Jens Freitag (GABI Managing Office / ) Genomics in Business 2006 Plant Genomics Research in Germany...

Jens Freitag (GABI Managing Office / www.gabi.de) Genomics in Business 2006

Plant Genomics Research in Germany - GABI

Genomanalyse im Biologischen System Pflanze

GABI-Managing Office (www.gabi.de) 2Jens Freitag; Wageningen, October 2005

Plant Genomics Research at all



Plant Genome Research

is a continuous development as a natural consequence of plant sciences in the 21st century. It is the bridge between classical molecular biology and the future comprehensive and holistic research approaches. The system-oriented understanding of plants (systems oriented biology) and their interaction with the environment (systems ecology) are moving more and more into the focus of our research. Plant genomic programs are necessary to bundle these activities and to form much needed competence clusters.



Central Goal of Plant Genomics Research

Create knowledge that allows the development of novel, advanced products that fulfill future demands.

Plants have to be recognized as technology carriers to create the “Plants for the Future”.



Major Global Trends = Future Demands:

pollution/emission and global environmental changes increased world population scarceness of food, water, energy and other resources unemployment urbanization income disparity within and between societies aging society (collapse of social security systems) instability of political and economical systems

What contributions could biotechnology & functional genomics make?



What are the answers to these global challenges?

Securing healthy and safe food supplies for the growing global population (with less arable land available)

Achieving a sustainable, resource-saving and environmentally friendly agriculture

Agricultural production of raw materials and energy sources Development of bio-based industries using renewable resources Retaining agriculture as the „Engine of Change“ in developing

countries Creating and maintaining a pleasant and natural environment



Plus Contributions to the Solution of Regional Problems:

Economically productive agriculture and rural development (employment opportunities and participation in the value creation chain)

Adaptation of crops to changing environmental conditions (biotic and abiotic)

Adaptation of crops to low-input farming systems Changing life styles with altered demands on products Aging population with new dietary requirements High energy demand faced with a declining supply of fossil fuels

and the projected stop to nuclear power (GE) Environmental conservation and diverse and pleasant countryside

(recreation)



Plant genomics will play an important role in answering pending global questions, but will never be the only answer!


Plant Genomic Research in Germany – GABI



German Plant Genomics in Context

In Germany, two bigger plant genomic research networks exist: The Arabidopsis Functional Genomics Network (AFGN) as an associative

research program of the “German Research Foundation” (DFG) supports Arabidopsis functional genomics with 2 million €. The AFGN is jointly coordinated with the US National Science Foundation ‘Year 2010’ program.

Goal: Elucidating the function of all Arabidopsis genes until 2010. The German plant genomic program GABI combines activities on model

species and crop plants.

Goal: Determining the structure and biological function of the Arabidopsis and barley genomes, and portions of the genomes of important cultivated plants used as research models. Using this information to implement applied research goals.



Twelve plant genomes are being studied within GABI:

Arabidopsis thaliana and barley (Hordeum vulgare) serve as model organisms for mono- and dicotyledonous plants. The results of these two model organisms will support the analysis of genomes on the crop plants rape seed, sugar beet, potato, rye, wheat, maize, tomato and grape. Pine and oak are tree organisms examined.



The research activities within GABI are assigned to two areas:

· Research Area I focuses on basic research activities (100% funded by the BMBF).

· Research Area II bundles activities with more applied character (100% funding of research activities in academia and 50-60% co-financing of research activities within private companies).



GABI 2 (2004 – 2007)

· Political decision was made to continue GABI in a second program period

· Evaluation of running projects at the end of 2002

· Call for proposals was published in 2003

· Deadline to submit GABI 2 proposals in June 30, 2003

· External and internal reviewing process was finished in October

· Second phase of the GABI initiative started in 2004 (continuation of running projects + new projects)

· Stronger focus on application oriented research (transfer from models to crops; “bridge project concept”)

· Up to 25% of the GABI 2 public budget was claimed to promote international co-operation



The GABI Network in 2004

An important aim of GABI is to stimulate the formation of competence clusters all over Germany and to interlink these clusters. Competence clusters can be public research institutions as well as private institutions.



The Public-Private Partnership



Business Platform Promoting GABI (WPG):

The WPG is a registered association seated in Bonn. The purpose of the association is the promotion of research – especially GABI. Initiated by industry, this organization has succeeded in achieving two essential aims:

Establishment of a central contact partner for industry on matters of policy, science, and economy as well as for all other GABI bodies.

Coordination of the activities of the companies participating in GABI and joint definition of binding proceedings and rules for members within the framework of the promotion regulations of the BMBF.



