Parco Tecnologico Padano

Sectors

• Life Sciences und Materials
  • Biotechnology
  • Diagnostics
• Agricultural/food
  • Food technologies
  • Agricultural production

Services

• Research and Development
  • Commercialization of technologies
• Human Resources
  • Organisation of conferences, courses and seminars
  • Staff training
  • Staff recruiting
  • Partnerships with universities and other research institutes
• Business
  • Consultancy related to intellectual property
  • Access to venture capital
  • Network formations
• Administrative services
  • Administrative services for located companies
  • Support of relations with the EU
  • Technical support in the selection of locations by companies and laboratory facilities
• Other services
  • Territorial marketing
  • Location marketing

Data and Facts

Key data

• Founded in: 1999
• Seats: 2
• Organisations and companies: 16
• New founded companies: 16
• Research institutes: 1
• Other settled organisations: CNR IBBA/CNR ITB/Istituto Spallanzani/Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale/Università di Milano/Università Cattolica di Piacenza/CRA RIS (total 7)
• Total number of employees: 160 + 400 Cluster
• Area for research facilities: 6.000 m²
• Total area: 9.000 m²
• Cluster: 400 employees

Sponsors

Predominantly public authorities.

Foundation members:

• The Commune Lodi
• The Province of Lodi
• The Lodi Chamber of Commerce

Honourary members:

• Associazione Sanitaria Locale di Lodi
• Associazione Padana Studi Universitari di Casalpusterlengo
• Ente Lombardo per il Potenziamento Zootecnico di Zorlesco
• Università degli Studi di Milano
• Istituto Sperimentale Italiano “Lazzaro Spallanzani”
• Associazione Italiana Allevatori
• Provincia di Milano
• Camera di Commercio Industria Artigianato Agricoltura di Milano
• Comune di Milano

Located companies

• Molecular Stamping Srl (www.molecularstamping.com)
• ISTA SpA (www.istasementi.it)
• Biotrack Srl (www.biotrack.it)
• Phytoremedial Srl
• Officina Erboristica Srl
• Incura Srl (www.incura.it)
• Plantechno Srl (www.plantechno.com)
• Kron Morelli Srl (www.kron-morelli.com)
• Agrifutur Srl (www.agrifutur.it)
• TOP Srl (www.top-mice.com)
• Proteotech Srl (www.proteotech.it)
• Elpam Srl
• FasTest Srl

Other located organisations:

• Facoltà di Agraria dell’Università degli Studi di Milano
• Facoltà di Agraria dell’Università Cattolica (sede di Piacenza)
• Istituto di Biologia e Biotecnologia Agraria del CNR
• Istituto Sperimentale Italiano “Lazzaro Spallanzani”
• Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna
• International Biocontrol Manufacturers Association (IBMA)
• Telethon Lodi-Consorzio GriSù (Gruppo Riunito Suinicoltori)
• Consorzio Italbiotec

Objectives

• Foundation of new companies
• Build-up of new research activities
• Enhancement of the competitiveness of companies
• Attracting investors
• Economic exploitation of the scientific results
• Site promotion
• Intensification of relations between universities and companies
• Enhancement of the technology level of companies and institutions

Network

• APSTI (Italian Association of the Science and Technology Parks)
• IASP (International Association of the Science and Technology Parks)
• CNRB (Centro nazionale delle Risorse Biologiche - National Biological Resource Centre)
• Assobiotec
• RIAL (Rete Italia America Latina) Association for Italian Economic Development in Latin America)
• PIPRA (The Public Intellectual Property Resource for Agriculture)

Location

Location and Environment

	Name	Inhabitants	Distance
Location	Lodi	43.000
Nearest town/city	Milan	1.250.000	25 km
University	Veterinary Medicine Faculty of the University of Milan		0,4 km
	Catholic University of Piacenza		30 km
Cluster	Lodi	Biotechnologies for the food Industry

Infrastructure and links

	Name	Distance
Airport	Milan - Linate	25 km
	Milan - Malpensa	90 km
	Bergamo - Oro al Serio	55 km
Railway Station	Lodi	1 km
Harbor	Genoa	160 km

Transport Links

• The station in Lodi is on the rail link Milan-Rome
• Near the park is the motorway junction for the motorway Milan-Lodi
• A high-speed rail link between Milan and Bologna is being built. From the station in Lodi there will then be a direct with Milan every 20 minutes

