Project “SMEs go LifeSciences”- support initiative for successful

SMEs and RTDs participation in Life Sciencesrelated areas of FP6 and FP7 projects

NBC third Partnering meeting:“Biotechnologies for Knowledge Based Bioeconomy”

Birinu Castle, April 7-9, 2006

Diāna Krieviņa

Latvian Technological Center

Aizkraukles Str. 21, Riga, LV - 1006

tel: + 371 7558754/ fax: + 371 7541218

e-mail: dianak@edi.lv

Collaborating with major players...

We are a network of 28 partners from 26 countries,

highly motivated & experienced in working with SMEs

and research organisations - most of them act as

National Contact Points (NCPs) working together with

national/regional multipliers

Bioincubators and Biovalleys

important Entrepreneurial networks like EUROPABIO (platform for the National Biotech Associations), EBN (European Business and Innovation Centres Network), IRC (Innovation Relay Centres)

www.smesgolifesciences.org

Key Figures

Submission: April 2003 as ETI - Specific Support Action

Project start: 1st March, 2004

Duration: 3 years

Project partner: 28 partners out of 26 countries (3 CC, 3 AC, 20 MS)

Coordination: FFG- Austrian Research Promotion Agency Division for International Research and Technology Cooperation

Budget: 2.557 855 EuroEC contribution: 1.734 025 Euro

Main objectives:

This initiative provides SMEs and researchers with various services supporting the successful participation in FP6 and FP7 research projects in the areas of Life Sciences. They get information and consulting, starting with the project idea, over activities for consortium building and matchmaking, to support during the submission and negotiation phase.

Support and foster the participation of SMEs and SME groupings in Life Sciences projects of FP6Focus on the “new” instruments: Integrated Projects and Networks of ExcellenceFocus on increase of the SME participation in “New” Member States and Candidate Countries

Main ActivitiesINFORM - TRAIN - ASSIST!

Informing/Profiling of SMEs/SME groupings and RTDs

interested in European research cooperation and ready to

participate in the Framework ProgrammeAddressing of 2500 different SMEs Collecting of >250 profiles of SMEs interested in European RTD cooperation

Informing/Identifying of researchers/research consortia preparing Life Sciences proposals as coordinators or active participants

Identifying 400 researchers/coordinators of Life Sciences related proposals

Main ActivitiesINFORM - TRAIN - ASSIST!

Training/Assisting of SMEs and SME groupings on FP6

issues following their needsIntellectual property rightsFinancial framework of FP6Project management., etc.

Training/Assistance of researchers/research consortiacreation of awareness on the importance of involving SMEsassistance on consortium building and finding partnerstraining and assistance on proposal preparation and involvement of SMEs

160 national training sessions6 major transnational training sessionsindividual training and assistance

Main ActivitiesINCREASING VISIBILITY - BRING TOGETHER!

High quality matchmaking - database available where SMEs can present their expertise and researchers their project ideas (www.smesgolifesciences.org)

Organisation of 3 major brokerage events

Presentation of SME and RTD profiles and researchers project ideas on major conferences and events

Matchmaking by individual support/advise of SMEs/SME groupings and researchers

SMEs with specific research know-howinterested in European RTD cooperation

Research consortia preparing a FP6 RTD project and look for SME partners

Take advantage of our service!

Find your competent research partner through

Increase the “European visibility” of your research expertise

ensure that you can be contacted by registering in the database

Get prepared for involvement/submission in/of an EU RTD

project

Attend our information and training sessions

Take advantage of the tailor-made, individual assistance of your national expert

Contact your national expert!

www.smesgolifesciences.org

www.smesgolifesciences.org

Partner seraches for the projects (1)

1. “Daddy Sitter” – Elderly people surveillance (STREP – Israel).

Deadline of expression of the interest – 25.04.2006 !The aim of the project is to develop a knowledge based image processing

system that studies elderly people in a house daily routine and alert when

unusual event happens. The proposal intends to deliver the innovative

technologies of knowledge based image processing for the surveillance of

elderly people.

Required partners: Nursing homes and hospitals that wish to implement automatic surveillance

systems Medical communication companies. System integrator for medical and healthcare applications.

Work to be carried out: A nursing home or a hospital will support the system definition and requirements. A medical communication company will develop and integrate the alert capabilities

with the system. An integrator will integrate the technology with other devices and communications

capabilities.

Partner seraches for the projects (2)

2. “Aging Guard” – Development of a system that will monitor vital

parameters in order to detect the physiological status of elderly

people performing a physical effort (STREP – Israel).

Deadline of expression of the interest – 25.04.2006 !

The subject is the development of a system that will monitor vital parameters in order to detect the physiological status of elderly people performing a physical effort. The information will be transmitted to a distant medical center, which will continuously asses the health status of the user and to alert if an impending problem might occur. The sensing unit will be in the mouth. We have developed an intra-oral electro-stimulating system to treat dry mouth (Saliwell Project, under FP5) and a drug delivery system (IntelliDrug Project, under FP6). The company Telefónica, which is part of the consortium, is responsible for developing the telemedicine system. The work will address key user needs for independent living and provide an innovative solution that can significantly increase autonomy of elderly people.

Required partners: with the following characteristics (in order of

preference): Geriatric organization

End user representative (clients or care providers)

SME (not obligatory)

Partner seraches for the projects (3)

3. “CommSup” – Implementation of Supportive Communities and

Assisting Information and Communication in the Aging Society

(Israel).

