BIOCANT III

 

PROJETO BIOCANT III

1. PROJECT NAME:

BIOCANT III

 

2. ENTITY

BIOCANT – Associação de Transferência de Tecnologia / BIOCANT – Technology Transfer Association

 

3. PROJECT LOCATION

Biocant Park – Parque Tecnológico de Cantanhede

 

4. PROJECT SUMMARY AND GOALS

Having a significant number of researchers, laboratory space, state-of-the-art equipment, projects, and companies are necessary conditions for a biotechnology park to aspire to create the critical mass recognized by international and national partners. Given that the Biocant I and Biocant II buildings are fully operational, the lack of available laboratory space for new companies to set up, the fact that the main building is fully occupied, and the growing demand for laboratory space from companies, it is imperative to provide a solution.

 

5. PROJECT START AND END DATES

June 1, 2008 to May 31, 2013.

 

6. DESCRIPTION OF THE BIOCANT III BUILDING

The ground floor features four large laboratory spaces, the building’s reception area, a common meeting room, and a technical support room equipped with staff and specialized equipment, where services such as lab coat sterilization, washing and drying of materials, autoclaving of clean and dirty items, supply of demineralized water, and waste collection, among others, are provided.

 

7. OVERVIEW OF THE BIOPILOT UNIT

This project aims to establish an industrial biotechnology unit that will serve as a true catalyst for competitiveness. One of the most significant barriers to the development of emerging domestic companies in the field of industrial biotechnology is the lack of infrastructure with the appropriate scale and capabilities to enable them to test their processes and produce product batches for market testing. On the other hand, the industrial biotechnology unit will have the capacity to attract projects from traditional sectors of the national industry that could benefit from new processes. Thus, the unit aims to foster the development of technology-based SMEs that have been increasingly emerging in the sector, particularly at Biocant Park, many with public investment, but which struggle to demonstrate to potential customers or investors a mature and robust technology capable of ensuring a return on investment; and, on the other hand, to facilitate the incorporation of biotechnology into existing major industrial sectors, thereby enhancing the differentiation and competitiveness of companies in these sectors.

 

8. INVESTMENT

The Biocant III project involves a total eligible investment of €6,763,166.62 to be carried out over a two-year period, 80% of which is funded by the QREN under the “Mais Centro – Programa Operacional Regional do Centro, Sistema de Apoio a Parques de Ciência e Tecnologia e Incubadoras de Empresas de Base Tecnológica” (Regional Operational Program for the Center, Support System for Science and Technology Parks and Technology-Based Business Incubators).

 

9. PROJECT RESULTS

With the implementation of this project, Biocant will strengthen its role as a science and technology park specializing in biotechnology and enhance various aspects of its operations.