Relevant infrastructures

• Lodi lies in the middle of the Po Valley, at the entrance to the agricultural/food area of the Lombardy/Emilia Romagna, the worldwide most productive agricultural ecosystem. The agriculture is very intensive, technologically progressive and decisive for the food requirements of the whole country. The area around Lodi is traditionally ingrained in animal breeding, feed grain cultivation and the milk/cheese segment. The competition potential is considerable, the specialist labour force dynamic, young and qualified. In the region, there are several multinational companies and the development of the entrepreneurial spirit in Lodi is higher than the average. The position is with respect to the logistics strategically favourable: Lodi has no traffic problems as do other towns/cities such as Milan. The infrastructures are good (motorways, railway, proximity to airports) and there are sufficient industrial areas available. All this generates an ideal framework for the development of clusters in the agricultural/food biotechnologies.
• The PTP accommodates 3 departments and 3 institutes of the faculty of agriculture of the University of Milan: 1) Department of Plant Production 2) Department of Molecular Food Sciences 3) Department of Microbiological and Food Sciences and Technologies 4) Institute for Agrarentomology 5) Institute for Plant Pathology 6) Institute for General Animal Breeding. The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Milan is represented by the following facilities: 6) Veterinary hospital for large animals on 80.000 m². Here are a didactic area for surgery and the Veterinary Clinic, admission stations, clinics and rehabilitation areas for horses, cattle, pigs and goats and operating theatres and diagnosis facilities. 7) Didactic test centre for animal breeding 8) Didactic structures and laboratories. In addition, the third programme agreement includes the creation of didactic areas and laboratories for the whole veterinary medicine faculty.

Technology transfer

Inclusion in EU project

ABC Network –European Commission

ABC Network is a project (2006-2008), which was founded as part of Europe Innova. The main aim of ABC Network was to strengthen the activities of the European agrar-biotech cluster. This was done, on the one hand, by the build-up of the innovation and competitiveness in the agrar/food sector and, on the other hand, by the foundation of a network, which was intended to promote the cooperation between clusters, best practices analyses and individualisation of the innovation and development obstacles. With the help of a multi-disciplinary approach, joint strategies should be developed and series of tools identified, which can be used for the administration of the clusters in the agricultural/food sector. Thereby also political stimuli should be drafted. As one result, the necessity of a stronger cooperation between the clusters can be included: the regional, national and European activities should be rationalised and coordinated. Thereby the negative effects of the fragmentation and the complexity of the sector should be narrowed down and the visibility of the agrar-biotech segment heightened. Also the appropriate financial apparatus must be more strongly coordinated, In addition to the common legal approach for public intellectual property; highly specialised consulting sessions should be introduced. With the support and promotion of business intelligence and consumer-oriented legislation, the competitive ability of the branch can be enhanced considerably.

Equal Competence -Provincia di Lodi

The aim of the Equal Competence project (2003-2006) was the support for the promotion of human resources in the whole of Lodi Province. At the end, a concept should exist for personal development. This concept should ensure that the competences of the staff with the help of continuous initial and further training should fulfil the current needs of the job market. For this innovative solutions were developed including: 1) Conduct of a feasibility study for the creation of a new job agency, which would be responsible for specialist staff in agrar-food-biotechnologies 2) Compilation of a marketing plan for the areas Lodi and Cremona in agrar-food-biotechnologies In addition, a services package for the agrar-food SMEs was drafted. This comprised business and administrative services (intellectual property, marketing studies, administration, partner search, outsourcing and internationalisation) and scientific studies (project coordination, laboratory tutoring and genome research services etc.)

Project Nucleo - Regione Lombardia

The core project (2004-2007) was aimed at supporting SMEs and researchers with technological innovation and the development of innovative projects. Thus enhanced participation by research facilities and SMEs in European R&D programmes should be achieved.

Agrobiotec Xchange - INTERREG

PTP participated in the Agrobiotech Xchange project (2006-2008) as part of the Interreg IIIb CADSES programme. The project was aimed, on the one hand, at the promotion of regional development and industrial competitiveness in the agricultural and agrar sectors (both sectors are seen as economic motors of the participating regions) and, on the other hand, at the enhancement of the cooperation between research and industry. Agrobiotech Xchange was both involved in the build-up of a virtual marketplace for the technology transfer, of access to scientific and technological resources, infrastructures and facilities and also with the support of new innovative companies in the agrar-biotechnology and the agrar-food sectors.

Tracenet

PTP was the project manager of the survey for technological needs in traceability for food safety (Tracenet), which was funded as a sub-project of the Interreg Programme MATEO. The aim of the project was the formation of a network for technology transfer in the agrar-food sector. The partner institutes are active in the agrar-food sector in its region. Each partner has built up relationships with the SMEs and other participants in the agrar-food system.

Activities

• The Analysis Group of Private Projects (GAPP) concentrates on the transmission of the industrial research results in order to enhance the quality of the agrar-food products and the traceability.
• PTP aims at the participation in the technology transfer programmes such as the Europeo Capacities programme.
• With the help of the corporate incubator, PTP wishes to transfer the newly obtained research insights of the universities and laboratories of the CERSA to new production companies.

Contacts to Germany already exist:

• In the research field, PTP has numerous contacts to German institutes and universities and to some German companies or regional offices. There is close cooperation with the Max Planck Institute in Cologne. Prof. Francesco Salamini was, before he became Scientific Director of PTP, for 19 years the head of the institute there.
• Cooperations and contacts with: BIO-M, Research Institute for Farm Animals, Università di Giessen, German Research Centre for Biotech Braunschweig, University of Bonn, Lohmann Tierzucht GmbH, University of Munich, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Otto-van-Guericke Universität Magdeburg, Max Planck Institute, Bielefeld University, Humboldt University, German Research Centre for Biotech Braunschweig, Alfred Wegener Institute Bremerhaven, Federal Centre for Breeding Research on Cultivated Plants, MIPS/Inst. F. Bioinformatics, State Plant Breeding Institute (LSA) University of Hohenheim, IPK Gatersleben, Lochow-Petkus GmbH, LfL, Bavarian State Reseach Center for Agriculture, Saaten-Union Resistenzlabor.

