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The European Federation of Biotechnology (EFB) is currently
undergoing a major process of reorganization and reinvigoration.
Its goal is to establish close collaborations between all European
biotechnologists from industry and academia, facilitate exchange
of knowledge and ideas through workshops, congresses and symposia,
and contribute to a better understanding and perception of biotechnology
by the general public in Europe. EFB works to promote the safe,
sustainable and beneficial use of Nature’s resources in life sciences
and technologies by supporting sound science as well as the application
of engineering and technology. EFB strives to improve public perceptions
and education, facilitate exchange of people and ideas, prepare
specific courses for Ph.D. students and young postgraduates and
stimulate innovation with the common goal of advancing biotechnology
in Europe. To learn more about EFB, please visit www.efbweb.org
EFB in the past
EFB was founded originally in 1978 at Interlaken, Switzerland,
by European scientists to promote cooperation between non-profit
scientific and technical societies in Europe, for the general advancement
of biotechnology as an interdisciplinary field of research, and
as a means of furthering the scientific and economic development
and application of manufacturing processes in a socially and ethically
acceptable manner. At that time only national learned societies
could be members of EFB.
EFB grew to accommodate 81 biotechnology-related scientific societies
from 29 different European countries and 5 from non-European countries.It
was organized into ten working parties covering the main scientific
aspects of biotechnology: animal and plant culture technology, applied
bio-catalysis, applied molecular genetics, bioreactor performance,
downstream processing and recovery of bio-products, education, environmental
biotechnology, measurement and control, microbial physiology, and
safety in biotechnology. In addition to the working parties, EFB
also created a Task Group on Public Perceptions of Biotechnology.
Each working party could include two representatives from each European
country, delegated by the learned societies.
The working parties and the Task Group on Public Perceptions of
Biotechnology have in the past performed very well for instance
by:
- Preparing series of papers, such as "Safe Biotechnology" and
"Made by Genetic Engineering" that review and discuss new recombinant
products in order to promote a better understanding of genetic
engineering.
- Promoting education and training in biotechnology through various
internal and external networking activities.
- Preparing position papers and reviews on topical issues, or
briefing papers such as those published by the Task Group on Public
Perceptions of Biotechnology, which have been widely distributed
all over Europe.
The booklet "Made by Genetic Engineering", may be ordered from
Maike Brueck (brueck@dechema.de) at the EFB Office in Frankfurt.
Working parties, however, only comprised up to two members from
each European country. In practice the number of active members
was usually much lower. Therefore, the idea developed of transforming
the working parties into sections open to all European scientists
interested in a particular field of biotechnology. Accordingly the
Executive Committee decided in June 1999 to reform the statutes
of EFB and to establish an EFB Office and Congress Service to assist
the Executives of EFB and its Sections and Task Groups. The new
President Pierre Crooy, Belgium, and the new Vice-President Børge
Diderichsen, Denmark, were asked to lead this ambitious endeavor
which has proved to have been very successful:
- An EFB Office and Congress Service has been established in Frankfurt
at DECHEMA, Germany’s largest not-for-profit organization in biotechnology,
under the directorship of the general secretary Dr Rüdiger Marquardt.
- Almost all working parties have now been transformed into sections
or task groups.
- New statutes have been approved unanimously by the Executive
Board, the chairmen of the Sections, Task Groups and Working Parties
and at a meeting of the Learned Societies in Berlin, on September
3, 2000.
- The approval of the new statutes only needs final confirmation
at the General Assembly of EFB in Madrid, July 2001.
The Mission of the new EFB
EFB works to promote the safe, sustainable and beneficial use
of Nature’s resources in life sciences and technologies by supporting
sound science as well as the application of engineering and technology.
EFB strives to improve public perceptions and education, facilitate
exchange of people and ideas, prepare specific courses for Ph.D.
students and young postgraduates and stimulate innovation with the
common goal of advancing biotechnology in Europe.
The objective of EFB is to promote co-operation, on scientific
grounds, between national and cross national member societies, their
personal members and scientists from academia and industry, for
the general advancement of biotechnology as an interdisciplinary
field of research and as a means of furthering the scientific development
and application of manufacturing processes in Europe. EFB offers
all national and cross national European Learned Societies, companies
and individuals interested in the promotion of biotechnology a platform
for participating in and contributing to enhanced and coordinated
activities in Europe.
