Leveraging Funds for Basic Research in Agricultural Biotechnology: the ICGEB Experience by Martina Viviani, ICGEB, Italy

1. Leveraging funds for Basic Research in
Agricultural Biotechnology: ICGEB’s experience

2. 1. Inform of opportunities offered by ICGEB to
scientists from its Member States → ICGEB
instruments of action
2. Explain how we try to maximize our capacity to
leverage funds through grants and from industry →
Fundraising, TT & Innovation Office
3. Brief overview on other available funding
opportunities in the agro biotech sector
GOALS TODAY:

3. The ICGEB mandate
A Centre of excellence for
research, training and
technology transfer to
industry in
the field of biotechnology
to promote sustainable global
development
Developing knowledge

5. • Cutting-edge scientific research in its laboratories
in Trieste, New Delhi and Cape Town
• Advanced education supported by long- and
short-term fellowships for PhD students and post-
docs
• Organisation of Meetings, Courses and
Workshops
• Competitive research grants for scientists in
Member Countries, including Early Career Return
Grants
• Technology transfer to industry for the production
of biotherapeutics and diagnostics
The ICGEB instruments of action

6. 1. Infectious Diseases
(13 Groups)
2. Non-Communicable
Diseases (15
Groups)
Research: Macro-Areas and Groups
VIROLOGY
Alessandro Marcello (TS)
Sujatha Sunil (ND)
Navin Khanna (ND)
Anmole Chandele (ND)
Arockiasamy Arulandu (ND)
CARDIOVASCULAR
DISORDERS
Mauro Giacca (TS)
Serena Zacchigna (TS)
Francesco Loffredo (TS)
IMMUNOLOGY
Oscar Burrone (TS)
Federica Benvenuti (TS)
Dinakar Salunke (ND)
Dhiraj Kumar (ND)
NEUROBIOLOGY
Emanuele Buratti (TS)
Fabian Feiguin (TS)
MOLECULAR
GENETICS
Francisco Baralle (TS)
Andrés Muro (TS)
Franco Pagani (TS)
CANCER
Lawrence Banks (TS)
Luiz Zerbini (CT)
Dimitar Efremov (TS)
Mike Myers (TS)
PARASITIC DISEASES
Frank Brombacher (CT)
Pawan Malhotra (ND)
Asif Mohmmed (ND)
Renu Tuteja (ND),
Dinkar Sahal (ND)
Amit Sharma (ND)
Neel Sarovar Bhavesh (ND)

7. 3. Medical
Biotechnolog
y (2 Groups)
BIOSIMILAR DRUGS
Marco Baralle (TS)
Natasa Skoko (TS)
RECOMBINANT
DIAGNOSTICS
AND VACCINES
Navin Khanna (ND)
Ranjan Nanda (ND)
4. Industrial
Biotechnolog
y (7 Groups)
BIOFUELS
AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
Syed Shams Yazdani (ND)
Naseem Gaur (ND)
Pavan Jutur (ND)
Shireesh Srivastava (ND)
Shashi Kumar Rhode (ND)
Dinesh Gupta (ND)
Giuliano Degrassi (Buenos Aires)
5. Plant Biology &
Biotechnology
(7 Groups)
CROP IMPROVEMENT
M.K. Reddy (ND)
Tanushri Kaul (ND)
S. Leelavathi (ND)
Vittorio Venturi (TS)
BIOTIC AND ABIOTIC STRESS
Suresh Nair (ND)
Neeti Sanan-Mishra (ND)
Sneh Lata
Singla-Pareek (ND)
Research: Macro-Areas and Groups

8. External Research Support 2010-
2017 included grants from:
ERC, EU FP7 and Horizon2020 Programmes,
Bill&Melinda Gates Foundation, NIH USA, Leukemia &
Lymphoma Society USA, Telethon, Wellcome Trust UK,
Worldwide Cancer Research UK, Canadian Grand
Challenges Scheme, AXA Research Foundation
France, AFM-Telethon France, Medical Research
Council UK, Italian Ministries of Agriculture - Health -
University and Research, Labour and Social Policies;
AIRC, AriSLA, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation,
USA, National Research Foundation South Africa,
Royal Society UK, World Anti Doping Agency WADA
Canada, Biogen, Sun Pharmaceuticals, Selecta
Biosciences, Merck, Benta Pharma, Julphar.

