Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Staff Exchange
The Horizon 2020 MSCA-RISE ?Second. R.I.? project aims to facilitate research and innovation in the biomaterials field, while supporting inter-sectorial and international sharing of knowledge and developing new professional skills in researchers and managerial staff. The project undertakes collaborative research and innovation activities on new biomaterials for bone tissue engineering. Based on rapid prototyping technologies, these biomaterials will be further developed and tested in an industrial environment.
An innovation management work-package explore the best solutions to exploit research outcomes, with the support of innovation offices and a Chinese SME. This section of the project also aim to develop business related skills and knowledge in technology transfer, IP protection, innovation network, as well as how these factors influence technological innovation in Chinese and European enterprises. This initiative has established an expert consortium, which is international and multidisciplinary. It will facilitate scientific and business progress in the field of tissue engineering and foster strong scientific cooperation between China and Europe.
The Department of Chemical Science and Materials Technology (DSCTM) which is part of Italy?s National Research Council (CNR) produced the project proposal. It performs research and innovation activities in its 14 institutes spread all over Italy and promotes technology transfer of its research results. It also foster the internationalisation of its research activities by participating in European and international projects and networks.
For this project they provide the expertise in biomaterial design and manufacturing, as well as biological characterizations and validation. DSTCM?s main aim is to manufacture new biomaterials for tissue engineering in collaboration with the University of Sichuan. They will also collaborate with QMI and ICUK to train researchers and project managers on topics such as IP protection and technology transfer strategies.
R&D will be led in collaboration with the National Engineering Center for Biomaterials (NECB). Located in the Sichuan University, NECB is one of the biggest biomaterials research institute in China and is involved at national level in more than 100 research projects. They will support the research with its advanced facilities and personnel. Medprin Regenerative Medical Technologies Co. Ltd, a biomedical device company focused on improving people?s lives through innovations in regenerative medicine and biomaterials is also a member of the project consortium. It is a manufacturer for Class III implantable medical devices, where its role will be fundamental for the scaling-up of the product made by the consortium research.
The technology transfer and IP management part is led by two companies. The first one is the ICUK programme, based at the Queen Mary Innovation Ltd (QMI), a technology transfer company wholly-owned by the Queen Mary University of London (QMUL). The ICUK will use its expertise for the establishment of new collaborations among the three countries involved. It will also provide IP protection and exploitation strategies for the R&D products of the ?Second. R.I.? project. Furthermore, QMI is leading the training of Italian researchers in the consortium on the managerial side of the research, patents protection and exploitation.
The other technology transfer company involved in this project is the Shanghai Technology Innovation Center (SHTIC). It is a non-profitable public science and technology service organization affiliated to Shanghai Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality, the national high-tech innovation service center by MOST and the leading organization of Shanghai international enterprise incubator. SHTIC is devoted to promote transforming scientific and technological achievements, incubating science enterprises and cultivating technology entrepreneurs. SHTIC will assist the project?s products exploitation and IP management. It will also work in collaboration with ICUK to organise a workshop in Shanghai to promote collaborations between the UK, Italy and China and showcase its research outcomes.
For any enquiries on this project, please contact Mrs Manyi Cristofoli at
For more details on the project, please visit http://www.secondriproject.eu/
