Dr. Nico Arfman has been hired as manager business development for the four-year Biotech project. He emphasises that the strength of Biotech is in its network, which is impressive indeed. Besides the Euregio Biotech Center from M%nster, two departments from Groningen University take part, Pharmaceutical Biology and Medical Biology. The fourth partner is the Biomedical Technology Institute (BMTI) from Twente, with Professor Jan Feijen of the CT-department Polymer Chemistry & Biomaterials as the one with final responsibility with regard to content.
Arfman: 'In the last few decades dozens of spin-off companies in biotechnology have started in Groningen and Münster. The UT also wants more activities in the life sciences. This fits with biomedical technology and the expertise present in tissue engineering and nanotechnology. Appealing to the European Community was that we have a great deal of general experience in Twente in starting up new businesses, and we are -simple really - geographically well-placed between the regions of Münsterland and Eems/Dollard (Groningen).'
The research contribution of dr. ir. Marcel Wissink is intended to yield a patent within a year. Among other things work is being done on a screening method of a link-protein located in the cell membrane that plays a part in the development of tumors. A test should be devised measuring the effect of medicine on this protein.
The four participants in the Biotech network will receive new measuring equipment, like a confocal microscope that can make 3D images by a combination of laserlight and fluorescent labels on proteins.
Arfman: 'The main purpose of the European project is creating one hundred new, high level jobs for the region or attracting them from elsewhere. This is indeed an ambitious goal but we will also look at the number of recommendations we can give in the four years, at the patents we generate, and at the co-operation initiatives we bring about.'
