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Helsinki-Tallinn Innovation Bridge Mart Saarma Helsinki, November 8, 2001

Helsinki-Tallinn Innovation Bridge Mart Saarma Helsinki, November 8, 2001. Helsinki-Tallinn Innovation Bridge. 1. Some postulates 2. Important components of innovations 3. Brain – most important natural resource 4. Estonian Genome Project – one of the bridges?

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Helsinki-Tallinn Innovation Bridge Mart Saarma Helsinki, November 8, 2001

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  1. Helsinki-Tallinn Innovation BridgeMart SaarmaHelsinki, November 8, 2001

  2. Helsinki-Tallinn Innovation Bridge 1. Some postulates 2. Important components of innovations 3. Brain – most important natural resource 4. Estonian Genome Project – one of the bridges? 5. Stem cells – a joint future project?

  3. Helsinki-Tallinn Innovation Bridge 1. Some postulates Successful development of the future society will heavily depend on of the new innovations Most of the new innovations will depend on the quality of education, science and technology transfer Since small countries usually lack specialists to cover all areas special focus and concentration is needed

  4. Helsinki-Tallinn Innovation Bridge 1. Some postulates Helsinki and Tallinn are relatively small in global comparisons, but are larger together The natural resources are limited (energy, natural materials etc). General level of education is high or very high Psychological readiness for new technologies is very high

  5. Helsinki-Tallinn Innovation Bridge 1. Some postulates Possible areas of focus: Information technology New materials Environment Biomedicine Biotechnology Fusion of IT and Biotech

  6. Helsinki-Tallinn Innovation Bridge Biomedicine Biotechnology Fusion of IT and Biotech

  7. Future of science and biotechnology Role of science in society increases  Funding of science increases Structure of the science funding increases Technology transfer will be faster Science will be more interdisciplinary Keywords of science will be more and more – QUALITY AND FLEXIBILITY

  8. Future of biotechnology Rapidly changing areas: Research and use of stem cells Developing principally new drugs based on the understanding of pathogenesis mechanisms Major focus is in cancer and neurodegenerative diseases Understanding brain functioning Systems biology Joining IT and Biotech

  9. 2. Important components of innovations Education High quality science Science and Technology Parks Technology transfer Investments

  10. 2. Important components of innovations Education Both cities are small and have limited number of specialists – cooperation and integration is very important Harmonization of the educational programs is important Promoting bilateral student exchanges

  11. 2. Important components of innovations Education Helsinki University of Technology and Tallinn Technical University have started collaboration and harmonization of the educational programmes Other universities should follow this example Finnish system of graduate schools offers a unique opportunity for new collaboration Needs goodwill and bilateral support

  12. 2. Important components of innovations Science Bilateral evaluation of research Possible special funds for joint programmes Joint centres of excellence in focused areas Helsinki is strong in many areas, but Tallinn is quite strong in some areas – biotechnology, information technology, material science in several areas of basic science

  13. University Biocenters in Finlandin Science Parks • Helsinki • Kuopio • Oulu • Tampere • Turku Oulu Kuopio Tampere Turku Helsinki Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki Mart Saarma

  14. Total funding 1999 15 milj. ECU • Personnel 260 • Research programs 6 • Core facilities 8 • Total funding 2001 15 milj. ECU • Personnel 300 • Research programs 6 • Core facilities 7 Institute of Biotechnology State budget External Graduate schools Services 3 % 4 % 34 % 59 %

  15. Institute of Biotechnology • Helsinki Science Park • Research scientists and technicians 1500 (2500 in the year 2003) • University faculties: 4 • University campuses: 2 • Total floor area over 200´000 sq.m. (mostly academic) (over 340´000 sq.m year 2010) (mostly business) • Companies: 43 (250 employees – March 2001), in the year 2006: 100-150 companies and up to 2000 employees

  16. Number 120 105 90 75 60 45 30 15 0 2001 1995 1985-89 1990-94 1996/1997 before 1985 Biotech Companies in Finland 2001 • Finland 120 • -Viikki Biocenter 43 • Europe 2000 • USA 3000

  17. 50 40 Start-up incubator 30 34 companies 30 27 20 Other biotech 9 companies 10 7 9 9 9 8 3 3 1 0 1996 1998 2000 Institute of Biotechnology Biotechnology Companies in Helsinki Science Park 1996-2001

  18. Science and Technology ParksHave started well in Helsinki areaAre in the central focus of the city of HelsinkiIs there a room for collaboration with Tallinn?Tallinn companies as part of the Helsinki Science Parks – a possible way to Russia and Baltic countries?

