The biotech scene in Sweden can consider itself lucky: Great Britain aside, no other country has such a liberal attitude towards scientists. A swirling debate about stem cell research, as experienced in Germany, is simply not conceivable in Sweden. Largely owing to these basic conditions, the majority of Swedish biotech companies concentrate on medical applications, which are developed for the market with the assistance of outstanding research facilities. Nevertheless, fresh capital is increasingly hard to find in this small northern country. This is particularly true for companies in early development phases, for whom almost no investors are forthcoming. Tax breaks for research-intensive companies have therefore been demanded for some time. Many have been alarmed by the example set by Cellartis: The stem cell lines manufacturer recently shifted its production location from Sweden to Scotland. And why? For tax purposes.

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