.

Press Contacts.

AOP HEALTH:
Mag. Nina Roth, MAS
Director of Corporate Communications
nina.roth[at]aop-health.com