9. • Cutting-edge scientific research in its laboratories
in Trieste, New Delhi and Cape Town
• Advanced education supported by long- and
short-term fellowships for PhD students and post-
docs
• Organisation of Meetings, Courses and
Workshops at the international level
• Competitive research grants for scientists in
Member Countries, including Early Career Return
Grants
• Technology transfer to industry for the production
of biotherapeutics and diagnostics
The ICGEB instruments of action

11. ICGEB “Arturo Falaschi” Fellowships
and Fellowships on External Funds
791
763
714
623
509
555
716
N.Fellowshipmonthsfunded
676
*since 2014

12. Europe (30+33*)
Bulgaria (1*)
Croatia (3)
Poland (2)
Italy (17+33*)
Serbia (4)
Slovenia (3) ME & Asia
(31+177*)
Bangladesh (4)
Bhutan (1)
India (15+177*)
Iran (1)
Malaysia (2)
Nepal (1)
Pakistan (2)
Sri Lanka (1)
Syria (1)
Turkey (1)
Viet Nam (2)
Latin America (14)
Argentina (1)
Brazil (1)
Cuba (2)
Costa Rica (2)
Mexico (3)
Peru (3)
Venezuela (2)
Africa (26+21*)
Burundi (1)
Cameroon (5)
Egypt (4)
Kenya (1)
Libya (1)
Nigeria (11)
South Africa (21*)
Sudan (1)
Tanzania (1)
Tunisia (1)
* on external grants
Fellows on board 2017
(102 + 231* total)

13. • Cutting-edge scientific research in its
laboratories in Trieste, New Delhi and Cape Town
• Advanced education supported by long- and
short-term fellowships for PhD students and post-
docs
• Organisation of Meetings, Courses and
Workshops at the international level
• Competitive research grants for scientists in
Member Countries, including Early Career Return
Grants
• Technology transfer to industry for the production
of biotherapeutics and diagnostics
The ICGEB instruments of action

14. ICGEB Meetings & Courses
Number of Meetings & Courses Total Participants
Total from 1988:
565 events
Total from 1988:
~26,800 participants

17. • Cutting-edge scientific research in its
laboratories in Trieste, New Delhi and Cape Town
• Advanced education supported by long- and
short-term fellowships for PhD students and post-
docs
• Organisation of Meetings, Courses and
Workshops at the international level
• Competitive research grants for scientists in
Member Countries, including Early Career Return
Grants
• Technology transfer to industry for the production
of biotherapeutics and diagnostics
The ICGEB instruments of action

18. CRP - ICGEB Research Grants
Total from 1988:
> 500 grants
~20.5 million Euro
> 2,100 applications evaluated
Funds allocated 2017: 769 KEuro
Average per grant: 34.9

19. CRP - ICGEB Research Grants
Ongoing Projects (78)

22. • Cutting-edge scientific research in its laboratories in
Trieste, New Delhi and Cape Town
• Advanced education supported by long- and short-
term fellowships for PhD students and post-docs
• Organisation of Meetings, Courses and Workshops
at the international level
• Competitive research grants for scientists in Member
Countries, including Early Career Return Grants
• Technology transfer to industry for the production of
biotherapeutics and diagnostics
• Technical Assistance in the field of Biosafety
The ICGEB instruments of action

