The project work is part of the model project “supra-regional Partnerships” – funded by the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building, and Urban Affairs. The project aims to encourage the development of equal living conditions in metropolitan regions and more rural growing regions. The respective potentials will be analyzed, networked, and jointly developed. Using the example of the competence field Life Science:

• the potentials of the four regions will be analyzed and mobilized through supra-regional partnership cooperation
• the exchange of information and science, cooperation and innovation processes between industry, science and the regions will be improved
• growth and innovation in the four regions will be promoted through joint projects
• benefits will be achieved for all parties involved

On behalf of the Rhine/Main Planning Association, the Chair of Cluster & Value Chain Management, headed by Professor Elbert, identifies and analyzes life science cluster potentials based on existing and possible interrelationships in chemistry, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, health management in the Frankfurt/Rhine-Main, Central Hesse, Rhine-Neckar and Westpfalz regions. The starting point is an explorative case study to identify structural patterns for life science clusters in Germany based on selected clusters. In the second part of the project, the interrelationships and cluster potential in the metropolitan regions of Frankfurt/Main, Central Hesse, Rhine-Neckar, Westpfalz will be investigated. For this purpose, interviews will be conducted with selected cluster actors. Within the framework of the future workshop, the scenarios for the development of interrelationships will be presented and discussed with a focus on the expansion of the knowledge region.