  19. Innovations Technology transfer ”Bridge Over Troubled Water” ? Product on the market

  20. ”Bridge Over Troubled Water” Biotech Start-Up Companies National Technology Agency = TEKES Finnish National Fund for Research & Development = SITRA Helsinki Science Park Ltd Innovations at the University Product on the Market Licentia Ltd

  21. Technology transfer Problem – Tallinn has not yet good ”instruments” for technology transfer There are several possible strategies: Licentia OY and similar companies could also operate in Tallinn Investment funds and SITRA could approach Tallinn organisations City of Helsinki may share very valuable experience

  22. Neurogenerative diseases – a common and very serious problem About 2-4% of the population is already suffering The problem is exploding, since the population is aging and general healthcare is improving Will be a major problem for the future society In most cases (dementia, Alzheimer, Parkinson etc.) we do not have effective drugs

  23. Estonian Genome ProjectFoundation

  24. Historic Backround • Estonian Genome Foundation 1999 • Act on Human Genome Research 2000 • Estonian Genome Project Foundation 2001 • EGeen, Inc 2001

  25. The structure of Estonian Genome Project Founation Estonian Genome Project Foundation Estonian Genome Foundation EGeen Estonia EGI Inc. USA

  26. Legal Backround • Human Genome Research Act (HGRA) • Passed by Parliament on December 13, 2000 • Inforce since January 08, 2001 • HGRA regulates • scientific research on human genetics • the use of genetic information (informed consent) • HGRA protects • the confidentiality of gene donor • the public from the misuse of genetic information • the gene donor from genetic discrimination

  27. Legal Backround • General principles of HGRA include • voluntary participation in genetic research studies • confidentiality of gene donor • gene donor’s right to apply for destruction of his/her data • gene donor’s right to know his/her genetic data • gene donor’s right not to know his/her genetic data • the institution of the Ethics Committee

  28. Financing Estonian Government 1 million EEK (April, 2001) Loan from Enterprise Estonia 4 million EEK (July, 2001) Agreements: EGPF↔ EG ↔ EGI Pilot Project (10 000 gene donors) ~ 2,5 million USD (March 2002)

  29. Objectives for EGP in Estonia • Creation of the national health and DNA database of the population. • Better healthcare delivery – short term benefit • Application of personalized diagnosis and treatment methods to achieve better service at lower cost in the health-care sector • Better healthcare availability – long term benefit • Development of local IT-based gene technology and health sector infrastructure • Economic benefits (lower costs, jobs, investment, education, etc.) – short and long term Estonia’s goals for the EGP are to enhance medical care and economic opportunity for its population by forming ethically clear and well-defined partnerships

  30. Public Opinion about EGP (September 2001) • 62% of the Estonian population is informed about the Project • 40% of the informed people are willing to become gene donors already now • The highest level of support is among the age group of 25-49 • More information is to be made available to Russian-speaking population • Only 6% of the informed people do not support the Project

  31. Estonian Genome Project in Media • About 80 articles in Estonian newspapers • Postimees, Päevaleht, Eesti Ekspress, Äripäev etc. • About 25 articles in worldwide media • Nature, Nature Biotechnology, Science, Financial Times, Focus, Washington Post, New York Times, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Scientist, Spiegel, Biomed Central, Facts, Wall Street Journal, Wirtschafts Woche etc. • Coverage in Radio and TV programs • BBC World, Zweites Deutches Fernsehen, Deutche Welle TV, German Public Radio, ARD, etc.

  32. EGeen Genomics/informatics company convertingdatabase info into health care applications • Develops the database • Database access subscription service for early partners • Parterships with biotech and pharmaceutical companies in certain therapeutic areas • Develops collaborations with technology companies, governmental agencies and universities • Drug and Diagnostic Target discovery • Pharmacogenetics • Healthcare Informatics Products, incl. Clinical Trial Support

  33. Differences between Iceland and Estonian Genome Projects • Informed consent versus presumed • Nonprofit foundation (EGPF) versus deCODE as a database owner • High density SNP map versus microsatellite markers

  34. Further steps- an excellent way to collaborate with Helsinki • Fund Rising • Partnerships • Pilot Project • Choice of technology • Public dialogue • Infrastructures

  35. Thank you for your attention Thank you for your attention

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