1. African Centre for Gene Technologies TIA meeting 31 May 2011

2. Background SERA: Biotechnology identified as strategic area where collaboration could – enhance competitiveness – address lack of critical mass 2002: MoU between CSIR and UP – ACGT formed – Jane Morris as director

3. Background 2005: MoA, to include Wits 2011: New MoA- 5 partners: ARC, CSIR, Universities of Johannesburg, Pretoria and Witwatersrand

4. ACGT Vision To position the partner organizations, through collaboration, to be globally competitive in advanced biotechnology

5. ACGT Mission To support collaborative development of advanced biotechnology research for the benefit of all South Africans in key selected areas including agriculture, health, environment and new technology development

6. Priorities Establish network of excellence in advanced biotechnology Establish effective linkages with relevant role- players

7. Priorities Facilitate research and development of the highest possible caliber Identify + build a limited number of flagship programs/projects that build on partner institution capacity in advanced biotech Raise funds for collaborative research

8. ACGT achievements Established microarray, proteomics, bioinformatics facilities Established SAMI Several funded FP6, FP7 projects SABINA, POL-SABINA

9. ACGT achievements Created Bioscience researcher database Regional Plant Biotech Forum Several linkages established Several workshops hosted

11. Next period Audit new partners: finalize Audit bioinformatics capacity in the region – scarce skill – collaborative workshops/training events Expand/enlarge forums to include partner interests – human health (comm + non-comm) – synthetic biology – bioinformatics – animal biotechnology

12. Next period Source and initiate collaborative projects – plant biotechnology/agriculture – human health Explore possibilities for qualifications (Hons?) that utilize multi-partner expertise Hons-MSc: collaborative projects! Funding: core, capacity building, workshops Equipment Sharing Agreement

13. Equipment Sharing Establish principles for sharing equipment and facilities – applicable to all institutions – accommodate existing agreements Facilities/scarce equipment lists drawn up Fine-tune agreements

14. ACGT+TIA= Co-hosted biotechnology forums? – plant biotechnology – comm + non-comm disease – synthetic biology – bioinformatics – animal biotechnology ACGT and advancing projects/products in the value chain? ACGT researcher database utility

15. ACGT+TIA= ACGT as model for collaborative initiatives elsewhere/nationally? Technology platform review? Linkages to partners?

16. Contact John: jbecker@csir.co.za Jess: jessika.samuels@up.ac.za Nthabiseng: nramosoeu@csir.co.za Ella: ella.nyakunu@up.ac.za