Core Facilities are essential players in the life science research, providing technological expertise and access to advanced instrumentation operated by expert staff scientists.
These technological platforms may act as powerful hubs of innovation enabling knowledge and training on cutting-edge technologies, even facilitating the convergence of academic research and specific industrial demands. The research infrastructure domain is universally aware of the urgent need to strengthen the education system with the recognition and certification of competencies in operating and managing platforms such as the core facilities and, thus, to invest on the training of highly-skilled knowledge workers.
To address this challenge, the Department CIBIO is coordinating the InnoCore project (Core Technologies for Education and Innovation in Life Science), a network of EU universities and experts of innovation. InnoCore is funded by the European Union within the Erasmus+ Key Action 2 for Strategic Partnerships, and will receive a grant of 450.000 € for the next three years. Together with CIBIO, the Consortium includes the University of Coimbra and the Centre for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (PT), CEITEC-Masarik University of Brno (CZ), the Technology Park of Health of Granada (ES), the bioincubator Sanipedia (IT) and HIT-Hub Innovation Trentino (IT).
On last November 18th and 19th the University of Trento hosted the project kickoff meeting, in the presence of all the key representatives of the consortium. The aim of the project is to develop a curriculum on core technologies integrated with innovative practices for knowledge transfer, entrepreneurship and innovation management in the biotech sector. The ambition is to launch, starting from the next academic year, a new technological track for Master’s students teaching core technologies in life sciences (such Advanced Imaging, Genomics, Proteomics, Drug Discovery) integrated with extensive hands-on activities and practices for knowledge transfer to boost the entrepreneurial mindset of prospective staff scientists and core facility managers. The InnoCore curriculum will be delivered through modules to target, besides MSc students, PhD and postdoc researchers as well as professional working in academic and industrial core facilities, and will be integrated with mobility of students and participants to deliver project-based cooperation between academy and industry. InnoCore will use blended education will be the methodology, to apply eLearning tools and digital certification through Open Digital Badges.
The InnoCore network will liaise with associated partners such as the Core Technology for the Life Sciences association (CTLS), as well as industrial partners such Zeiss, Abbot, Dompè and network of innovators such EIT Health and local incubators and accelerators.
Acknowledgement
This project received funding by the European Commission under the Grant Agreement n° 2019-1-IT02-KA203-063391
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