Biotechnology Transfer

One of ICGEB’s objectives is to assist developing countries in strengthening their scientific and technological capabilities in the field of genetic engineering and biotechnology (Art. 2 (b) of the ICGEB Statutes). In order to pursue this objective, Art. 3 (j) of the Centre’s Statutes foresees that ICGEB should maintain close contacts with the industrial sector.

Since 2001, over 70 agreements and collaborations for training, transfer of technologies and patent licensing have been concluded with industrial partners located in Brazil, Egypt, India, Iran, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Uruguay and Venezuela.

The procedure to transfer ICGEB technologies foresees the finalization of a Memorandum of Understanding which usually provides for a period of training in the ICGEB laboratories of a  number of the industrial partners’ employees, a supply of genetically modified strains and the protocols for the production, purification and quality control of a specific biotechnological product. In order to give further assistance, in some cases it is agreed that ICGEB scientists will assist the industrial partner while reproducing the process on its own premises. Most of the companies involved in these tech transfers are now producing biosimilars using ICGEB technologies. These products are not only sold on local markets but also successfully compete in the international arena.

A group of scientists and technicians at the Trieste and New Delhi Components are fully dedicated to technology transfer activities and in 2008 a group will become operational also at the Cape Town Component.