The Biotechnology Development Unit at ICGEB Trieste recently ran a tech training course for the South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
In May 2026, ICGEB Headquarters (HQ) in Trieste, Italy, welcomed 10 staff members from South Africa’s CSIR for intensive training on Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Quality Management Systems, and bioprocessing.
Combining theory with hands-on experience in ICGEB’s pharma-compliant Biotechnology Development Unit (BDU) facilities, participants enhanced their expertise through Quality Control (QC) case studies for biotherapeutics.
This programme supports stronger GMP compliance in Lower- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs), advancing the adoption of international best practices and access to affordable medicines.
Dr Ghaneshree Moonsamy, Principal Researcher, Future Production: Chemicals Cluster of CSIR South Africa, commented as follows: “The experience was both informative and inspiring. Beyond the excellent technical content, the team was particularly touched by the warmth, hospitality, and generosity shown throughout the training, especially by our facilitators. Their willingness to openly share their knowledge, experiences, and insights created an engaging and supportive learning environment that greatly enhanced the experience.”
Dr Moonsamy also expressed gratitude for the dedication to developing capacity within the biomanufacturing sector in Africa and for fostering meaningful discussions that will undoubtedly contribute to professional growth.
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CSIR has worked closely with ICGEB both in South Africa, as a Joint Knowledge Partner in the G20 Research and Innovation Working Group (RIWG) in 2025, and in India, running collaborative Foldscope Workshops for students under the CSIR-Jigyasa (“curiosity quest”) Program, a major initiative that connects schools with laboratories to foster a scientific mindset among students.
The training in Trieste is the latest collaboration consolidating a strong partnership across three continents.
