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Fifth Framework Programme - External Advisory Groups
PIVOTAL ROLE OF THE "CELL FACTORY" KEY ACTION
Position paper by the "Cell Factory" External Advisory Group
| This position paper was produced by the External Advisory Group (EAG) for the Key Action "The Cell Factory", and represents its views. These views have not been adopted or in any way approved by the Commission and should not be relied upon as a statement of the Commission's or the Research-DG's views. |
 The full report is available as PDF-file: cellfactory2.pdf (92 Kb)
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The EAG Cell Factory considers that a signal should be sent to the Commission and national policy makers, as well as to the Cell Factory stakeholders concerning the strategic role of the Cell Factory key action vis-à-vis pressing scientific, industrial and socio-economic needs in Europe, and its great potential for Community added value. The stakeholders of this key action are seen as biotechnology entrepreneurs, bio-industries, start-ups, researchers, venture capitalists, biovalleys, public interest groups, consumer and patient organisations.
This position paper takes account of the response to the 1st call for proposals (June 1999 deadline). The EAG is aware that definitive conclusions cannot be drawn at such an early stage of the programme, but considers that attention must be drawn to a number of issues in order to clarify the strategic role of the key action, and improve its utility to its stakeholders and European research.
The Cell Factory key action is pivotal to the success of the "Quality of Life and Management of Living Resources" programme since it:
- Fosters the transition from a linear to an integrated innovation strategy, by combining excellent research with the convincing exploitation strategies. In this way, the key action directly addresses the so called « European paradox » (good science but disappointing exploitation);
- Promotes bio-entrepreneurship and the research-based small bio-firms which are crucial for economic growth and creation of jobs, thereby contributing to the transition to the so called « knowledge-based society » ;
- Connects the generic activities and the other key actions by fostering rapid exchange between fundamental scientific issues and practical applications, thus ensuring the cohesion of the « Quality of life and management of living resources » programme ;
- Provides innovative bioproducts, bioprocesses and technologies to be used in the fields of health, environment, agri-food, agro-industry and high value added chemicals, thereby exploiting the pervasiveness of biotechnology;
- Mobilises and focuses other initiatives of the Commission (e.g. I-TEC, IPR help desk, Lift help desk) or national/regional ones (e.g. Biovalleys, bioincubators, biopoles), thus anchoring them into the operational reality of an socio-economic sector, and guaranteeing co-ordination, synergy and mutual efficacy.
This pivotal role has attracted clear interest, as illustrated by the overwhelming response to the 1st call for proposals (June 1999 deadline), associated with tough selection rates in this call, and subsequent missed opportunities for European science and technology and industrial competitiveness. The next calls should offer additional opportunities and more reasonable selection rate of proposals.
External Advisory Groups |
Fifth Framework Programme | 17.02.2000
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