Qiagen started out in 1984 as a university spin-off. The idea was to revolutionize sample preparation and, in doing so, to transform molecular biology as a whole. Twenty-five years later we employ 3,000 at 30 locations worldwide, and in many people's eyes Qiagen is the epitome of the successful pairing of science and business. I am often asked whether this success story could have happened elsewhere as well as it did here. And every time my answer is unequivocal: "Yes and no."
North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) is one of the most advanced high-tech and research regions in Europe. Located right in the heart of the state—there are 10 million people living within a 100 km radius of our headquarters—Qiagen has an enormous reservoir of well-trained workers at its disposal. Recreational and cultural offerings are good, infrastructure and transport links exemplary. The federal government, the state government in particular, ...