EFB in the future
EFB is now in the process of restructuring. Soon, it will accommodate
universities, research institutions, National and European Associations,
and individual companies as well as Learned Societies. Its most
important activities will be Sections and Task Groups focusing on
special fields of interest. So far, Sections on Agri-Biotechnology,
Applied Genome Research, Biochemical Engineering Sciences, and Microbial
Physiology have been established. Sections on Medical Biotechnology
and on Biodiversity are under formation. The Task Groups on Public
Perceptions of Biotechnology and on Education are devoted to the
relations between Biotechnology and Society. A Task Group on International
Affairs is being formed to intensify scientific contacts worldwide
and to advise the European Commission on developing international
relations in research, education and innovation,
Major differences between the old and the new EFB:
- Future memberships of EFB are open to institutions, companies
and other organizations with activities and interest in promoting
biotechnology in Europe.
- Specialized or topical activities of EFB will principally be
organized by sections or task groups.
- Individuals may become members of EFB via participation of
one or more sections or task groups.
- Administrative and coordinating matters will be taken care
of by professional staff at the EFB Office and Congress Service
(OCS) at DECHEMA in Frankfurt.
- OCS will ensure that future European Congresses of Biotechnology
will be planned and executed in a highly professional manner.
- The Executive Board of EFB which has the overall responsibility
for EFB will mainly be composed of those who are directly involved
with the core activities of EFB such as the chairmen of the sections
and task groups.
- There will be a fee for institutional members which will enable
EFB to react quickly on opportunities that meets with its objectives
such as arranging workshops, establishing new sections or respond
to invitations for international cooperation.
EFB activities of interest to the European Commission
From its mission and objectives it is evident that EFB shares with
the EC many interests. Current and future activities that are likely
to be of particular importance:
EFB, its sections and task groups will be happy to advise the
Commission on matters related to strategies and priorities in research,
training and innovation to optimize the content of European research
and other related programs in the Life Sciences.
EFB is currently establishing a new section on Medical Biotechnology
to broaden its level of expertise and answer real needs for European
science and training.
In view of the current discussions on "The Global Biodiversity
Information Facility (GBIF)" and other initiatives, EFB will establish
a section on Biodiversity. In addition to creating the first truly
pan-European forum in this field, it will advise the EC on European
interests and activities related to the many practical and ethical
aspects of the operations of such a facility. Furthermore, an EFB
Section on Biodiversity will be a dynamic forum for European scientists
active in some of the past, current and future projects funded by
the EC in the field.
With the new organization of EFB, the European Congresses of Biotechnology
(of which OCS will have full responsibility starting with ECB12
in 2005) will become even better fora to facilitate interaction
between scientists, entrepreneurs, companies, investors, government,
non-government organizations, the media and the public.
EFB will help to bring together European Commission officials
with European and international experts in the fields in which EFB
has experiences.
In line with the increased emphasis on raising the public’s understanding
and acceptance of the benefit, safety and risks of biotechnology,
EFB will discuss with the EC means for expanding the dialogue between
the public and scientists. Currently, the EFB Task Group on Public
Perception of Biotechnology is very active in this regard and is
preparing for the EC an e-mail public inquiry service "Ask the Scientist".
In view of the increasing emphasis on human resources, EFB also
intends to develop the activities of its Task Group on Education
on Biotechnology.
EFB is applying to the EC INCO program for a continuation of EBNIC
(European Biotechnology Node for Interaction with China). EFB believes
that it is the pan-European organization best suited to facilitate
broad interaction and collaboration between Europe and China in
research, training and innovation in the field of biotechnology.
The success of the Workshop on "Human Genomics and Technologies"
in Berlin on September 9, 2000 organized on behalf of EBNIC created
an excellent basis for future cooperation.
EFB has applied the EC INCO program for funds to facilitate equivalent
interactions between Europe and the South-Eastern Asian countries
(ASEM).
In view of the above, EFB will also establish a new task group
to study how best to handle international relations (including non-OECD
countries) in the field of biotechnology and engage in discussions
with the EC accordingly.
Finally, to broaden its basis and network even further, EFB would
like to establish dynamic networks in order to make best use of
European facilities and financial and intellectual resources with
other pan-European organizations such as EUFEPS (European Federation
of Pharmaceutical Sciences), FEBS (Federation of European Biochemical
Societies), FEMS (Federation of European Microbiological Societies)
and EMBO (European Molecular Biology Organization)).
EFB’s goal is thus to establish close collaborations between all
European biotechnologists from industry and academia, facilitate
exchange of knowledge and ideas through workshops, congresses and
symposia, and contribute to a better understanding and perception
of biotechnology by the general public in Europe.
For further information on EFB please access www.efbweb.org.
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