Structural Biology Industrial Platform
The Structural Biology Industrial Platform is one of eleven set up within the EU's Biotechnology research programme to improve relations between researchers and industry in the field. The Structural Biology platform held its inaugural meeting in summer 1997. Among its aims, it will provide input to the development of the Fifth Framework Programme, particularly in the "cell factory" Key Action. Other areas in which it aims to contribute include information infrastructure, participation and support for SMEs and the EUREKA initiative. The platform will promote meetings where representatives of companies interested in networking better within Europe in the field of structural biology can meet to discuss common issues and problems. A number of activities will be carried out by working groups, which may include organizations or individuals which are not members of the platform. One major initiative to be launched during the next year is a prize for the best engineered molecule of the year. This will aim to advance endeavour in molecular engineering and design in the field of structural biology.