BIOVEGEN, CAJAMAR and CITA bring together more than 50 experts to talk about innovation in plant production

On May 19, 2016, the conference "Trends in genetic improvement in fruit and vegetable production" was held, organized jointly by CITA, CAJAMAR and BIOVEGEN. The event, which took place in the “Jerónimo Zurita” Room of the Pignatelli Building in Zaragoza (Paseo María Agustín 36, 50003), brought together more than 50 professionals from the sector, including researchers, companies and financing entities.

The event served to show the new technological trends in plant biology and its possibilities, the added value that research brings to the economic activity of the private sector of plant production and how this can stimulate the private sector to undertake R&D activities and collaborations. with public research centers. Financing and assistance tools in the development of R&D projects were also shown, such as those offered by CDTI and the BIOVEGEN platform. 

Furthermore, in order to strengthen science-business relations and the development of R&D projects to enhance the competitiveness of the sector, attendees had the opportunity to mobilize R&D proposals and hold bilateral meetings with interested companies or researchers. Several meetings were also held with an expert from the CDTI (the main Spanish public agency for financing business R&D) with the aim of analyzing the innovation interests of the companies requesting the meeting.

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Program and presentations of the day

10:00 a.m. Welcome

• Pilar Alegría. Department of Innovation, Research and University. Government of Aragon

FINANCING Block

10:15 a.m. BIOVEGEN as a catalyst for R&D projects.

• Gonzaga Ruiz de Gauna. BIOVEGEN

10:30 a.m. CDTI financing opportunities for companies in the plant production sector.

• Carlos Franco. Department of Health, Bioeconomy, Climate and Natural Resources. CDTI

SCIENCE Block

10:45 a.m. Biotechnological tools for the improvement of rootstocks and almond trees.

• María José Rubio-Cabetas. ARAGON APPOINTMENT

11:15 a.m. Biotechnological tools for the improvement of horticultural species.

• Ana Garcés-Claver. ARAGON APPOINTMENT

11:45 a.m. Coffee

COMPANY Block

12:00 p.m. Examples of public-private collaboration in genetics and plant improvement:

• Citrus fruits: CITRUSEQ-CITRUSGENN project. Carlos Baixauli. Cajamar Foundation Valencian Community

• RAMIRO ARNEDO: R&D in horticulture. Javier Pena. Ramiro Arnedo

• LAFUENTE TOMEY: R&D in fruit trees. Esther Lafuente. Lafuente Tomey

1:00 p.m. Colloquium

1:30 p.m. Conclusions and Closing