TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR BIOSCIENCES TECHNOLOGY COMMERCIALISATION AND INCUBATION

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR BIOSCIENCES TECHNOLOGY COMMERCIALISATION AND INCUBATION CENTRE (BIOCentre) Aleksander Bakowski, Team Leader A project supported by the European Union being implemented by a consortium led by ACE International Consultants (ES) including Tecnalia (ES) and ACE Adriatic (HR)

Main purpose Establishment of fully operational Bioscience Technology Commercialisation and Incubation Centre BIOCentre.

What is BIOCenter? • BIOCenter is a technology transfer, commercialization and business incubation institution specialized for the area of biosciences (life sciences and biotechnology). Its mission is to provide an entrepreneurial environment that supports and encourages R&D and technology transfer into marketable products in biosciences. • BIOcenter will offer specialized facilities and services to researchers, start‐up and established companies and industry. • It will be located within the University of Zagreb Campus – North (Borongaj). Its construction is expected to be completed in 2014.

Infrastructure • Central laboratory unit (CLU) suitable for experimental work in the bioscience area for contract research consisting of: Cell banking unit, Cell culture laboratories, Microbial culture laboratories, Product recovery unit, Purification laboratory, Bioanalytical laboratory, and Buffer and media preparation unit. • Qualified laboratory space to biotechnology companies (start‐ups and SMEs). • Office space for start‐ups with basic office equipment and conference rooms

Services • Process development services necessary for bio‐product development in line with regulatory requirements to commercialize and register new products. • Services for technology transfer support. • Services for business development support. • Mentoring. • Co‐funding of services provided. • Financial support to start‐ups and process development projects. • Trainings – Business training courses (focused on Business development). – Technical training courses (focused on Product development). – Trainings tailored to company needs.

To whom • Researchers looking for opportunities to commercialise research results; • Academic spin‐offs looking for opportunities of development; • Start‐ups and SMEs looking for opportunities to expand their business; • Companies looking for laboratories for new processes and products development; • Companies looking for RTD cooperation and development of staff qualifications in biotechnology

Results to be achieved • Technology transfer support (BIOTransfer); • Development of academic spin‐offs (BIOIncubation); • Incubation and start‐up support to young innovative companies (BIOIncubation); • Implementation of business (including SMEs) R&D projects (BIOFacility); • Process development for new products (BIOFacility); • Increase of competencies in biotechnology and/or business development of researchers, start‐up managers and company employees (BIOEducation)

Actions • To establish Croatian Biotechnology Platform/Forum as an independent advisory body which comprises of three key interest groups – the business sector, academic and research community and government with main goal to create dialogue, partnership and consensus on programs that are critical to the national biotechnology sector development and should be reflected in Croatian economic and competitiveness development strategy. • To receive feedback from target groups regarding their specific needs related to BIOCentre functions and operations.

Contact If you are intersted in BIOCentre services or if you want to share your opinions on this subject please contact project team: Key Expert 1 - Team Leader (Service Plan) Aleksander Bakowski aleksander. bakowski@bicro. hr aleksander. bakowski@aster. pl Key Expert 3 (HR Strategy) Asier Fernández-Matamoros Olaizola asier. fernandez-matamoros@tecnalia. com Key Expert 2 (Biotechnology) Daslav Hranueli daslav. hranueli@bicro. h r dhranueli@pbf. hr Key Expert 4 (Marketing Strategy) Dijana Deškovic Kobas dijana. deskovic@bicro. hr dijana. deskovic@spona. hr