Wednesday, October 17, 2007
The Netherlands Genomics Initiative is proud to announce the government's approval of its 2008 - 2012 Business Plan, which totals up to EUR 280 million.
In preparing its business plan, NGI has invited a limited number of existing and new initiatives to submit a proposal for the period
2008 – 2012. Following a rigorous evaluation by international experts, a final selection was made. These initiatives form the core of NGI 2008 – 2012. They are accompanied by NGI-led activities aimed at strengthening this core.
An overview of the main elements of the plan is presented below.
Research
The Centre for BioSystems Genomics (CBSG), the Cancer Genomics Centre (CGC) and the Kluyver Centre for Genomics of Industrial Fermentation are continued. CGC is awarded additional funding due to the excellent results during the first period. Although not selected, the Centre for Medical Systems Biology (CMSB) will receive funding for valorisation of its research results and for embedding its programmes in participating universities. Two new NGI Genomics Centres will be established: the Forensic Genomics Consortium and the Netherlands Toxicogenomics Centre.
The latter has already received NGI funding for kick-off and research activities on a small scale, but will now be developed into a large-scale consortium. Finally, NGI has reserved resources for seizing new opportunities in the future and establishing one or more additional Genomics Centres, notably in the area of healthy ageing.
Infrastructure
For the existing Netherlands Proteomics Centre (NPC) and Netherlands Bioinformatics Centre (NBIC), funds have been reserved to continue their activities after 2009, when their first phase ends. Continuation is conditional however, depending on the results of external evaluations. Two new infrastructure initiatives will be established, one focusing on metabolomics (Netherlands Metabolomics Centre) and one on systems biology (Netherlands Systems Biology Consortium).
Genomics & Society
The Centre for Society and Genomics (CSG) is continued. CSG will bring together − in close collaboration with the NGI Genomics Centres − all research on societal aspects of genomics and all activities relating to public communication and education.
Innovative Clusters
Funding of the four Innovative Clusters (Celiac Disease Consortium, Ecogenomics, Nutrigenomics and VIRGO) runs until 2009. NGI has reserved budget to continue strong elements of the various programmes after 2009, depending on the results of external evaluations.
Talent
The highly successful Horizon programme is continued and its budget raised to allow more talented young researchers to pursue their own creative ideas - thereby providing the breeding ground for the genomics research leaders of tomorrow.
Valorisation
The budget for valorisation has been drastically increased, which underlines NGI’s commitment to create tangible value from research results. The budget is used to strengthen the local valorisation infrastructure within the NGI Genomics Centres, to expand and professionalise the network of valorisation officers and for coordinating activities within NGI that facilitate valorisation within the NGI Genomics Centres.
International collaborations
NGI continues its involvement with ERA PG (Plant Genomics) and ERA SysBio (Systems Biology), both EU activities. Other international collaborations include those with Genome Canada (the Brassica project) and a Dutch–Chinese trans-national research programme. A key aspect of all international activities of NGI is that they directly benefit the research programmes of the NGI Genomics Centres.