Theme1
Sub-Projects – Theme 2 – Labour markets
Sub-theme 1 - Developments of small and medium sized enterprises (SME), research and development and innovation in border regions
SWG „Working in Networks“ – Summary & results
A key success factor in Life Sciences is international cooperation. Only sustainable collaboration with scientific and industrial institutes within the region and beyond ensures a quick transfer and assessment of know-how and important information, the elaboration of new solutions, products and processes and consequently a successful application of innovation. On national level, various initiatives have been launched aiming to bring together actors from science and industry involved in Life Sciences. Similar cross-border and interregional initiatives are still rather an exception to the rule.
Such an exception is the SWG “WIN” focusing on the establishment of an interregional network of life science regions cooperating across borders in order to exchange know-how and experience, to identify best practice solutions and to develop new project ideas. As the participating regions differ considerably in terms of organisation, legal framework, finances, thematic focus, development level or partnership, mainly information on the project partners, their cooperation activities and experiences were exchanged during the first phase of the project and fields of common interest were identified.
During the kick-off meeting in May 2006, much time was dedicated to intensive discussions and the exchange of ideas. Further partner workshops took place in October and December 2006. In the framework of a Partner Conference in February 2007, the focus was put on challenges and requirements for cooperation in the field of functional genomics offering manifold opportunities for networking and the exchange of experience. More than 200 experts from politics, science and industry came together and brought their know-how and recommendations to the project.
Following aspects were repeatedly mentioned as crucial for a successful technology transfer within cross-border life science regions:
- Bridging the information and cultural gaps at the science/industry interface at an early stage
- Provision of services (provision of lab space and funds) and assistance in business development to transform ideas into business models
- Provision of legal services (patent law) to effectively protect scientific knowledge and facilitate the information exchange between scientific partners at an early stage
- Stimulating the cooperation of researchers with complementary technologies on the level of basic research in order to develop applicable technical solutions
Complementary to the Partner Conference, numerous initiatives were set up to facilitate staff exchange within the second phase and beyond the project. The aim was to intensify contacts with the new partners, to get to know the technology and legal framework in the partner institutions and to create a sustainable foundation for future cooperation. These initiatives finally resulted in the creation of an interregional exchange and cooperation platform of cross-border bio-regions focusing on the improvement of the knowledge and technology transfer in border regions.
