13/12/2005

Greek, Cypriot and Turkish experts visited selected German research centres and businesses that are active in the Plant Biotechnology sector, within the framework of a mission organised recently by the General Secretariat for Research and Technology, in partnership with the German Ministry of Education and Development. This visit is part of the two countries' Interstate Scientific and Technological Partnership.

The mission s target was the strengthening of Greek research activities in the sector of Plant Biotechnology, through the exchange of views between the experts, cooperation and the transfer of technological knowledge for the effective utilization of research results in innovative applications.

Participating in the mission were representatives of the academic community (Prof. P. Kaltsikis and P. Chatzopoulos, Agricultural University of Athens, Prof. M Sotiria-Koutsikou, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki), business (N. Leventakis and V. Dourtoglou from the companies Vitro Hellas AC and Vioryl AC, respectively), and organisations involved in the aforementioned sector (S. Adamopoulos, Hellenic Association of Agricultural Biotechnology). The General Secretariat for Research and Technology was represented by Dr. N. Sidiropoulos (Department of International Scientific and Technological Partnership), while participating in the mission was Dr. Ch. Paskoual of the Greek National Documentation Centre, acting as coordinator of the Hellenic Innovation Relay Centre.

The visits took place from the 26th to the 28th of October 2005 in the following research centres and businesses:

Institute for Plant Genetics and Plant Cultivation Research (IPK), Gatersleben:

The institute deals inter-scientifically with modern biology issues, crop plants as experimental organisms. It is considered one of the most pioneering research centres in its sector and it contributes significantly to the protection and use of plant-genetic resources. During the mission, the participants had the opportunity to visit the Genetics Bank, which possesses around 150.000 accessions for more than 2.700 botanical species, and the Institute s Genetics Centre. In addition, they were informed on the German Plant Genetics Programme (GABI), a partnership between public and private carriers for Plant Biotechnology that constitutes the basis for the creation of the European Research Network for Plant Genomics (ERA NET PG).

Bayer CropScience?s Centre for Research and Development, Potsdam:

Bayer CropScience is a company active in the sector of crop solutions, providing relevant products and services at an international level. It also has an extensive network of research centres, aiming at the development of innovative products in the sector of crop protection, seeds, green biotechnology and non-agricultural pest control. The visit included a tour of the Centre's greenhouses and laboratories, as well as the presentation of specific research activities such as a carbohydrates analysis (starch analysis).

Max Planck Institute for Molecular Plant Physiology, Golm ? Potsdam:

The institute focuses on Plant Metabolism activities at various levels (whole plants, organs, single cells), with a specific interest in the development of new analytical techniques concerning data processing via bio-informatics.

Max Planck Institute for Plant Reproduction Research, Cologne:

The Institute does basic research in plant molecular biology, aiming at the development of more efficient breeding techniques and more environment-friendly plant-protection strategies for industrial crops.

The organization of the visits was extremely successful, as the experts had the opportunity to exchange views and investigate common interests in the development of interstate scientific and technological partnerships.

Source: The Greek National Documentation Centre