The European Neuroscience Industrial Platform
A new European Neuroscience Industrial Platform (ENIP) has recently been created within the framework of the EU's Biotechnology research programme (BIOTECH). The platform has the objective of improving relations between researchers and industry and this latest platform brings the total number set up within the BIOTECH programme to 14. The platform is open to any company with research and development facilities in Europe and with an interest in neuroscience. Members of ENIP have agreed the following objectives: - To alert European industry to new intellectual and/or technological property arising from EU sponsored research; - To facilitate the ability of European university-based investigators to contact appropriate research collaborators within industry; - To create a body of experts from whom the European Commission could seek advice on future academic or industrial needs within Europe. In order to fulfil these requirements the following specific tasks will be carried out by the members of the platform: - Improve mutual education in academia and in industry by increasing awareness of their needs and expectations; - Make the results generated in EU research projects available to industry through, for example, the creation of an information tool such as a CD-ROM; - Increase communication between the Commission and the platform to allow industrialists to advise the Commission on their R&D priorities and needs; - Seek to involve non-pharmaceutical industries interested in neuroscience; - Promote links with SME's and start-up initiatives.