Why Bios & Techs ?
Bios & Techs applications:
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Sectors |
Types of products |
Examples of products |
Suppliers |
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Bio-industries
and environement |
Industrial products for sustainable development |
Biofuel, biolubricants, fine chemistry, biological protection |
R&D
Research and analysis departments
Instruments and Equipment
IT
Technical and support services |
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Farming and agronomy |
Animal husbandry and agricultural products |
Organic production, grain, health and food products for animals |
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(Bio)medical |
Hospital goods |
Synthetic culture of human tissues and organs, stents, medical apparatus |
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Medical apparatus |
Brain stimulators, MRI... |
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Diagnostic aids |
Molecular tests |
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(Bio)pharmacy |
Ethical drugs |
Specialised drugs, basic drugs |
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Non-prescription drugs and OTC products |
Comfort drugs, pain-killers, natural drugs, phytotherapy... |
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Food processing |
Industrial ingredients, plants, health-food, special diet food, "well-being" foodstuffs |
Additives, herbal tea, vitamins and minerals, margarine, phytosterols... |
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Hygiene and cosmetics |
Personal hygiene, skin-care products, dermocosmetical products... |
Essential oils, natural drugs, retinoids… |
Several International Groups connected with the life sciences have developed in the region:
The skills and competencies generated from aeronautical engineering and space hubs provides an exceptional knowledge base in Europe when il comes to the physical sciences and engineering - the « Techs » - like embedded electronics, information technologies, precision micro-mecanics, nano-technologies, smart materials, and space medicine, are exactly those disciplines that lie at the heart of tomorrow's medicine and bio-sciences.
- The region is also a hub of excellence:
- in chimistry with the laboratories LCC, LGC, CIRIMAT
- in Process Engineering
- in metrology and sensors
These are the essential disciplines for bio-pharmacy and drug innovation.
Midi-Pyrenees unique status in Bio&Techs is illustrated by the fallowing achievements and projects:
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The Toulouse GENOPOLE stands out through its trans-disciplinary approach bringing micro-electronics and molecular biology together to conceive new miniaturized tools like bio-chips and micro-fluid systems. Established in 1999 and belonging to one of the 8 sites of the National Network, its mission is to promote and support research programs in the fields of micro-biology, plants and animals, health, nanobiotechnologies, bio-information technology and ethics and society. The Génopôle is based on five technological platforms : genetic typing and sequencing, transcriptome et biochips, protéomics, functional exploration, and bio-information technologies. |
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L’ITAV : an inter-disciplinary research platform, called the Institute of Advanced Technologies in Life Forms (ITAV), isbeing set up. The project seeks to bring together skilled Bio&Techs researchers from differents bodies on one site for carry out join projects. It will be an action space that complements the operations of existing structures by :
- breaking down scientific and technological barriers through its inter-disciplinary approach
- offering a location where the best projects from engineering and life sciences can meet
- making a contribution to economic growth through development of applicable and realizable industrial processes and products. The interfaces et transfers will be a major benefit to the Biotechnologies Hub.
The setting of the ITAV was approved, and funded, by the State at the CIADT meeting of December 18, 2003.
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The InnaBioSanté foundation : a new research foundation that will be located in Toulouse. The creation of this foundation was announced during the WCC Congress in Toulouse during August 2004. Matching state and private founding (21.5 million Euros from both parties) will give it an overall budget of 30 to 40 millions Euros. It will finance research projects in the Info-Nano-Bio Technologies area.
- A unique status with regard to Food an Health innovation:
In terms of innovation, Midi-Pyrenees enjoys a unique position in France in “Health and Foods,” thanks to the integration of two clusters: “Food Safety and Quality” and “Food Health.” In particular, this new integrated cluster, PA3S specializes in the characterization of healthy food, according to two complementary preventive approaches.
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PA3S - Food safety and public health complex
A scientific and technological "Health & Foods" platform
serving businesses
The food and health complex, PA3S, combines regional expertise in research and development on food safety, quality, health and nutrition.
- 16 public research laboratories
- 340 research employees (including 163 researchers and 66 doctoral students)
- Important relation with international laboratories, such as the bio-clusters of Turku in Finland, and of Tojoku and Kobe, Japan, Montreal Canada and Maryland USA
- Attentive to regional industrialists and corporate groups (including Nestlé, Danone, Novozymes, Danisco)
- Involved in the organization of two events in the region SISQA (International food safety and quality week), a biennial event, and the SAS food safety symposium, an international bi-annual scientific conference.
- Participates in the commissions and work-groups on regulations nationally (AFNOR,
AFSSA, ...) and internationally (FDA, ...)
- Possesses technological platforms and collections of biological resouces (e.g. a mycotheque)
- Expertise in food sociology: CRITHA (Cell research engineering: Tourism, hotel industry, food), OCHA (CIDIL Observatory for food harmony)
- Projects underway:
One of the major PA3S projects concerns food epidemiology and cancer prevention. Its goal is to document the relations between diet, nutritional statut, environmental factors and cancer. It includes studies of the link between contamination of the food chain and certain cancers, and also focuses on prevention of carcinogenesis through the food supply and/or food additives (project estimated at €25 M).
For the public health aspect, four main lines of research have been selected: prions, mycotoxins, bacteriology and toxicology of chemical risks.
For the food safety aspect, several projects are underway in the fields of probiotics, prebiotics and phytoestrogens to prevent chronic pathologies such as diabetes or gastro-intestinal disorders.
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