German launch of the EU’s FASILIS scientific facility sharing scheme

31 Mar 2010 | News
The EU’s Facility Sharing in Life Sciences project will give small and medium sized companies access to public laboratories and scientific research facilities.


The European Union’s FASILIS (Facility Sharing in Life Sciences) project, which will give small and medium sized companies access to public laboratories and scientific research facilities, has been outlined at the Tübingen-Reutlingen Technology Park in a workshop organised by BioRegio Stern, the body that is responsible for administering the project in Germany.

Delegates from over 30 companies heard presentations about each of the six regions that are participating in the scheme, describing the opportunities that are open to them through FASILIS.

Applications are open until 21 May 2010 to secure a voucher worth €6,000 for companies to purchase services or commission research projects from research institutes involved on the scheme. A total of 82 vouchers are available, 15 of which will be allocated by BioRegio STERN.

Only companies or research facilities located in one of the six participating regions are eligible to make contact through this project. “Geographical borders shouldn't pose a barrier to sharing innovations and know-how,” Manfred Kauer of BioRegio STERN. “This project gives small and medium-sized businesses in the STERN BioRegion free, easy access to high-quality international research and first-class facilities.”

Alexander Schippers, a representative of the Eastern Netherlands Health Valley, another region involved in FASILIS, is equally convinced of the benefits. “Attempts to establish contact with companies in other countries often fail at the first hurdle, whether due to a lack of appropriate contacts, or to linguistic and cultural barriers. This is where FASILIS comes in, helping companies to establish and consolidate new business relationships.”

FASILIS supports contracts in six Wallonia BioLiège (Belgium), Medical Valley in Øresund Region BioLogue (Denmark), BioRegion STERN Stuttgart (Germany), South East England Health Technology (UK), North-Brabant LifetecZone Cluster BOM (Netherlands) and Eastern Netherlands Health Valley OOST NV (Netherlands).

The project focuses on the health sector and covers the fields of biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical technology and bioinformatics. The call for vouchers was opened on 10 March and will end on 21 May 2010. A total of 82 vouchers are available, each worth Euro 6,000.

The contact in Germany is Manfred Kauer of BioRegio STERN Management GmbH ([email protected], or tel. +49 711-870354-26).

For further information, visit http://www.fasilis.eu

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