28 October 2009 - h. 9.00 Sala Ulisse, Via Zamboni 33
Meeting venue
Sala Ulisse - Accademia delle Scienze
Via Zamboni 33, 40126 Bologna
Map
Presentations online in the attachments box in this page
Why all this interest in knowledge?
Because knowledge has become an extremely valuable economic resource, one that Europe is good at producing and will rely on increasingly to maintain its competitive edge. In a global economy, knowledge is the best way to increase productivity and competitiveness and improve our quality of life, while protecting our environment and social model. This was presented by Janez Potočnik EU Science and Research Commissioner at the European Commission conference entitled: " New perspectives on the Knowledge – based Bio- economy".
But KBBE is a concept that will doubtless become familiar over the coming years as Europe steps up its efforts to become a world-leading economic and scientific powerhouse. The knowledge-based bio-economy is a sector estimated to be worth more than €1.5 trillion per year. The life sciences and biotechnology are significant drivers of growth and competitiveness here. These sciences will help us to live in a healthier and more sustainable fashion by finding more environmentally friendly production methods and pushing forward the frontiers of science. It is this economic, social and environmental potential that has thrust the knowledge-based bio-economy to the top of the policy agenda in many countries, such as the United States, Japan, China, India and Brazil. This should prompt Europe to redouble our efforts in order to remain competitive.
This is what the EU’s Growth and Jobs initiative and Lisbon Strategy are about.
In recognition of the growing importance of the Knowledge-Based Bio-Economy, the University of Bologna - in collaboration with the newly born IT-SusChem national Association - organizes a national conference in Bologna University (28th October 2009). The gathering was held under the slogan "The Knowledge-Based Bio-Economy (KBBE) in FP7 and FP8".
To examine the new perspectives presented by this emerging paradigm, "Transforming life sciences knowledge into new, sustainable, eco-efficient and competitive product"’, a national meeting with the participation of Dr. Christian Patermann, former Director of the European Commission DG- Research Directorate Biotech, Agriculture and Food, has been organized to present, at European level, the role of the KBBE theme in FP7 and its future prospective in FP8. On the national level, the Italian participation to the KBBE FP7 – funded projects and its role in the promotion and active organization of different national Technology Platforms supporting the relative KBBE European Technology Platforms will be presented and commonly discussed by the industry-driven prospective and Italian Minister of the University and Research, the National Contact Point and National Delegate.
In order to fulfil all those objectives, it is important to have a synergic vision of the structure of the KBBE theme and the knowledge of the existing public- private partnerships (such as the National and European Technology Platforms) supporting such strategy. A complete and organic view of the KBBE system and funding opportunities will constitute the most powerful tool to give to our Italian system the chance to keep the primary role in research on the International stage. Toward this objective, the meeting will focus on the KBBE European and National perspective and tools that have been set up even at national scale to boost the dialogue and alignment between the European and Italian research policies.