The alliance, which is funded by the Bavarian Ministry of Science as part of its Highmed Agenda Bayern, aims to promote cutting-edge medical research and the translation of scientific findings into patient care. It aims to "further expand the interdisciplinary interfaces between medicine, technology and informatics and effectively integrate knowledge and technologies into patient care", according to the program.

Bavaria's Science Minister Markus Blume emphasized at the opening ceremony: "For the first time, we are bringing the complete excellence of Munich University Medicine together with our non-university partner Helmholtz Munich under one roof - a novelty with exorbitant added value: we are creating the most powerful unit of cutting-edge medicine in Germany. Munich will become the medical capital of the Republic. One thing is clear: it is all about medical progress and the best care for the people in our country. We want to keep pace with the best in the world.

"The M1 Munich Medicine Alliance is a first step in how the research institutions and university hospitals in Munich can make better use of their potential together. We have the opportunity to become the preferred partner in Germany and Europe, particularly in the use of health data for research and in the planning and implementation of clinical studies," says Prof. Dr. Markus M. Lerch, Medical Director and Chairman of the Board of LMU Klinikum and member of the M1 Foundation Board, with conviction.

And Prof. Dr. Thomas Gudermann, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at LMU and Chairman of the M1 Foundation Board, adds: "The strategic alliance of the five partners in the M1 Munich Medicine Alliance will open up scientific potential that is unparalleled in Europe and internationally. This creates the basis for groundbreaking innovations in the treatment of our patients."

"The M1 Munich Medicine Alliance connects the top-class medical faculties, university hospitals and other outstanding biomedical research institutions in Munich with the aim of strengthening the translation of scientific findings in particular. University Medicine is one of LMU's flagship institutions and I am delighted that this alliance will give Munich as a medical location a further major boost both nationally and internationally," says LMU President Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Bernd Huber. "I wish everyone involved in the alliance a good start and every success!"

Prof. Dr. Dr. Matthias Tschöp, CEO and Scientific Managing Director of Helmholtz Munich and designated President of LMU, says: "With the M1 Alliance, Munich is taking the lead throughout Germany. The alliance of the most important players in medicine, from health research to university hospitals, will open up enormous synergies and thus potential for medical research. This will benefit everyone involved, the partners and industry as well as patients."