Agrobiotech Xchange – Virtual Exchange for Technology Transfer in the Agrobiotechnologies and Agro-food Sectors

5D076

Finlombarda Spa
Piazza Belgioioso, 2
20121 Milan
Italy

Ms. Paola Gabaldi
Tel.:	+390276044361
Fax:	+3902780819
Email:	paola.gabaldi@finlombarda.it

2 - Transport systems and IS
2.2 - Access to knowledge and the IS

(See here for a priorities and measures overview)

4th Call

The agrofood sector is facing new strategic challenges regarding its competitiveness, which is connected with food safety, quality and traceability. So far the sector is dominated by small- and medium-sized enterprises which are not accustomed to collaborating with research institutions. Moreover, scientists are more committed to developing international co-operation projects than to addressing the needs of local producers. Often the link between research poles and producers is lacking. The Agrobiotech Xchange project aims at supporting regional development and industry competitiveness in agriculture and agribusiness through enhancing the collaboration between research and industry. Agrobiotech Xchange intends to set up a virtual exchange market place for technology transfer, access to science and technology resources, infrastructure and facilities, support to new and innovative companies involved in agro-biotechnologies and agro-food within the CADSES area. The Agrobiotech Xchange platform should foster and contribute to the promotion of joint projects and partnerships between participating clusters and their stakeholders, particularly SMEs, research, financing, public authorities and agencies. This should promote synergies and a shared technological infrastructure. The areas involved in the project have a strong predisposition for agricultural development and cattle breeding and are characterised by a high presence of the food processing industry. Here the Agrobiotech Xchange project intends to set up a stable network of co-operation for the technology transfer in agribusiness, starting from a consolidated core of competences set in the Lombardy region which will then be transferred to Eastern Europe and Danubian countries.

Expected outcomes of the project include a sustainable virtual exchange marketplace for technology transfer in the agro-biotechnologies and agro-food sectors to enhance competitiveness. To achieve this aim, a web platform which relies on a strong scientific and technology basis to supply companies with the knowledge and access to the participants’ technological infrastructures will be established. The commercialisation of research should be supported by licensing and the establishment of start-ups and spin-offs. Other expected concrete results of the project are: - Technology surveys in the areas involved and a database of stakeholders in each region, - Identification of synergies between participants and participants’ networks, - Assessment of the regional demand for technology transfer (reports and seminars), - Assessment of the opportunities for extending the market, - Business and financial plan, as well as a policy blueprint to ensure the sustainability of Agrobiotech Xchange, - A platform to develop and test the services.

Total budget (EUR):	1.637.100,00 EUR
ERDF:	726.575,00 EUR

Start:	03/2006
End:	04/2008

• Finlombarda Spa, Milan, Italy
• Fondazione Parco Tecnologico Padano, Lodi, Italy
• Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Piacenza, Italy
• Confindustria Veneto SIAV Spa, Venice, Italy
• Slovak Chamber of Commerce and Industry, The Kosice Regional Chamber, Kosice, Slovakia
• Agricultural Public Company of Csongrád County, Szeged, Hungary
• Plovdiv Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
• Timisoara Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, Timisoara, Romania