FOUNDATION VISION FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE “SCIENCE – BUSINESS COOPERATION” MARCH 10TH, 2017, TRADE CENTER EUROPE, SOFIA, BULGARIA THE EXAMPLLE OF THE JOINT GENOMIC CENTER FOUNDATION VISION FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE “SCIENCE – BUSINESS CO-OPERATION” MARCH 10TH, 2017, TRADE CENTER EUROPE, SOFIA, BULGARIA A FLAGSHIP FOR NEW BIOECONOMY IN BULGARIA Акад. Атанас Атанасов1, Горица Раклеова1, Ивелин Панчев1,2, Мариана Влахова1, Мария Шишиньова1,2, Венцислав Бърдаров1, Радослав Русев2 1 Съвместен Геномен Център ООД, 2 СУ „Св. Климент Охридски“ What is GENOMICS (the common name of system biology approach) BIOINFORMATICS DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) The genes are in it - about 2-3% = E 25-50 thousand N sugars (GENOMICS) V I R Protein O (PROTEOMICS) N M E fat METABOLITES N (Secondary active compounds T ~300 thousands) •phenols •vitamins •Alcaloids •Organic acids, etc. Cell and molecular farming •Food and feed •How do genes, proteins, metabolites work •Medicines •Is there a difference between them in various •Textile and Garment organisms, what is their composition and structure •Chemistry •How they interact •Bio-energy •What and how they are regulated •Bio-plastics •Why proteins and secondary metabolites are food •Bio-colouring agents, etc. and medicines, while DNA is not MISSION To serve as a first model for Innovative High-Tech Center in the field of Bio-Economy through acting as a catalyst between science and business – To create innovative products with high value-added, competitive ability and niche market for the human health – High quality services related to quality of plant and animal production and food safety for the human health – To train high-tech young personnel – Consulting Services – efficient partnership with the business in the area of high technologies High-throughput Investors/ Venture methods capital Academies JGC Universities State interests Genomics •Direct orders •Control analysis Research projects Proteomics Common interest Metabolomics New knowledge Bioinformatics JGC between the state and the business Prototype Business interests Spin-off companies New products Market Our vision for JGC role in modern economy Main principles of JGC Projects aiming to create a competitive product and know-how are to be established on the basis of: – The unique Bulgarian biodiversity and traditional products in relation to the human – To avoid duplication with Western projects and intentions – Effective application of advanced high-tech methods and equipment – To unite the interests of the academies and universities with the industry – Interdisciplinarity and high profesionalism – Effective international cooperation – Effective technology transfer – Protection for intellectual property rights – Clear Market and Marketing – Investment interest – Creating start-ups JGC Current projects for Agriculture, Food and Pharmaceutical Industry: Plant Metabolites for Water deficit (drought) - wheat and maize Human Health Nutrigenomics (healthy nutrition)- •Nutraceuticals for human •Wheat, Sunflower (with diet and immune system strengthening properties) health with specific: •Vine (dessert varieties) and Wine (Mavrud) •Flavour •Lactic acid bacteria – yogurt •Fragrance •Honey and bee products •Berries - Blueberries, Wild strawberries •Nutritional value •Medicinal plants – Leucojum •Functional Foods for •Oil-bearing rose human health (Additives) •Herbs – an old traditional recipe •Аboriginal sheep breeds •Drug Leads •Biocides (with pesticide Future projects: and antibiotic qualities) •Fish and aquaculture •Preservatives •Forest species •Biofuels •Biomarkers •Other, mushrooms, etc. •Bioenergy (cellulose) Consortium (TP) referring to the Grape Variety and Wine “Mavrud” Business (SME) Grape Wine and grape seeds Novelties •Variety, clone Genetics •Biologically active compounds for: •New quality of wine and new •Region – soil, climate * Cardiovascular diseases medical compounds Genomics * Cancer diseases •Value added * Others – diet, cosmetics •New price •New market Breeders •New technologies Pipiniers Metabolomics Pharmaceutists Soil scientists Meteorologists Medical Wine Plant Doctors producers physiology Waste from grape and wine production Socio-economical •compost and ecological •bioenergy Agroeconomists Ecologists International cooperation - Public research organization Significant improvement of - Private sector - Foundations and NGO’s niche market and the profit Areas of Expertise Genetics / genomics Epigenetics / gene System Biology / Omics Nutrigenomics editing Technologies Proteomics Metabolomics Bioinformatics PLATFORM 1: PLATFORM 2: PLATFORM 3: AgriOMICS Food and Health Biodiversity National and regional concepts and strategies for the development of agriculture and agri science Scientific and