Objective The overall proposal objective is to overcome the barriers to the recruitment of highly qualified PHD or equivalent specialists in gene editing techniques for agriculture applications, in particular CRISPR-Cas 9Iden Biotechnology S.L. is a private agribiotech company founded in 2005 with the mission to serve the needs of the agri-food industry.We aim at exploiting CRISPR/Cas9 (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats), a newly developed technology for targeted genome modification, to produce new cereal varieties with resistance to abiotic stress (resistance to low temperatures, draught and/or salinity). CRISPR/Cas9, gives scientists the ability to more precisely modify DNA by turning genes on or off or editing DNA. They can pinpoint and remove weakness or insert desired traits already found elsewhere in the species. There are three main advantages of managing to use this technique for crop improvement: Technical, legislative and competitive:• The results obtained are similar to what could be obtained through natural mutations and conventional breeding, though it is directed, more precise and quick. • Besides the technical advantages mentioned above, crops modified with this technique may not fall under the GMOs legislation, opening up new market opportunities, including the European market• Competitive advantage. The crop biotech sector in Europe could have a new innovation tool to overcome the situation defined by the European Academies Science Advisory Council as: “The E.U. falling behind international competitors in agricultural innovation and this has implications for E.U. goals for science and innovation.”With the help of the associate recruitment we aim at applying this technology to carry out targeted genome modification in cereals, in particular maize or wheat which will help us the development of new improved crop varieties, opening up new market opportunities. Fields of science medical and health sciencesmedical biotechnologygenetic engineeringgene therapynatural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsDNAnatural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsmutationnatural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsgenomesagricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagriculturegrains and oilseedscereals Programme(s) H2020-EU.2.3. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Innovation In SMEs Main Programme H2020-EU.2.3.2.2. - Enhancing the innovation capacity of SMEs Topic(s) INNOSUP-02-2016 - European SME innovation Associate - pilot Call for proposal H2020-INNOSUP-2016-2017 See other projects for this call Sub call H2020-INNOSUP-02-2016 Funding Scheme CSA - Coordination and support action Coordinator IDEN BIOTECHNOLOGY SL Net EU contribution € 72 500,00 Address POLIGONO MOCHOLI PLAZA CEIN 1 1 OFICINAS 7 Y 8 31110 NOAIN Spain See on map SME The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed. Yes Region Noreste Comunidad Foral de Navarra Navarra Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 72 500,00