THE ERASMUS NETWORK IN BIOTECHNOLOGY

The Erasmus networks were created in 1996 by Socrates programme with the intent to favour inside a large topic a common European opinion about content and possible future development. Initially these projects were mainly related to the University formation and the networks were formed only by University Institutions. Networks in many disciplines, such Chemistry, Engineering were created; during these ten years new projects were presented and the objectives were not only represented by the education common strategy, but were also directed to the development of research on the basis of industrial needs. In fact actually also the enterprises can be partners of the network and the European Commission suggested that they will represent about 40 % of the participants. This instrument therefore assumes an important role in the Lisbon strategy. Actually the networks related to scientific fields have formed a cluster (Archipelago) in order to share the common problem either in the formation and in the industrial development.
Each network includes members from each European country and from Turkey, so they have a great potentiality of results dissemination and valorisation.
A network in Biotechnology was also created in 1996 with the aim to favour, through the formation, the development of enterprises. In the actual project Eurobiotech approved in 2007 research projects and innovative technology are taken in consideration. For this reason the industrial experts were consulted in order to develop all applicative aspect useful for enterprises. Particular attention was also made to the updating the formation of the working personnel by developing ODL modules. The meeting held in April 2007 in Brussels underlines the relevance of modern Biotechnology for Europe development. They also established the subjects which must developed in the next 5 years.
To this end the “European Biotechnology Thematic Network” Association was created in which many partners of the network participate in order to have the possibility to develop some independent activities and to stabilise in time the network created with Socrates project.
We intend to favour the creation of bio-incubators, to stimulate the small enterprises to create the clusters in which they have at disposal also the support offered by University researchers, to update the formation to the industrial needs, to prepare newly graduated for these enterprises across a mixed experience in the University and in enterprise.