23. +65 TT and collaboration agreements
+60 scientists trained spending total of +60 months in ICGEB labs
Technologies transferred: G-CSF, Interferons, Insulin, Insulin Analogs,
Growth Hormones, EPO and Pegylation processes for the above technologies
+20 different countries over 20 returning companies
R&D collaborations and technology
transfers from 2010 to date

24. 25
Technology Transfer - Diagnostics
Ankur Seeds Okra, Abelmoschus esculentus
varieties/hybrids (development of
technology)
Focus Diagnostics Dengue multiepitope proteins
Biomed Industries Cell lines Hybridoma peoducing monoclonal
antibodies against Hepatitis B surface
antigen
Qualpro HCV multi-epitope antigen
JKAgrigenetics Gall Midge Patent
Nirmal Organo Sprayable Biopesticide
Nirmal Seeds cry X-1 for cotton, cry 1 Ia5 and vip for
transformation into egg plant (development
of technology)
PDKV Development of Sprayable Biopesticide
Sven Genetech HCV Diagnostic Kit
XCyton HCV Diagnostic Kit
Federal Ministry Science and
Technology Nigeria
HIV/AIDS Diagnostics Technology to Nigeria

25. 26
Technology Transfer: Vaccines & Infectious Disease
Patents
- Dengue subunit vaccine quadrivalent candidate DSV
against all four DENV serotypes (PCT/IB2015/056352 –
Khanna N. et al.)
- Anti dengue activity of Cissampelos pariera extracts
(PCT/IB2010/050299 - Bhatnager, P.K. et al.)

26. • Cutting-edge scientific research in its
laboratories in Trieste, New Delhi and Cape Town
• Advanced education supported by long- and
short-term fellowships for PhD students and post-
docs
• Organisation of Meetings, Courses and
Workshops at the international level
• Competitive research grants for scientists in
Member Countries, including Early Career Return
Grants
• Technology transfer to industry for the production
of biotherapeutics and diagnostics
• Provision of technical assistance and capacity
enhancement in the regulation of biotechnology
and its products
The ICGEB instruments of action

27. • To assist its Member States and others in their capacity to identify,
regulate, manage, and monitor those products within their own
countries.
• To disseminate as widely as possible significant information related
to the biosafety issues raised through the use of products derived
from modern biotechnology
Objective of the ICGEB Biosafety Group
Location of Biosafety Group
Activities (2011-2017)
▪ Member State
▪ non-Member State

28. Information dissemination
• Greater access to current scientific information
• Provide training in how to make best use of these data
• Identification of local gaps in information and help fill them
http://biosafety.icgeb.or
g
http://rasm.icgeb.orhttp://bibliosafety.icgeb.or

29. ICGEB Capacity Building Project for
sub-Saharan Africa
Assisting the development of effective safety and regulatory systems
for the products of modern biotechnology in selected countries of
sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)
A 4-year project focussing on enhancing the ability of regulatory
authorities in SSA to regulate the development &/or
commercialisation of the products of modern agro-biotechnology, by
the formation of a solid bedrock of African expertise through which
regulatory systems can be manned effectively and sustainably.
Project dedicated URL:
www.icgeb.org/biosafety/projectforSSA/abouttheproject.html
www.facebook.com/pages/ICGEB-Biosafety-Capacity-Building/166333846846436

30. Biosafety Project for sub-Saharan Africa
Assisting the development of effective safety and regulatory
systems for the products of modern biotechnology in selected
countries of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)
• Masters fellowships in biosafety
• Re-integration of academically-trained
personnel into national regulatory systems
• Biosafety training workshops, mentored fora
and e-learning modules
• Regulatory experience exchange
opportunities
• In-country working partnerships
Burkina Faso
Ethiopia
Ghana
Nigeria
Tanzania
Uganda

31. Capacity Enhancement Activities
Assisting the UNEP-GEF “Regional Project for Implementing National Biosafety
Frameworks in the Caribbean Sub-region”
• Enhance capacities of the small Caribbean Islands to develop their
own biosafety legislation and administrative systems
• Develop the key elements for the elaboration of a regional as well as
country-relevant communication strategy on the safe use of GMOs
• Provide relevant training in risk analysis
Wendy Craig
Group Leader - Biosafety
craig@icgeb.org

