|
Strasbourg is one of the leading business hubs in France, with links with life and health sciences. It owes this largely to the dynamism of the Université Louis Pasteur, a quarter of whose teachers / researchers concentrate on biotechnologies, the INSERM (Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale) (National Institute of Health and Medical Research), which numbers almost 100 researchers in the field, and the CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique) (National Centre for Scientific Research).
It also owes its expertise to its privileged location in the Biovalley, a melting pot of partnerships and cross-border exchanges between Strasbourg, Basel and Freiburg-im-Breisgau.
A concentration of skills unique in Europe
The scope of the biotechnologies concerns several businesses:
pharmaceutical
food processing
chemical
phytosanitary
life and health sciences
medical and scientific equipment
The biological sciences cross research in chemistry with studies in fields as varied as membranes, prebiotic chemistry, biosynthesis methods, dermatochemistry, research into growth factors and polyphenols.
In a very specific field, genomics, Strasbourg Alsace-Lorraine génopole illustrates the very effective connection between research and industry.
Entitled "From Gene to Medicine", the Strasbourg Génopole, along with the University of Nanc, participates in the network launched in February 1999 as part of the national genomics programme. Its objective is to stimulate relations between the public and private sectors by constructing technological platforms which are of interest to industry.
In the field of medicine, the contribution of the Génopole is aimed at the entire scientific community, with the start-up of a chemotheque, based on collections of active ingredients from pharmaceutical laboratories.This principle is becoming more generalised to form the basis of a national federation of chemotheques.
Dynamic research teams open to industry.
Find out about the research units at Université Louis Pasteur in the field of sciences de la vie et de la santé.
The INSERM (Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (National Institute of Health and Medical Research)) has twelve research laboratories in Strasbourg, which employ nearly a hundred research scientists and cover a broad range of skills. In the field of transfer of technologies, the INSERM is particularly active in neurosciences and neurological pathologies, viral diseases and cell-substrate interaction, and biomaterials. The principal INSERM laboratories deal with :
Biomatériaux : processus biophysiques et biologiques aux interfaces (Inserm Unité 595)
- Biomaterials : biophysical and biological interface processes (Inserm Unit 595)
- Pathogenics of persistent viral infections (Inserm Unit 544)
- Fundamental neurosciences (IFR 37)
- Clinical Investigation Centre / applications of the pharmacological activities of active ingredients
Numerous research projects are being conducted by the INSERM on behalf of local businesses and groups of global stature. Companies such as Neuro 3D, Sanofi-Synthélabo, Johnson & Johnson or Bristol Meyers Squibb took part in recent joint ventures.
Key figures
- 2,000 people are devoted to research in biotechnology
nearly 10,000 people are employed in establishments devoted to the biotechnologies
References
The Parc d'Innovation d'Illkirch
The Parc d'Innovation d'Illkirch is a reference site for companies, research laboratories and educational establishments working in cutting edge sectors like the biotechnologies.
Six factors guarantee its success :
its location in the Rhine Valley
the richness of the university fabric of Strasbourg
the presence of laboratories of international renown
the intensity of interactions between universities and business
the performance of the communication infrastructures
the quality of the living environment
Amongst recent start-ups is the regional laboratory of Boiron, the European headquarters of the American compan, Ventana (human tissue analysis) and the establishment at the Bioparc of Faust Pharmaceuticals (neurodegenerative diseases).
|
