Visiting the Competence Centre BRIN
Today the representatives of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy, the Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy and the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport visited the biotechnological company Acies Bio d.o.o. which is one of the nine partners of the Competence Centre BRIN. The competence centre encompasses researches in the field of functional food and dietary supplements, probiotic microorganisms and industrial microorganisms which are used for the production of various active substances. Researches are implemented in the field of probiotics and health, functional food and dietary supplements as well as active substances in medicine and veterinary activity. The project, which is worth 8,920,000 euros, was co-financed by the European Union and the Republic of Slovenia in the amount of 6,387,750 euros of which the European Regional Development Fund contribution amounts to 85 %.
The project, which was selected for co-financing under the Public call for proposals for the development of competence centres in the period 2010-2013, is coordinated by the Institute of Biotechnological Innovation. This is a strategic partnership between the leading partners in the industry and the top-level research organisations. The main purpose of the Competence Centre BRIN is to intensify collaboration of the economic and academic partners and to effectively transfer knowledge and know-how, raise the level of innovation and technological competitiveness of the economic partners, strengthen research capacities as well as the applicative knowledge of the academic partners, develop innovative technologies of high added value with a major international market potential, and also to enhance the mobility and employability of workers.
The competence centre aims to become a reference centre in the field of functional food and dietary supplements which shall set the guidelines for technological excellence and product quality and thus improve inhabitants’ health status by developing dietary supplements and functional food. The partnership strategy is based on connecting companies with excellent knowledge of the market requirements in the field of functional food and health as well as the leading companies and public research organisations which master the most demanding and modern methods for the development and analysis of new biotechnological procedures.
The Competence Centre BRIN developed 11 new products and employed 136 people who will keep their jobs also after the completion of the project. The competence centre also developed 3 patents and 8 pilot series, prepared 5 clinical studies, organised expert conferences and issued professional publications.
The partners of the competence centre, in addition to Acies Bio d.o.o., are: Medis, d.o.o., Lek Veterina d.o.o., Mlekarna Celeia d.o.o., Vitiva d.d., National Institute of Biology, Biotechnical Facultuy of the University of Ljubljana, Institute Jožef Stefan and Clinres Farmacija d.o.o.
The European Commission representatives are visiting Slovenia to attend the meetings regarding the implementation of European Cohesion Policy in Slovenia and the public consultation regarding the programming documents which will be the basis for EU funds absorption in the period 2014-2020, which will take place tomorrow.
