Bayer: Science For A Better Life - research

Bayer's subsidiary for innovations

Concepts for tomorrow’s world

Innovation strategists: Professor Fred Robert Heiker, Ralph Arnold and Dr. Ralf Dujardin (from left) aim to open up new business opportunities for Bayer.

BIG - it's not just the acronym for the newly established Bayer Innovation GmbH; it's also a symbol of the company's aspirations. The new subsidiary is based in Düsseldorf and currently comprises only a small team. Its aim is to market concepts and innovative products to supplement Bayer's business portfolio and access new markets with strong growth potential. Catheters, a standard part of treatment in hospital, are a good example.

Catheters are a gateway to medical technology

You may think that a device as simple and long-established as a catheter offers little room for improvement. But you're wrong! Patients still run the risk of infection, and the antibiotic coatings used up to now don't solve the problem; they simply delay it. So it's only logical that Bayer researchers should draw on their expertise in plastics and their vast experience with medicines like antibiotics to develop an effective way of preventing infection. Read the following article (PDF file) to find out why an innovative plastic catheter is just the first step on the road to a highly promising future market.