On December 1, 2015, the day “Innovation and Economic Impact in Plant Production” was held, jointly organized by IRTA, CAJAMAR, and BIOVEGEN. The event, which took place at the Agro-Food Scientific and Technological Park of Lleida (PCiTAL), brought together more than 65 professionals from the sector, including researchers, companies, and funding entities.
The day 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 sector in plant production, and how this can stimulate the private sector to undertake R&D activities and collaborations with public research centers. Financing tools and assistance for the development of R&D projects were also presented, such as those offered by CDTI and the BIOVEGEN platform.
Additionally, in order 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 companies or interested researchers. Several meetings were also held with an expert from CDTI (the main public agency in Spain for financing business R&D) with the aim of analyzing the innovation interests of the companies requesting the meeting.
Gallery
Program and presentations of the day
10:00 AM Welcome.
Organizers
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, Bioeconomics, Climate, and Natural Resources. CDTI
Science Block
10:45 AM Technological possibilities of genetic improvement for new varieties.
- Pere Arús. IRTA
11:45 AM Break
Business Block
12:00 PM Examples of public-private collaboration in genetics and plant improvement.
- Citrus: CITRUSEQ-CITRUSGEN project. Carlos Baixauli. Cajamar Foundation Valencia Community
- Fitó Seeds and their commitment to public-private collaboration. Torben Jahrmann. Fitó Seeds
- Prunus: NBT-IRTA-CRAG Project. Berta Rodríguez. NewBioTechnic.
- Naxxis Biotech: knowledge transfer to the private sector. José Luis La Paz. Naxxis Biotech
- Agroilla: horticultural production, R&D proposals. Violeta López. Agroilla
13:15 h Discussion
13:30 h Conclusions and Closing