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The aim of the Advances of Biochemical Engineering/Biotechnology is to keep the reader informed on the recent progress in the industrial application of biology. Genetical engineering, metabolism ond bioprocess development including analytics, automation and new software are the dominant fields of interest. The Special Issue on the History of Biotechnology (splitted into Vol. 69 and 70) is an exception to the otherwise forward oriented editorial policy.It covers a time span of approximately fifty years and describes the changes from a time with rather characteristic features of empirical strategies to highly developed and specialized enterprises. During the last 25 years, several fundamental methods have been developed. Gene transfer in higher plants or vertebrates and sequencing of genes and entire genomes and even cloning of animals has become possible.However, the fast developments of genomics in particular did not have just positive effects in society. Anger and fear began. A dwindling acceptance of “Biotechnology” in medicine, agriculture, food and pharma production has become a political matter. New legislation has asked for restrictions in genome modifications of vertebrates, higher plants, production of genetically modified food, patenting of transgenic animals or sequenced parts of genomes. Also research has become hampered by strict rules on selection of programs, organisms, methods, technologies and on biosafety indoors and outdoors. As a consequence process development and production processes are of a high standard which is maintained by extended computer applications for process control and production management. The authors of the Special Issue are scientists from the early days who are familiar with the fascinating history of modern biotechnology such as: 1. Arnold L. Demain, Aiqi Fang (The Natural Functions of Secondary Metabolites); 2. Teruhiko Beppu (Development of Applied Microbiology to Modern Biotechnology in Japan); 3. Hidehiko Kumagai (Microbial Production of Amino Acids in Japan); 4. T.K. Ghose · V.S. Bisaria (Development of Biotechnology in India) 5. M. Roehr (History of Biotechnology in Austria) 6. J. Holló · U.P. Kralovánszky (Biotechnology in Hungary) 7. A. Fiechter (Biotechnology in Switzerland and a Glance at Germany)