32. Fundraising, Technology Transfer &
Innovation Office - FTI
MISSION
Implement a fundraising strategy, develop
technology transfer activities and identify new
business models to support the implementation
of the ICGEB General Programme
Since 2017

33. FUNDRAISING
• Research Support
Services
• Institutional Fundraising
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER
•Biotechnology
Development
•Industrial Partnerships
INNOVATION
•Business
Development
•Start-Up Promotion
RESEARCH
VALORIZATION
&
INTERNATIONAL
COOPERATION

34. FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES
➢ Research Support Service & Institutional fundraising
1. Search and dissemination of new funding opportunities for:
✓ ICGEB researchers (newsletters, internal meetings & info
sessions on funding schemes…)
✓ Collaborative research projects & research collaborations with
industry
✓ Institutional programmes and activties
2. Assistance in grants preparation, eligibility check with donor
agencies, project development, submission & follow up…

36. TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER
➢ Improve collaboration with industry and translate ICGEB
research results into marketable products
1. Ensure application of IP policy and manage IP of the Centre
2. Make sure that ICGEB know-how is properly identified,
protected and made visible
• Liaison with BDG industrial partners
• IP audit of ICGEB Research Labs
• Support the licensing and commercialization of ICGEB research tools /
know-how / IP
• Develop Research Collaboration Agreements with industry

37. What do we do?
1. Provision of newly identified and characterized plant
beneficial bacterial strains
2. Isolation, characterization and phenotypization of your
‘local’ plant beneficial bacterial strain
3. Screening of our culture collection of plant beneficial
strains against your pathogen in order to identify a potential
biocontrol agent
Vittorio Venturi, Bacteriology Group
ICGEB, Padriciano 99, 34149 Trieste Italy
Tel: +39-040-375-7319
email: strains4plants@icgeb.org or
venturi@icgeb.org
Infection of rice
Example R&D agreements with industry

38. 41
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER

39. 42
Assumption
• Know-how of the Centre in various areas of biotechnology has significant
potential in terms of generating income and contributing towards the UN
Sustainable Development Goals
Main objective
• To manage the Centre’s IP Rights and the exploitation of ICGEB patented
or unpatented know-how, to make it available to the society at large,
particularly in Member States, generating returns for the activities of the
Centre
Other objectives
1. Provide indication on the ICGEB strategy/policy vis-à-vis all types of IP
rights managed by the Centre
2. Serve as a guiding document for ICGEB staff, fellows, students and
guests
Need to have IP policy in place

40. 43
OWNER
Rights: claim ownership and benefit from profits
Responsibilities: seek protection/transfer commercialise
INVENTOR / RESEARCHER
Responsibilities: Report/Disclose result
Support commercialisation process
Rights: Be acknowledged as inventor
(Share in any profits)
Ownership rights need to be clearly spelled out: to the inventor or to the Centre?
Does the national legislation say something about it? In this case Centre’s
policies need to be consistent.
Revenues from Technology Transfer Activities: clear definition of revenue sharing
from interaction of the Institute with third parties
IP Management: Rights & Responsibilities

41. 44
1. Licensing of ICGEB Inventions
In case no MS has expressed an interest in licensing an ICGEB-patented
technology the Centre can license to the inventor or to a (start-up) company
2. Transfer of Unpatented Technologies or Research Materials
• Generally on a non-exclusive basis
• Can involve companies in MS, or companies in non-MS, subject to different
terms & conditions
• Negotiated between the Centre and the company and regulated by a
specific Tech Transfer Agreement.
3. Performance of Services for Third Parties vs Research
Collaborations
Collaborative Research → OK // Services → only if they fit the general
programme of the Group as generally no IP
Technology transfer modalities

