On May 19, 2016, the conference “Trends in Genetic Improvement in Horticultural Production” was held, organized jointly by CITA, CAJAMAR, and BIOVEGEN. The event, which took place in the “Jerónimo Zurita” Room of the Pignatelli Building in Zaragoza (Paseo María Agustín 36, 50003), brought together more than 50 professionals from the sector, including researchers, companies, and funding entities.
The conference served to showcase new technological trends in plant biology and their possibilities, the added value that research brings to the economic activity of the private plant production sector, and how this can stimulate the private sector to engage in R&D activities and collaborations with public research centers. Funding tools and assistance for the development of R&D projects were also presented, such as those offered by CDTI and the BIOVEGEN platform.
Furthermore, to strengthen science-business relationships and the development of R&D projects to enhance the competitiveness of the sector, attendees had the opportunity to mobilize R&D proposals and hold bilateral meetings with interested companies or researchers. Several meetings were also held with an expert from CDTI (the main Spanish public agency for funding business R&D) to analyze the innovation interests of the companies requesting the meeting.
Gallery
Program and presentations of the conference
10:00 a.m. Welcome
- Pilar Alegría. Dept. of Innovation, Research, and University. Government of Aragon
FINANCING Block
10:15 AM. BIOVEGEN as a catalyst for R&D projects.
- Gonzaga Ruiz de Gauna. BIOVEGEN
10:30 AM. Funding opportunities from CDTI for companies in the plant production sector.
- Carlos Franco. Department of Health, Bioeconomy, Climate, and Natural Resources. CDTI
SCIENCE Block
10:45 AM. Biotechnological tools for improving rootstocks and almond trees.
- María José Rubio-Cabetas. CITA ARAGÓN
11:15 AM. Biotechnological tools for improving horticultural species.
- Ana Garcés-Claver. CITA ARAGÓN
11:45 h. Coffee
COMPANY Block
12:00 h. Examples of public-private collaboration in genetics and plant breeding:
- Citrus: CITRUSEQ-CITRUSGEN project. Carlos Baixauli. Fundación Cajamar Comunidad Valenciana
- RAMIRO ARNEDO: R&D in horticulture. Javier Peña. Ramiro Arnedo
- LAFUENTE TOMEY: R&D in fruit trees. Esther Lafuente. Lafuente Tomey
13:00 h. Colloquium
13:30 h. Conclusions and Closing