VBIO

What VBIO does

VBIO (Verband Biologie, Biowissenschaften und Biomedizin in Deutschland e.V.) is the largest bioscience umbrella association in Germany, headquartered in Munich with a secondary office in Berlin. Founded in 2007 and registered as a non-profit (e.V.) at the Local Court of Munich (VR 15995), the organization federates 16 state associations (Landesverbände) covering all German federal states and 26 specialist scientific societies (Fachgesellschaften) spanning disciplines including microbiology (VAAM), plant sciences (DBG), ecology (GfÖ), genetics (GfG), zoology (DZG), synthetic biology (GASB), and biomedicine. VBIO serves individual scientists, biology teachers, students, early-career researchers, institutional scientific societies, and corporate/educational cooperative members, providing professional representation, career guidance, continuing education, science-policy advocacy, and public science communication.

VBIO's core offerings span four revenue streams: (1) membership dues from personal, institutional, cooperative, supporting, and community membership categories (fees set by the Federal Delegates' Conference); (2) event and seminar revenue from Soft-Skill seminars, the Biotech & Pharma Summer School (co-organized with Berlin BioScience Academy), the 'Faszination Biologie' webinar series, and state-level events; (3) publication sales through the BIUZ journal, career guides ('Deine Zukunft: Biowissenschaften', 'Berufsbilder Perspektiven'), the annual report, and the VBIO webshop; and (4) project grants such as Klaus-Tschira-Stiftung funding for the BiUtopie teacher-training competition. Distribution is federated: individual members join via state associations and specialist societies, while online portals and a TYPO3-based website (vbio.de) handle self-serve registrations and information.

The association is managed by volunteer honorary officers (Ehrenamt) under the leadership of President Prof. Dr. Markus Engstler and Treasurer Prof. Dr. Christian Lindermayr, supported by a small paid staff of 1-10 across its Munich and Berlin offices. VBIO's strategic positioning centers on cross-disciplinary coordination in the German biosciences, advocacy on science-policy topics (genome editing, biodiversity, synthetic biology, animal welfare, education standards) with German (BMBF, BMEL) and EU institutions, and youth engagement through the YOUNG program and Karl-von-Frisch-Preis student competitions. It co-administers the Ars Legendi-Fakultätenpreis for biology with Stifterverband, GDCh, DMV, and DPG. The organization does not develop proprietary technology products; its digital infrastructure is standard (TYPO3 CMS, Matomo analytics, mainstream social channels including LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Bluesky).

Name

VBIO

Legal name

Verband Biologie, Biowissenschaften und Biomedizin in Deutschland e.V.

Website

https://vbio.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

VBIO (Verband Biologie, Biowissenschaften und Biomedizin in Deutschland e.V.) is the largest German bioscience umbrella association, federating 26 specialist societies and 16 state associations to serve biologists, educators, students, and research institutions through membership, publications, events, and science-policy advocacy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership dues: VBIO generates primary revenue from membership subscriptions. The association has distinct membership categories: individual/personal members (organized via state associations), institutional members (specialist societies), cooperative members (companies, educational institutions, associations), and supporting/fostering members. Each category pays membership fees according to a fee schedule approved by the Federal Delegates' Conference (BDV). Personal members in state associations pay a minimum fee, with reductions available for students and retired members. Institutional members' fees are based on their number of personal members. Supporting and cooperative members pay minimum fees.
2. Event and seminar revenue: VBIO organizes and hosts events including the Soft-Skill Seminar series, the Biotech & Pharma Summer School (co-organized with Berlin BioScience Academy), and the 'Faszination Biologie' online webinar series. These events generate participation fees. Discounts are offered to members. Events are also organized through state-level and specialist society sub-groups.
3. Publication and information product sales: VBIO publishes and distributes informational materials including the Verbandsjournal BIUZ (BIUZ magazine), the VBIO Annual Report (Jahresbericht), career guidance publications such as 'Deine Zukunft: Biowissenschaften' and 'Berufsbilder Perspektiven', and other specialty publications. These are sold or distributed to members and the broader public via the VBIO webshop.
4. Project funding and grants: VBIO receives project-based funding and grants for specific initiatives, such as the BiUtopie competition funded by the Klaus-Tschira-Stiftung and educational programs in cooperation with partner organizations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

VBIO is a non-profit professional association that provides membership-based services, advocacy, and networking for biologists, life scientists, and biomedical professionals in Germany. It operates as the central umbrella organization federating 26 specialist scientific societies and 16 regional state associations, delivering tiered membership subscriptions, publications (including the BIUZ journal and career guides), professional development events (seminars, summer schools, webinars), educational programs, awards, and science-policy advocacy on behalf of the German bioscience community.