informational services for the development of the agri sector Working Platforms at JGC PLATFORM 1: PLATFORM 3: AgriOMICS Biodiversity PLATFORM 2: Food and Health AgriOMICS: Application of the methods of system biology in support to the agri sector Nutritional effect of food and biologically-active metabolites Conventional and organic for human health Systematic approach towards agriculture: biodiversity - Functional food - Molecular breeding - Development of a gene-bank - Safe – healthy – authentic of authentic and natural plant - Biological features of the crops food varieties (yield, quality, etc.) - Taste and aromatic features - Link between biodiversity and - Investigating the factors of the its economic potential environment - Medicinal components - Biotic – Abiotic stress - Creation of a reference laboratory for independent - Plant-protection methods and assessment of quality and their impact safety of different foods Long-term Priority Projects Project 1: Molecular breeding Purpose: To support the conventional selection programme of wheat and sunflower through the application of the approaches of molecular breeding and genotyping Strategic partners: ANIP Dobrudja and Biogranum Project 2: Implementation of biological methods in agriculture Purpose: To create an applied-research platform for implementation of microbial fertilizers and plant-protection solutions that stimulate nature-friendly biological approaches. To investigate the impact of these methods on the immune system of the plants, the physiological processes and their link with the factors of the environment. Current investigation with Extrasol and Nano Sulphur. Project 3: Authentic Bulgarian Food Products Purpose: To identify authentic Bulgarian agricultural and food products with high-value nutritional and healthy impact, to support the analysis of their impact and market penetration. Creation of Authentica Cluster and Club of the Biological Producers as drivers of the initiative Other Activities of JGC • Analytical and other laboratory services • Comprehensive consulting activities • Trainings and seminars • Scientific and informational services for the development of agriculture • Development of national and regional concepts for development of the agri sector Patent’s Portfolio of JGC • 2010 UM Reg. No 1460 “New approach for development of antioxidant activity in alive cells “ • 2011 UM Reg. No 1597 “Herbal combination for general immune support“ • 2012 UM reg. No 1769 “Biologically active composition based on honey “ • 2014 UM reg. No 2955 “Functional food composition” (application) The patents of the JGC are a prerequisite for activities for their market introduction, as well as a strong support factor in applications for European and other grant financing Strategic Partnerships • National partnerships: ➢ Scientific organizations – faculties of Sofia University, Bulgarian Academy of Science, National Agri Academy and other agricultural scientific organizations ➢ Strategic partnership with Agro Bio Institute (structure of National Agri Academy) ➢ Farmers and business partners – agri producers, breeders and seed producers, processing plants and suppliers of products and services for the agri sector ➢ State institutions, branch associations, NGOs and individual partnerships • Regional partnerships: ➢ Romanian Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Science, ➢ Agri-biotechnological Institute Thessaloniki, ➢ Trakia University Edirne, ➢ Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops Novi Sad • International partnerships: ➢ Netherlands – WUR, RIKILT, Plant Science Institute ➢ Belgium – Plant Biology Institute (Ghent) ➢ France – INRA Versailles ➢ Japan – Kobe University ➢ China – National Agricultural University ➢ Russia – National Institute of Agri Biotechnology JOINT GENOMIC CENTRE & AGRI SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL PARK Logical Partners in Fostering the Link between Agri Science and Business February 2017 JGC & ASIP: Complementary Roles Joint Genomic Centre Universal Bulgarian Investments / ASIP - Provides complex expertise - Strategy investor in food- in system biology and-agri in Bulgaria - Link between fundamental - Approach to business and applied science ventures through applied agri science - Platform for research projects with involvement - Developer of of in-house scientists and contemporary, analytical external partners and research facilities Ongoing strategic projects include (1) classic and molecular breeding, (2) application of biological methods in conventional farming, (3) complementary laboratory complexes, (4) authentic varieties Open Topics for Potential Partners Partnering Modes JGC & ASIP are jointly developing an integrated pool of laboratory, research and knowledge- based resources. The concept is open for other stakeholders and recent partners