42. 45
Template agreements (MTA and CA) and an explanation
about other IP related agreements is included in the policies
to:
1. streamline the processes across Components
2. serve as a guideline for researchers
• Material Transfer Agreement (academia-academia)
• Confidentiality Agreement
• Research collaboration Agreement
• License Agreement
Standard Agreements

43. Roadmap for EU-ASEAN S&T Cooperation
MSCA: ASEAN entities have participated 55 times (2 in Individual Fellowships
(IF), 46 in the RISE, 5 in the ITN and 2 in the COFUND programme, while 189
researchers of nationality from the ASEAN member countries have participated
in MSCA actions.
ERC: ASEAN entities have participated 1 times to signed ERC grants and 6
nationals of ASEAN countries have acquired an ERC grant
Up to October 2017:
ASEAN entities have
participated 32
times in 18 signed
grants of
collaborative
actions, receiving
2.8 million Euro from
the EU

44. Funding opportunities: Horizon2020
Work Programme 2018-2020 Food security,
sustainable agriculture and forestry, marine, maritime
and inland water research and the bioeconomy

45. ➢ Newton Fund Institutional Links Grants
✓ Aim: to build UK-partner country research and innovation
collaborations centred on shared research and innovation
challenges which have direct relevance to social welfare and
economic development.
✓ Size of grant: £50,000 - £150,000
✓ Partner countries: applications can be submitted for
collaborations between the UK and Turkey, Vietnam, Mexico,
Indonesia, Peru, Philippines, and Thailand.
✓ Eligibility: one PI from the UK and a PI from the partner countries
listed above.
✓ Deadline: 8 June 2018
✓ https://www.britishcouncil.org/education/science/current-
opportunities/newton-institutional-links-april-2018
Funding opportunities – Bilateral Projects

46. ➢ Italy-Vietnam
✓ Project: “The role of microbiome in rice plant health”
✓ Goal: results obtained within this project could provide avenues for
the design of microbial solutions for a more sustainable rice
agriculture with a decreased use of pesticide and an increased
attention to human and environmental health.
✓ Partners: Bacteriology Group of the ICGEB Trieste and Microbial
Ecology Laboratory, Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology
(IMBT), Vietnam National University Hanoi (VNUH)
✓ Size of grant: 30-60,000 Euro/year (each country own budget)
Funding opportunities – Bilateral Projects

47. ➢ The OPEC Fund for International Development
Funding opportunities – Example of Donor
Agencies/Foundations
http://www.ofid.org/PROJECTS-OPERATIONS/Grants/Grant-Application

48. 1. Collaboration with the ICGEB may be an asset for its MS: access
to advanced research techniques, enhances human capital, funds
projects aligned to the specific needs of the country and connects
scientists from its Members in a truly international network of
researchers
2. To succeed in the fundraising challenge, the quality of a proposal is
essential → training early career scientists in grant-writing (long-
term solution); → properly established fundraising office (short-
medium-term solution)
3. To secure returns, it is crucial to have measures in place to protect
and to transfer know-how and IP
TAKEHOME MESSAGES:

49. 52
Thank you for
your attention!
Martina Viviani
Head,
Fundraising, TT & Innovation
viviani@icgeb.org
http://www.icgeb.org

50. ICGEB Regional Research
Centres (RRCs)
PURPOSE
Strengthens research skills, knowledge and capacities of the local scientific
community while pursuing specific objectives for research, training and technology
transfer to industry, which would benefit both the hosting country and the region where
the RRC is located
Fosters attractiveness for international scientists and ensure adherence to standards
of excellence
Serves the needs and specificity of individual regional areas
OBJECTIVES
Conducts scientific research at the highest international standards
Provides a centre for short- and long-term research training activities at international
level
Enhances the capacity of the scientific community in the geographical region in the field
of biotechnology, with special regard to interaction with the biotech industry