Public Relation and Technology Transfer
Role of the Plant Industrial Platform
Find here (or partly read below) suggestions to add value to management aspects for a proposal you may consider to submit: SHIFT-click to download
A second document: FP5-b.doc available from the secretariat biotech@hetnet.nl, gives you an effortless methodology to include PIP members as a strategic target audience, offering clear evidence of European added value. In case you are a prospective co-ordinator you may wish to receive these sample texts for inclusion in your proposal. If you are aiming for a partnership in a research proposal, it may be worthwile to contact your future co-ordinator.
Background
When preparing a shared cost research proposal for funding during FP-5, the requirement of socio-economic benefit, the exploitation of knowledge generated in the course of the project and good project management are elements which will be assessed on quality. The tasks of a project coordinator, beyond doing good science, has inflated each subsequent Framework Programme. Fortunately satellite organisations, such as the Plant Industrial Platform (PIP), have offered help in previous years to support project coordinators in these tasks. Tangible proof of the good working relationships between research groups and the PIP have been the 'Confidential Disclosure Agreement' between PIP members and the AMICA Science EEIG, the organisation of technology transfer workshops in 1996, 1997 and 1997 and the period of involvement in the European Plant Biotechnology Network (EPBN, 1997 - 2000).
How to proceed?
Many FP-5 research proposals will, as they have in the past, include one or more European plant biotech-oriented companies as a research partner. Technically, the requirement for exploitation has been fulfilled. However for all partners a great potential for dissemination and exploitation may be missed if no further actions are taken. Other European companies, small and large, could be interested in results or technology which may be irrelevant to the (industrial) partner(s) in the project. It is also possible that exploitation should be carried out by an external party when IPR has been secured by the project partners. Finally, just dissemination of results is an essential step to investigate above described opportunities. It is therefore that the PIP offers direct, contractually binding, involvement in research projects, to be documented in submitted proposals.
Suggested tasks
Dissemination (1) . . Whichever strategy project partners choose to screen research output and protect IPR, there will be a moment when cleared data will be made public through a scientific publication or a conference contribution. It is proposed that at a defined moment prior to submission, the information is sent to the PIP for a rapid distribution among its members. The limited time-frame prior to actual publication or presentation should be sufficient to notify potential interested outside parties. It is then up to the individual initiatives and agreements how to proceed. To ensure that this system will work convincingly, it is essential that the methodology is described in the submitted project proposal.
Dissemination (2) . . It will be of importance to communicate project objectives, interim results and reports to outside circles. Involvement of the PIP ensures that the European industrial community will be served through its publications (newsletter, web-site, email service).
Dissemination (3) . . Project meetings are yet another method to demonstrate effective dissemination. It is suggested that each project meeting includes an open session to which PIP members could be invited for information exchange and interaction with the project partners.
Partnering . . In particular cases it may be useful to identify outside parties with specific technologies or competence. The PIP network could be of use to find such partners.
Feedback . . Information on activities, developments and needs of the industrial community usually does not easily reach the scientific community. It is suggested that the PIP expands the distribution list of its publications, to include the project partners and lab co-workers.
Legal aspects
Contractual (principal or assistant) partners in shared cost actions are expected to carry out independent research and all share access rights to results, generated during the project. Since the PIP will not contribute to research activities, and thus will not share prior or current knowledge, the status as full contractor seems not possible. It is therefore suggested that the PIP should be a subcontractor to the project management. The PIP has a legal status (association according to Dutch law), its activities therefore can be documented in the proposal.
Further activities
The Plant Industrial Platform co-operates with the GMP-network and distributes a NewsBrief by email. Subscribe at [http://www.terra-eu.org]. This website offers further information on PIP's current activities and maintains an overview of EU funded (research) projects with relation to plant sciences. Companies are invited to join PIP and take advantage of PIP's NewsAlerts, catalogues of EU funded programmes and (co-)organised meetings.
Contact
If you are interested in to make use of PIP's services during the FP-5, please download the documents shown at the top of this page. These should be self-explanatory, but in case of doubt, please contact the secretariat to discuss further details. The PIP channel can also be used to identify potential industrial partners for your research proposals. It is suggested that non-disclosing objectives or research tasks are sent around the PIP network as an invitation.
PIP secretariat: dr. Gert E. de Vries, Meerweg 6, 9625 PJ Overschild, the Netherlands, ph: ++31-596.566.321; fax: ++31-596.566.508; email: biotech@hetnet.nl
FP5.HTM