Product overview

VBIO (Verband Biologie, Biowissenschaften und Biomedizin in Deutschland e.V.) is a professional association serving as the largest biological sciences organization in Germany. The association operates as a unified service organization offering publications (including the BIUZ journal, career guides, and annual reports), professional events (seminars, webinars, congresses, and workshops), awards (Ars Legendi-Fakultätenpreis and Karl-von-Frisch-Preis), membership services with networking and career support, and educational information on vocational training in biological sciences. The VBIO also provides online portals and maintains regional state-level chapters across all 16 German federal states, along with specialized sections for different biological disciplines.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Personal Membership (Persönliche Mitgliedschaft) Subscription-based personal membership for individual scientists, researchers, teachers, students, and retired professionals in biology, life sciences, and biomedicine, providing access to networking, publications, career services, events, and policy advocacy. Members join via the 16 state associations (Landesverbände).
• Institutional Membership (Institutionelle Mitgliedschaft) Annual subscription membership for the 26 specialist scientific societies (Fachgesellschaften) including VAAM, DBG, DZG, GfÖ, GfG, and others. Fees are based on the number of each society's personal members, and societies gain cross-disciplinary coordination, visibility, and a collective voice in policy.
• Cooperative Membership (Kooperierende Mitgliedschaft) Annual membership for companies, biotech and pharma firms, educational institutions, and other associations that support VBIO's mission. Members pay minimum fees with the option of voluntary higher contributions and gain access to talent pipelines, academic networks, and science-policy dialogue.
• Supporting/Fostering Membership (Fördermitgliedschaft) Annual membership for individuals and organizations that provide special material and ideological support to VBIO's mission. Members pay minimum fees with the option of higher voluntary contributions.
• Community Membership (Communitymitgliedschaft) Annual community-focused membership tier providing members with access to VBIO's community and information services, targeted at supporters who want a lighter-touch engagement than full personal membership.
• Gift Membership (Geschenkmitgliedschaft) Annual membership purchased as a gift for another person, enabling the recipient to enjoy VBIO's full range of member services including publications, networking, and events.
• BIUZ — Biology in Our Time (Verbandsjournal BIUZ) The VBIO association journal covering biology, life sciences, and biomedical topics, distributed to members and sold to the broader public through the VBIO webshop.
• Career Guidance Publications (Deine Zukunft: Biowissenschaften; Berufsbilder Perspektiven) Career guidance publications for young people and career-changers considering biology and life sciences, including 'Deine Zukunft: Biowissenschaften' (career orientation guide) and 'Berufsbilder Perspektiven' (career profiles showcase), distributed via the VBIO webshop.
• Soft-Skill Seminars (Soft-Skill-Seminare) Paid professional development seminars and workshops covering soft skills for bioscience careers. Registration is managed through the VBIO website, with discounts offered to VBIO members.
• Biotech & Pharma Summer School — From Target to Market Annual paid summer school co-organized with the Berlin BioScience Academy covering biotech and pharma topics from target identification to market. Open to students and early-career professionals, with a 10% discount for VBIO and Fachgesellschaften members.
• Faszination Biologie Webinar Series Online webinar series featuring scientific presentations on biological topics, with paid participation and member discounts. Delivered digitally via the VBIO website.
• VBIO Online Career and Education Portals (Online-Portale) Online portals providing information about biology careers, education pathways, vocational training programs (BTA, Biologielaborant), dual study programs, and job market resources for students and professionals.

