Transformation of Corporate Real Estate Portfolios in the Life Sciences Sector

I had the privilege of moderating the panel "Transformation of Corporate Real Estate

Portfolios in the Life Sciences Sector" at the 11th Real Estate Summer Conference at TU Darmstadt.

Together with Stefan Goestl (Drees & Sommer), Sven Schuldt (Roche) and Matthias Bürk (Merck), we explored the immense transformation pressure facing life science companies – and how this is mirrored in their real estate strategies.

The core insight: today's dynamic business environment, shaped by geopolitical tensions, collides with the static nature of traditional real estate. This calls for proactive and strategic transformation of corporate portfolios.

Key takeaways from our discussion:

• Geopolitics as a core driver of location strategy

  
  

• Strategic securing of space in competitive markets

  
  

• Need for innovation-ready infrastructure, such as modular and scalable lab and production spaces

  
  

• From office space to spaces of collaboration and encounter

  
  

• Quality over quantity in real estate development

Buildings as brand ambassadors and magnets for talent

Many thanks to the organizers and to my outstanding panelists for the engaging discussion. Andreas Pfnür, you organized again an amazing event.

(As for the photo: no, the colored lights on our faces weren’t the result of a pharmaceutical trial – just a slightly overambitious beamer setup.)