They also attended workshops on the benefits of international cooperation for innovation and mobility opportunities for researchers. Biocircle 2 is the continuation of the Biocircle 1 project – finished on 31 January – and in which CONICYT also participated as a partner.
“The Biocircle 2 project aims to deepen and broaden the activities and achievements of the Biocircle 1 project through the exchange of Chilean researchers with state-of-the-art European institutions, with the purpose of creating networks for future projects”, commented Maria Mesonero. “Likewise, Biocircle 2 will fund specific training for National Contact Points in Food, Agriculture & Fisheries and Biotechnology, on matters such as financial or intellectual property issues for the projects participating in the Seventh Framework Programme.”
The new features incorporated by the Biocircle 2 project are a regional side and the provision for a higher coordination of activities among project partners from a same region. “This way, Chile will participate in the organization of activities in Argentina, Brazil, Canada and Mexico”, mentions Maria Mesonero. “The regional approach is of great interest given that many times our needs are the same as those of our regional partners.”
About Biocircle 2:
Biocircle 2 is a project funded by the European Commission. Its purpose is to strengthen the network of National Contact Points (NCPs) in the area of Food, Agriculture & Fisheries and Biotechnology (FAFB) of the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP7). It seeks to increase participation of non-European researchers in this area of FP7.
The Biocircle 2 project gathers NCPs from 16 non-European countries, and institutions from 5 European countries. The consortium is led by the Agenzia per la Promozione della Ricerca Europea (APRE). CONICYT is a partner of the Biocircle 2 project.
About the Seventh Framework Programme:
The European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP7) is the EU’s main instrument for research funding in Europe. It defines the EU research policies for the period between 2007 and 2013 and aims to strengthen scientific collaboration between Europe and non-European countries by funding research projects and providing support for scientific mobility. FP7 supports research in selected priority areas.