Annual Report of Activities CNC 2008 - Center for Neuroscience and ...
Annual Report of Activities CNC 2008 - Center for Neuroscience and ...
Annual Report of Activities CNC 2008 - Center for Neuroscience and ...
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Technology TransferTranslational research <strong>and</strong> technology transfer have been progressivly developed in <strong>CNC</strong> leading to apromising interaction with Industry <strong>and</strong> local authorities. The outcome <strong>of</strong> this interaction was theparticipation <strong>of</strong> <strong>CNC</strong> as a founding member <strong>of</strong> ABAP (Association envolving seven Municipal Councils <strong>of</strong>the <strong>Center</strong> Region <strong>of</strong> Portugal) aiming at knowledge based development). The main contribution <strong>of</strong> <strong>CNC</strong><strong>for</strong> that goal was the creation <strong>of</strong> technology transfer unit (Biocant) in colaboration with CantanhedeMunicipal Council.This unit became the anchor <strong>of</strong> Biocant Park a Biotechnology Park that is rapidly growing by atractingnew Biotechnology companies.1. BIOCANTBiocant is a private, non‐pr<strong>of</strong>it, innovation centrecreated by <strong>CNC</strong>B together with the municipality <strong>of</strong>Cantanhede <strong>for</strong> technology transfer in biotechnology.Founded 3 years ago, Biocant has grown to become areference in the field <strong>and</strong> the catalyst <strong>of</strong> Biocant Park,the first Portuguese biotechnology park.Biocant is organized into seven main functional unitswith highly qualified teams <strong>and</strong> state <strong>of</strong> art equipment:Genomics, Cellular Biology, Molecular Biotechnology,Microbiology, Bioin<strong>for</strong>matics, System Biology, TissueEngineering, <strong>and</strong> Advanced Services. Biocant providesservices <strong>and</strong> R&D activities based on post‐genomicplat<strong>for</strong>ms such as whole‐genome sequencing, DNAchips, proteomics, interactomics <strong>and</strong> metabolomics.121Several research projects are currently in progress,some in collaboration with national or internationalresearch institutions, hospitals <strong>and</strong> companies.Throughout the past year Biocant has filed four patentapplications <strong>and</strong> its researchers published papers injournals such as PNAS <strong>and</strong> JBC. Biocant expects tospin‐out its first company by the end <strong>of</strong> <strong>2008</strong>.2. Companies operating in Biocant ParkAt the present 8 companies operate in Biocant Park: Crioestaminal, GeneBox, GenePrediT, GeneLab,Novexem, Hematos, 4Health <strong>and</strong> Biocant Ventures. Along with Biocant they <strong>for</strong>m a biotech cluster <strong>of</strong>excellence, bringing together over 100 researchers, in a unique enabling environment. Linking basic <strong>and</strong>applied research more closely to successful innovation, Biocant paved the way <strong>for</strong> a new paradigm <strong>of</strong>economic development in the <strong>Center</strong> Region <strong>of</strong> Portugal.
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