In the near future Regions of Excellence will surpass individually operating universities in terms of attracting power. The three major success factors for creating a Region of Excellence: scientific quality, critical mass and close vicinity are fully present in this Meuse-Rhine Triangle. All, needed for a scientific top region, is already here but it must be made working as such. The Meuse-Rhine Triangle project, bringing together all players in the Life Sciences sector is an excellent initiative for forging this Charlemagne Region to a European scientific heavyweight.