dr Jelena Begović
JRC Macro-Regional Innovation Week - Knowledge and Technology Transfer in Macro-Regions, January 2018
INNOVATION THROUGH BIOTECHNOLOGIES
February, 26 1986 the Institute of Molecular Genetics and
Genetic Engineering (IMGGE) was established as Affiliated
Centre of International Centre for Genetic Engineering and
Biotechnology (ICGEB), Trieste, Italy
Staff 110
Seeking fundamental
knowledge:
molecular biology
molecular genetics
recombinant DNA technology
biotechnology
to improve the
quality of
life…
Develop top-quality expertise and
translate our knowledge into practice
STRATEGICAL FRAMEWORK
EDUCATION
FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH
SERVICES
INOVATIONS
BIOTECHNOLOGY MOLECULAR GENETICS
AND BIOMEDICINE
STRATEGICAL GOALS
Strategy of development of IMGGE 2016-2020
Personalized medicine in IMGGE
Next generation sequencing have been used for diagnosis of more than 300 rare diseases (20 novel variants in genes causing different rare diseases have been discovered). Results of PHARMACOGENOMICS studies conducted in IMGGE are implemented in clinical practice.
Research in the field of biomedicine in Serbia has followed the modern streams and has made a great contribution to implementation of genomics in clinical practice
RED BIOTECHNOLOGY
REGENERATIVE MEDICINE - STEM CELL THERAPY
First clinical use of in vitro propagated adipose tissue
derived mesenchymal stem cells in therapy of
degenerative diseases of cartilage (osteoarthritis),
rheumatological diseases and Burger’s disease
Quality of patients’ everyday life showed
great improvement.
Centro de Biologia Molecular “Severo Ochoa”, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Spain University of New Castle upon Tyme, GB
University of Patras (UPAT), GREECE
ANTIBIOTIC REPLACEMENT STRATEGIES
BACTERIOCINS are bacterially produced peptides that are active against other bacteria
BACTERIOPHAGES bacterial viruses
Acinetobacter phage NOVI
KILLING OF CLINICAL RELEVANT PATHOGENS (Acinetobacter baumannii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa)
Carbapanem resistant (K. pneumoniae - colistin resistant)
New antimicrobial compounds as replacement for antibiotics
and food preservatives
BIOTECNOLOGY AND MICROORGANISMS
Teagasc Food Research Centre, Cork, Ireland Max Rubner Institute, Kiel, Germany
Norwegian University of life sciences
Development of new starters for fermented
milk and meat products - functional food
NEW PROBIOTICS
Prevention and therapy of
diabetes in pets
Probiotics for fish
cultivation
New probiotic starter culture for human and animal application
YELLOW BIOTECHNOLOGY
INDUSTRIAL BIOTECHNOLOGY
NAIK-HAKI, Hungary National and Innovation Centre
START-UP COMPANY established in 2016 with the aim
of development and commercialization of innovations
in biotechnology
Innovative natural probiotic for
prevention and treatment of animal diseases
PCT/RS2015/000027
- Bioplastics (polyxydroxyalkanoates; PHA) - Bacterial nano-cellulose - Biomedical and biotechnological
applications
- bio-pigments - antibiotics - anticancer drugs
BIOTECHNOLOGICAL PRODUCTION OF MICROBIAL SECONDARY METABOLITES
BIOTECHNOLOGICAL PRODUCTION & APPLICATION OF MICROBIAL BIOPOLYMERS
BIOCATALYSIS
Enzymes in organic synthesis Biocatalysts improvement
WHITE BIOTECHNOLOGY
Ireland
Technical University of Denmark Technical University of Munich, Germany
GREEN BIOTECHNOLOGY
• DEVELOPING NOVEL MOLECULAR MARKERS FOR THE
IMPROVEMENT OF MAIZE BREEDING PROGRAMMES:
NGS analysis of maize transcriptome
Maize response to cold and drought
Epitranscriptomics changes of maize stress-related genes
• STUDYING INTERACTION OF DNA AND ZEOLITE:
– IP protection of our innovative product for DNA isolation based on zeolite (ZEOBION)
– Continuing zeolite research for RNA isolation, advanced biosensors and DNA/RNA storage
• CRISPR-CAS SYSTEM in developing new Arabidopsis thaliana mutants
• BIODEGRADATION & BIOREMEDIATION
Removal of aromatic contaminants and heavy metals from soil
The Ohio State University, USA
STAKEHOLDERS IN THE INNOVATION PROCESS
• Universities, including research scientists and designated
officers of technology transfer
• Scientific Institutes
• Entrepreneurs, including start-up companies and venture capitalists
• Industry
• Potential technology adopters and downstream producers who will use the technology
• Government regulators
• Organizations of special interest
• Consumers
One of the visions of national strategy “Science for Innovation” (2016-2020), improvement of scientific research system efficiency that should lead to: • the creation of new knowledge, • development of new and improvement of old technologies, • definition of smart specialization platform for RS
INNOVATIONS & BIOTECHNOLOGY IN SERBIA
At this point, RS is in the process of the development of Smart Specialization Strategy (RIS3) and has finished mapping and identification of potential priority domains.1
Regarding innovations, following specializations that could be related to biotechnology have a significant potential in Serbia: ICT, CHEMISTRY AND DERIVATIVES, PHARMACEUTICALS, AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND BEVERAGE INDUSTRY AND MEDICAL DEVICES.
SO THESE FIELDS CAN BE TAKEN AS POTENTIAL FUTURE COUNTRY PRIORITIES IN BIOTECHNOLOGY
1Mapping of economic, innovative and scientific potential in Serbia, Report, Fraunhofer ISI and Analytical Team of the Inter-ministerial Working Group for Smart Specialisation of the Republic of Serbia, 2017
Regarding innovations, although the percentage of Serbian firms investing in innovations is growing, the investments in R&D and collaborations for innovations is still low (expenditure and the number of researchers)
Innovative companies including spin offs and start-ups in Serbia are still facing different challenges since they are considered as high risk business and still are not recognized as relevant contributors to country’s economy
CHALLENGES
In 2014, Serbia’s R&D expenditures (GERD) amounted to 0.77% of GDP and Serbia has still not achieved a target to reach 1.05 per cent of GDP to invest in science and technology as set by the government in its Science and Technology Strategy for 2010 and 2015
Serbia has increased the number and type of instruments for the direct support of innovations including Serbian Innovation Fund that provides financing for innovations under supervision of MoESTD
WEF Global Competitiveness Report key indicators for 2017-2018 Serbia has significantly advanced ranking 78th (90th in 2016)
Future BIOTECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT requires:
clear government strategy on R&D including the adoption RIS3
targeted infrastructural investments,
implementation of strategic policies that will bring together academia and industry
attraction of investments
CONTINUOUS ADVANCES IN MACROECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT, HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING, BUSINESS SOPHISTICATION AND INNOVATION
IN THIS REGARD BIOTECHNOLOGY COULD BECOME AN IMPORTANT DRIVER OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF SERBIA