Rentschler Biopharma, a CDMO for biopharmaceuticals, is donating €50,000 ($58,600) to support the creation of the Albert Einstein Discovery Center. Dr Frank Mathias, CEO of Rentschler Biopharma SE; Alexander Dettmer, CFO; and Dr Christian Schetter, CSO, presented a cheque to Dr Nancy Hecker-Denschlag, Chair of the Albert Einstein Discovery Center, on September 15, 2021. The discovery and activity centre is intended to make the physicist’s legacy "not only understandable but tangible to the public". Its located in Ulm, Einstein’s birthplace and today the scientific centre of the region, a few kilometres away from Rentschler’s headquarters in Laupheim.
“There are several aspects we share with Albert Einstein,” said Dr Frank Mathias, CEO of Rentschler Biopharma. “As a leading biopharmaceutical company, the promotion of science is one of our core responsibilities. Innovation and groundbreaking research are not possible unless we provide curious and motivated people the opportunity to immerse themselves in the complex world of science. The construction of the Albert Einstein Discovery Center, therefore, is an excellent occasion to create educational opportunities in our region. From a historical perspective, there also are parallels. Our roots as a Laupheim-based pharmacy in 1872 coincide with the time of Einstein’s birth, and our founding as a pharmaceutical manufacturer in 1927 took place around the time he was active as a professor, lecturer, and researcher in Germany. We emerged from the same era, and the pioneering spirit of Albert Einstein strongly resonates with us still today. Therefore, we want to carry these values into the world, beyond our company. We are honoured to be part of this exciting project and would like to motivate others to help bring it to life.”
Dr Nancy Hecker-Denschlag, Chair of the Albert Einstein Discovery Center, said: “Rentschler Biopharma is a perfect fit with the future Albert Einstein Discovery Center Ulm because its focus is not only on providing scientific knowledge, but also on offering activities in the ‘hands-on science centre’ we are planning. This is intended to create enthusiasm, especially among young people, for learning about math and science.”
To implement the project, the ‘First 11’ campaign aims to motivate more companies to become sponsors. The names and logos of the centre's 11 lead sponsors will be hung in the foyer. They also will receive a total of 100 plaques with a stone from Albert Einstein’s birthplace. “We are delighted to see that more and more companies are becoming interested in our idea. Not only is membership in our association increasing, but a number of companies are approaching us to offer support. That is why I am optimistic that we soon will be able to announce the next sponsors in ‘The First 11’,” said Hecker-Denschlag.