Research and Development

Project Eadgene

Aim

The aim of the project is the brokering of necessary basic knowledge for the development of new or improved therapies and vaccinations, improved diagnostics and the breeding of disease-resistant animals in the agricultural units. In this research area important disease germs in the food chain are concentrated on for these impact human health and lifestyle.

Project Sabre

Description

PTP participates in the European Sabre project. In the project, the newest techniques in genetic science are used to develop for the industry and the environment sustained breeding systems for cattle, pigs and poultry. In the foreground of basic research are the milk gland, the digestive apparatus and breeding.

Aim

Sabre aims at offering a spectrum of new breeding strategies to enhance the health and well-being of the animals, to reduce the load caused by chemistry and energy consumption, to reduce waste and contamination to a minimum and to optimise safety and food quality. The focus of applied research is centred both on the enhancement of the food quality and also the improvement of the food safety. Both should be achieved among other things by enhanced animal husbandry.

Project Macrosys

Description

The European Macrosys project is coordinated by the scientific manager of PTP, Dr. John Williams. A combination of classical and functional genomics and system biology (system genetics) approaches is used to investigate the interactions between germs and host and the immune reaction of the host on microbiological infections. The aim is the development of molecular diagnosis tools for the enhancement of disease control and the furthering of selective cattle breeding.

Aim

The main aim of the project is the improvement of the health and well-being of the cattle and the safety of the animal products. Thereby concentration is focused on diseases, which are becoming increasingly significant for the European population and in other areas increasingly more disquieting. The project deals, in particular, with bovine tuberculosis (TBC) and para bovine tuberculosis (Para-TBC, better known as Johne's disease).

Project Dupromics

Description

PTP participates in the Drupomics project. The aim of the project is the sequencing of the peach genome with a WGS method and a 0.2-04.X coverage using the available databanks, Shotgun and Fosmide (international activity). The sequencing is performed by the genomics platform. For the assembly, the Department of Bioinformatics is the responsible department. In Phase 2 of the project, i.e. the genetic molecular mapping, the Plant Genomics Department has the task of defining and mapping about 200 SNPs from the segregants (TxE and/or PxF) as direct anchoring of the Contigs to the genetic-molecular maps.

Aim

The aim of the project is the sequencing of the peach genome.

Project Nadir

Description

PTP participates in the European NADIR project. The project comprises four types of activities: Networking (communications, joint use of best practices, and joint administration of the biological resources), research (description of the animal lines, enhancement of the monitoring devices for infections, development of new infection models for new diseases), transnational access to technological facilities and administration of the project.

Aim

As a strategic aim of this project, the introduction of a European leadership practice in the field of studies and diagnosis of animal infections can be designated. Hereby altogether 14 test facilities for animals should be united. These are set up on security level 3 and their diagnosis and review instruments are subjected to optimisation, so that, on the one hand, a scaling effect can be achieved and, on the other hand, reserves saved can be used for the coordinated modernisation of the existing facilities.

Project Mappa 5°

Description

PTP participates in the Mappa 5° project. The main aim of the Mappa 5° project is the mapping in high resolution of the 5° chromosome of wheat using recombined populations (RIL). At other European facilities and the UO UNIBA, they are currently still in the development phase. At UO PTP gene typing analyses of RIL are performed, which are made available with molecular markers, anchored on BAC Contigs.

Aim

The aim of the Mappa 5A project is the mapping in high resolution of the chromosome 5A of wheat.

Incubator and Incentives

Incubator

• Availed space in the incubator: 2.000 sqm for companies, which run research operations for the food industry
• Scientific infrastruktur: The rooms of the incubator are equipped for laboratory activities with workstations, fume hoods and technical gas connections. In addition, the companies can access the general equipment, such as the rearing rooms, cooling units from -80° bis +4°, radioisotopic laboratory, centrifuges, lyophilisators, etc.
• Available space for new foundations near the park: A feasibility study and an international marketing plan for the realisation of a business park for industrial establishments, supplementary to the pool of the university and research in Lodi are in the initial phase.

Incentives

• Regional Law R. 35/96
• Regional subsidy as part of the Biotechnology Cluster project for the food industry
• Measure D4 of the European Social Fund
• Regional Law Package PIA for newly founded firms
• National Law 297/99
• Fund for investments in basic research (FIRB) of the Italian Ministry for Education and Research
• Italian Ministry of Economics fund
• VI Framework Programme for Research and Innovation of the EU
• Participation in the Community Initiative EQUAL as part of the European Employment Strategy
• INTERREG
• "Nuova Programmazione 2007-2013", a Joint European Programme for Regional Structural Subsidies