Deadline of expression of the interest – 25.04.2006 !CommSup objective is to implement the working model of 'supportive community' within several European nations. Supportive communities will be created in such a way that while introducing the model, appropriate scientific evaluation will be carried out. Utilization of newly emerged technologies, ready for 'field testing' will be an integral part of the program.

CommSup will introduce, under well controlled approach, 4-5 such 'supportive communities' within the consortium participating nations.

These communities will create the cohort in which various sociological and behavioral parameters will be monitored.

Analysis of the monitoring will be performed by the fourth members Evaluation of the economic modus operandum will be tested.

Implementation of sophisticated enabling technology will part of the program. The technological solutions will be tested; evaluation of needs, adaptability and social differences will be performed by the ICT members of the consortium.

Partner seraches for the projects (4)

Required partners: (refers to Call for NGO/NPO & SME): SME or a non profit organization managing and providing social and health

services for the elderly in its local community (refers to Call for NGO/NPO &

SME): Companies inventing/installing state of the art hardware and software aimed for

the elderly at home (refers to Call for technological companies)

Work to be carried out:

NGO/NPO and SME service providers:

This partner will have the responsibility to establish the supportive community, to manage and provide the needed support for the conduction of scientific and other surveys which are part of the program.

This partner will have to be able to bring along to the consortium the local authorities and/or the national relevant bodies dealing with the elderly.

The partner should be able to facilitate the introduction of novel technologies such as sensing devices and/or software for the benefit of the elderly and the caregivers. This should be performed in tandem with the technology partner/s of the consortium.

SME as technological innovator:

Should have ready to use technology, willing to provide and implement the solution in the supportive communities and monitor the successful use of the technology.

Partner seraches for the projects (5)

4. “H2RAT” –A Haptic Handling Robot for Assistance Tasks

(STREP – Austria).

Deadline of expression of the interest – 25.04.2006 !The objective of the proposed project is to develop a haptic handling robot for the assistance of human experts in critical tasks that have to be realized with high accuracy in accordance to a predefined procedure, under obstacles such as high inaccessibility for applying a tool, and with perhaps scanty visibility in the working area. The H2RAT aims on utilizing robots as assistants for work performing tasks that would be impossible or at least hard to be accomplished with accuracy.

Required partners:

A partner, who is capable to deliver or manufacture the mechatronics construction and the prototype of a haptic hinge. Therefore, a company (SME) with experience in planning and manufacturing of micro/miniature mechanics.

Partner seraches for the projects (6)

5. DEVELOPMENT OF SUBUNIT VACCINE FOR AVIAN

INFLUENZA (STREP – Israel).

Deadline of expression of the interest – 25.04.2006 !

The objective of the project is developing effective vaccines to treat human, farm animals and birds. This project proposes to develop a subunit vaccine based on immunogenic MHC peptide antigens (T cell epitopes) and on viral proteins which are the targets of antibodies in people or animals. The project's main objectives are: 1. Identification of the MHC peptide repertoires of the birds and establish their consensus binding motifs 2. Identification of MHC peptides derived from the virus proteins and presented by bird MHC molecules that elicit T cell responses3. Identification of the viral proteins that are the targets of serum antibodies of people or animal that survive the disease 4. Based on the identification of these MHC peptides and proteins, to develop subunit vaccines that can be administered to humans, farm animals or birds. A potential benefit of this project is the development of vaccines that can be mass-produced and administered even to wild animals. Improved understanding of the immunology of the avian influenza may help future design of molecules that could be used as components of vaccines for other strains of influenza and other viruses transmitted from birds to humans.

Partner seraches for the projects (7)

Required partners: Role: technology development, research, training, dissemination, demonstration

activities Partner wit expertise: Immunologist and virologist, especially specialist in avian

immunology and virology.

6. “EUMITOCOMBAT” - Rational treatment strategies combating

mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation disorders

( Integrated project – Netherlands)Call for additional 1-2 partners (max budget – 96.000,00 Eur) – planning for

launching – June 2006

The EUMITOCOMBAT consortium already consists of 12 partners (21 scientific

groups from 9 different countries) aims to integrate and extend knowledge on

basic aspects of OXPHOS biology and the pathobiological cascades underlying

OXPHOS disease manifestation in humans. The EUMITOCOMBAT project will re-

inforce Europe as the international leader in the development of treatments

capable of combating these disorders.

Partner seraches for the projects (8)

They will:

Integrate clinical and model-system expertise; Characterize important genes and proteins involved in the formation and

regulation of the OXPHOS-system. Study the network of components involved in cellular energy metabolism by

functional genomics. Develop more efficient genetic and protein (mutation) screening methods. Evaluate the cellular alterations/adaptations of these defects in specified cells,

tissues, models and humans. Develop methods to target and test therapeutic agents to specific (sub)cellular

locations.

Required partners:

Role: technology development, dissemination; Scientific development; Organisation of Public Relations and communications

Contact your national expert and get support fromSMEsgoLifeSciences partner in Latvia:

Latvian Technological Center – Diana Krievina!Tel: + 371 7558754, e-mail: dianak@edi.lv

Submitting and

performing EU RTD

projects - It‘s not that

difficult!