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This part of the Cell Factory key
action covers many of the traditional fields of biotechnology,
i. e. the use of living cells to produce industrial products
for various applications. The area is organised in four
sub-areas as follows:
3.3.1 Exploiting the cellular and
molecular characteristics of organisms for new nano-
and microtechnologies
3.3.2 High value-added products
and processes involving/derived from microorganisms,
plants and animals
3.3.3 Functional biomolecules and
biocatalysts
3.3.4 Identification and sustainable
use of metabolic and genetic diversity as a source of
new valuable products
The first of these sub-areas (3.3.1)
addresses nanobiotechnology, covering both the application
of new scientific tools to biological systems, the use
of biological systems as tools in the development of
new products and technologies. Investigations are invited
at the level of molecules, the coupling of molecules
and cells to natural and synthetic surfaces and functional
structures.
The second sub-area (3.3.2) covers
the following fields of research: Improving the expression
of genes for stable and reliable use. Developing more
efficient fermentation, bio-transformation, and downstream
processing. Using genomic data and reproductive mechanisms.
Engineering of the pathways of primary and secondary
metabolites of economic importance including the cellular
and organ optimisation of compounds. Identifying and
developing mechanisms towards resistance against physical
and biological stress factors.
The third sub-area (3.3.3) deals
with the development of highly efficient biomolecules
of utmost specificity as well as wide variety and programmable
properties, through mobilising structural biology, structural
genomics and directed molecular evolution.
Lastly the fourth sub-area (3.3.4)
addresses new or improved methods for screening of marine
and terrestrial organisms. Molecular characterisation
of wild and domesticated populations, including unculturable
micro-organisms, to identify useful products and genes
for recombinant production systems. Genetic improvement
of wild or under-utilised organisms to introduce them
for cultivation or adaptation to new environments.
After the two successive deadlines
for submission of proposals in 2001, 19 projects have
been selected for funding in those areas and have started
their work. The total budget contribution from the EC
for those projects amounts to 35 million Euros. Table
1 gives an overview of the proposals received and projects
funded over the entire period of the Cell Factory in
the fifth Framework Programme (as represented in Volume
1 and 2 of this publication).
Torbjörn Ingemansson
Horacio Pelaez Rivera
Unit Biotechnology and Applied Genomics
EC Directorate General for Research |