Currently 25 companies are members

These companies are active in different sectors: Plant breeders (21) Agro-chemical industry (2) Food processing (1) Start-ups (1)

That means small and medium-sized enterprises and globally acting companies are members within the same association.



Guidelines of the Business Platform Promoting GABI

Bringing together Germany's existing research capabilities and coordinately transforming its research infrastructure into an integrated network

Connecting the interests of science and industry Establishing the promotion of quality research and creating favorable

conditions for direct industry participation Creating technology transfer strategies promoting the efficient

transformation of research results into innovative products Guaranteeing comprehensive patent coverage Preserving the autonomy of participating companies: Every individual

company may decide freely the way and extent to which it participates in GABI projects.



The Patent and Licensing Agency (PLA for GABI)

To support the VISION of knowledge spillover from academia to companies

Goals and Tasks:

Assistance in contract negotiations and conclusions

Contact prior to publications (screening for utilization relevant results)

Basic cost absorption for patents (initial application and patent attorney)

Only of relevance for Research Area I = in general no industrial partners involved into the projects.



Funding of Genome Research by the BMBF (€/Y)

German Human Genome ProjectDHGP 1996 – 2004National Human Genome Research Network NGFN 2001 – 2007Plant Genome Research ProgramGABI 1999 – 2007Genome Research on BacteriaGenoMik 2001 – 2006Genome Research in LivestockFUGATO 2005 – 2010Proteome Research since 2001Bioinformatics since 2001Systems Biology of the Liver cell since 2004 HepatoSysSystems Biology of Bacteria SysMo 2007-2015

Total:

23 Mio

45-50 Mio

10 Mio

10 Mio

2,7 Mio

10 Mio8 Mio

5-12 Mio

n.n. Mio

ca. 100 Mio



Public Private Partnership in Genome Research

Industrial Association to support Human Genome Research „Förderverein e.V.”

Business Platform promoting GABI Plant Genome Research „Wirtschaftsverbund Pflanzen-genomforschung”GABI e.V.“ (WPG)

Industrial Association to support Animal Genomics „Industrieverbund FUGATO e.V.“


The European landscape of genomics



The ERA Net Plant Genomics



What are the objectives of the ERA Net PG?

creation of an European internal market for Plant Genomics

to avoid fragmentation, to identify synergies to encourage co-operation and co-ordination between

the national/regional programs to facilitate the opening of national programs to establish transnational joint programs



The ERA Net as a success story for Europe

The structuring effect of the ERA Net is immense. Harmonization Transparency Development of efficient funding structures Synergies



The ERA Net PG – Insights from GABI Perspective

For nations the voluntary cooperation is an advantage of the ERA Net PG

The ERA Net is the meeting point for countries willing to cooperate on topics of high interest for a nation/region.

Alibi partners are avoided by the fact that every country has to bring its own grant.

A common pot could be a need for a unified Europe in the long term. In the near future a common pot does not seem to be a practical

solution. Higher level assembled political reasons might change this national

orientation.



Plant Genomics Researchis not only a need of the 21st century, Plant Genomics Research is an example for joint national and international research activities.

Génoplante – GABI (1st phase 2002) Génoplante – GABI (1st and 2nd phase 2004; PPP) MEyC – Génoplante – GABI (1st phase, 2004; first int. co-operation under the ERA PG) ERA Net Plant Genomics (1st call 2005/06)

`MEyC – Génoplante – GABI – plus´ (2nd phase, 2006; PPP) Technology Platform „Plants for the Future“ (FP7 2007-2013)


The future landscape of genomics in Germany


GABI-FUTURE (2007-2016) - a building block on the way to a ‘Bio-Based‘ Industry. As a developed and proven PPP GABI-FUTURE bundles innovative, basic research oriented activities with application oriented developments. International cooperation is the basis for GABI-FUTURE. The networking with other national programs in line with the concept of integrated life sciences underpins the interdisciplinary character of GABI-FUTURE.

GABI Future

International Cooperation

TP ‘Plants for the Future‘ERA Net PG

GE – FRGE – FR - SPGE – CAN...

GABI Netzwerk

GABI-Basics

Basic Research, Systems-Biology, Technologies and Resources

GABI-Breeding

Applied Research in Plant Breeding and Plant Biotechnology

National Programs

Integrative Life Sciences

GenoMikSysMoFUGATONeMoNGFN…


Thank you for your attention.

Jens Freitag (GABI Managing Office / ) Genomics in Business 2006 Plant Genomics Research in Germany...

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