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• StifterverbandflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerVBIO co-organizes the Ars Legendi-Fakultätenpreis Mathematik und Naturwissenschaften (Ars Legendi Faculty Prize for Mathematics and Natural Sciences) together with the Stifterverband, Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker (GDCh), Deutsche Mathematiker-Vereinigung (DMV), and Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft (DPG). The prize is awarded annually in four categories (Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics) and is endowed with 5,000 EUR per category. VBIO specifically administers the biology category.
• Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker (GDCh)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of the Ars Legendi-Fakultätenpreis Mathematik und Naturwissenschaften alongside GDCh, DMV, DPG, and Stifterverband. VBIO administers the biology category.
• Deutsche Mathematiker-Vereinigung (DMV)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of the Ars Legendi-Fakultätenpreis Mathematik und Naturwissenschaften. Each organization administers its respective disciplinary category.
• Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft (DPG)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of the Ars Legendi-Fakultätenpreis Mathematik und Naturwissenschaften. Each organization administers its respective disciplinary category.
• Berlin BioScience Academy (BBA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVBIO co-organizes the 'Biotech & Pharma Summer School – From Target to Market' with the Berlin BioScience Academy (formerly Gläsernes Labor Akademie). VBIO members and members of its specialist societies receive a 10% discount on participation.
• Wissenschaftskreis Genomik und Gentechnik (WGG)coreTechnology or IntegrationWGG is a specialist society within the VBIO umbrella (institutional member). VBIO and WGG frequently issue joint press releases and policy positions on topics such as genome editing, new genomic techniques (NGT), and EU regulatory frameworks for genetic engineering.
• CHARLES ASHMAN – Project management, concept and designminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerExternal partner responsible for project management, concept, and design of the VBIO website and communications materials.
• Andrea Podbevsek – Project management, concept and designminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerExternal partner responsible for project management, concept, and design support for VBIO communications.
• 26 Fachgesellschaften (institutional members)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner26 specialist scientific societies in the biosciences (including VAAM, DBG, DZG, GfÖ, GfG, DPG, and others) serve as institutional members under the VBIO umbrella. They participate in the Federal Delegates' Conference, contribute to VBIO's scientific work and positions, and organize joint activities.
• 16 Landesverbände (state associations)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner16 regional state associations covering all German states serve as the primary organizational units for individual members. They organize state-level activities, student competitions (Karl-von-Frisch-Preis), teacher training, and local events. Each state association sends a delegate to the VBIO Federal Delegates' Conference.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO): Pan-European organization of life scientists that runs high-prestige programs (installations, young investigator networks, lab leadership courses) and represents molecular life science researchers to EU institutions — overlapping VBIO's representative and award functions at a wider geography.
• Royal Society of Biology: The UK's national umbrella organization for the biosciences, with a comparable model of individual members, regional branches, specialist affinity groups, and science-policy advocacy. It operates on membership dues and provides chartered biologist credentials, the closest international structural analogue to VBIO.
• American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS): US umbrella organization for the biological sciences that aggregates member societies and individuals, advocates on science policy (especially federal research funding and education), and produces publications — closely matching VBIO's federation-plus-advocacy model.
• Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB): Umbrella of 22+ US biomedical research societies that supports members via advocacy, publications, meetings, and awards. Comparable to VBIO's role aggregating multiple Fachgesellschaften under one policy and operational roof.
• Federation of European Biochemical Societies (FEBS): Federation of national biochemistry and molecular biology societies in Europe, providing journals, congresses, fellowships, and education programs — a structurally parallel umbrella to VBIO that competes for the same institutional and individual life-science audiences.

Broad incumbents

• Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG): Germany's central public research-funding organization that interfaces with all major life-science member societies and shapes the funding/policy environment in which VBIO operates. Although a funder rather than a member society, it directly competes for influence on German bioscience policy.
• Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker (GDCh): Germany's largest chemistry society and VBIO's co-organizer on the Ars Legendi Faculty Prize. A peer German scientific association with similar federated governance, honorary leadership, and policy advocacy apparatus, but focused on chemistry rather than biosciences.
• Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft (DPG): Germany's flagship physics society and the fourth co-organizer of the Ars Legendi Faculty Prize alongside VBIO. Operates a similar model of state-level sub-associations, publications (Physik Journal), conferences, and policy advocacy, offering a structural benchmark for VBIO's own federation approach.

Regional players

• Society of Biology (Japan) / Japanese Association for the Promotion of Science and Technology: National biology umbrella bodies in non-DACH jurisdictions offer a comparable model (membership, publications, policy advocacy) but in different geographies, providing useful structural analogues for VBIO's federated approach.

Others

• Wissenschaftsrat: Germany's primary science-policy advisory body that shapes higher education and research strategy. Adjacent to VBIO because both sit in the German bioscience policy arena, though Wissenschaftsrat's role is advisory rather than membership-based.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@vbioe.v.6678/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/VBio.Biologie
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vbio-verband
• Instagraminstagram.com/vbio_ev
• Xx.com/vbioev

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about VBIO