Vision, science, passion and freedom – Men who shaped the history of Boehringer Ingelheim

The turning point when Boehringer Ingelheim developed from a small pharmaceutical factory into a modern research company has a lot to do with Heinrich Wieland. Since 1907, the graduated chemist worked as a consultant for Albert Boehringer, who was especially interested in Wieland’s research on bile acid – for which Wieland was honored with the Nobel Prize in 1927. To focus research activities and exploit the scientific expertise Wieland recommended installing a central scientific department which he managed from 1917 onwards. The scientific department paved the way for Boehringer Ingelheim’s success, concentrating all research activities in one department, establishing modern research methods and taking advantage of Wieland’s excellent academic connections. It thus is the predecessor of today’s innovation unit which operates from several sites around the globe and fosters external innovation.

Heinrich Wieland laid the foundation to commitment to early research and support of basic research activities at Boehringer Ingelheim. The aim to turn basic scientific findings into solutions lives on in many activities today. To name but a few: The company sponsors the Institute of Molecular Pathology in Vienna, a leading basic research institute that addresses fundamental questions in molecular biology. It has an own team that explores emerging science and technologies to pave the way to new treatments for e.g. hearing loss via regenerative medicine approaches, and has developed a comprehensive program to build networks with young life science entrepreneurs at scientific hot spots, like Boston, New York, San Diego, London, Beijing, Kyoto and Vienna.