JFS Information, Networking and Matchmaking event at the Bio Investment Asia 2019 conference
From September 25-27 the Bio Investment Asia 2019 conference took place in Bangkok. The event's aim was to promote advanced technologies related to biotechnology and life sciences in Asia, to stimulate bio-businesses and investment in biotechnologies and to create a platform for knowledge sharing in biotechnology between stakeholders from Southeast Asia and other parts of the world.
The SEA-EU JFS was invited to the event for presenting its activities and raising awareness about the currently two open calls among the scientific and entrepreneurial community present in Bangkok.
On the one hand, the JFS hosted a booth at the conference's exhibition area. The exhibition as part of the Bio Investment Asia 2019 was visited by several thousand attendees from more than 30 countries over three days (from September 25-27). Over the course of the three days, the JFS service delivery team had several conversations with people interested in the JFS' activities. At the booth visitors could also learn from six posters prepared by European investigators, which were invited to the event following a call for applications for travel grants to attend this networking opportunity in Southeast Asia. In total, 6 European researchers/entrepreneurs were selected for a travel grant and had the chance to present their ideas and meet potentially interested Southeast Asian counterparts related to one of the two currently open calls of the JFS (S&T Call for Proposals: Integrated Water Resource Management and Nanotechnologies, deadline October 18, AND Innovation Call for Proposals: Infectious diseases and smart cities, deadline November 18).
The six invited European researchers/entrepreneurs and their topic were:
- Towards photodynamic antimicrobials - a serious alternative to antibiotics
Ms. Fabienne Dumoulin, Associate Professor, Gebze Technical University, Turkey - Ways to improve the data integration and processing (big data, machine learning / AI) of infectious disease events
Mr. Jorge Cortell, CEO, Kanteron Systems, Spain - Development of rapid, sensitive and on-site detection system for microorganisms that cause infection due to climate change
Ms. Esra Agel, Project Manager, TUBITAK Marmara Research Center, Material Institute, Turkey - Performing a clinical trial to show the safety and efficacy of the Ruti therapeutic vaccine to improve the standard antibiotic treatment
Ms. Olga Rue Claros, CEO, ARCHIVEL FARMA, S.L., Spain - Development of rapid diagnostic test kits for vector borne diseases threating both Europe and Southeast Asia
Mr. İbrahim SÖZDUTMAZ, Ass. Prof. / Co-founder and director, Erciyes University and Klonbiyotek Biyoteknoloji, Turkey - Medical device which performs advanced semen analysis for in vitro fertilization procedures and fertility treatments
Mr. Burak Ozkosem, CEO, PERA LABS, Turkey
On the other, the JFS organised its own information, networking and matchmaking event on September 26, in order to support the set-up of powerful consortia for the submission of strong project proposals for two open JFS calls. After an introduction to the SEA-EU JFS and its call scheme by Hans Westphal (Service Delivery Manager), the six grantees from above had the chance to speak more in detail about their individual topics. They also met with potential partners from Southeast Asia to discuss a joint proposal submission for one of the two open JFS calls.
As an additional task, the service delivery team managed to record some statements from those beneficiaries, funded under the 1st and 2nd call of the funding scheme. These video clips will be used to produce an official promotional video for the JFS with a planned publication date in spring 2020. Stay tuned!
