Biotechnology Research Network
Sobral Biotechnology Research Network
The Sobral Biotechnology Research Network (https://redbiotec.ufc.br/pt/) was officially launched at the 1st Semi-Arid Biotechnology Symposium in November 2023. The event was attended by the Network’s founding members and representatives from the various participating institutions: the Federal University of Ceará, the Acaraú Valley State University, the Iinta University Center, the Federal Institute of Ceará, and the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa). The Sobral Biotechnology Research Network is an association of 40 researchers from the aforementioned institutions. The network’s main goal is to carry out projects to develop biotechnological products and processes in Sobral.
The research network is organized around projects involving two or more members. These projects are developed through a dynamic of interdependence and complementarity. They seek to optimize the use of resources and the physical infrastructure and equipment of the institutions involved while producing high-quality knowledge. The projects are divided into the following research areas: 1) Bioprospecting of natural and synthetic products, 2) In vivo and in vitro testing of bioactive products, 3) Development, characterization, and evaluation of nanostructured delivery systems for bioactive products, and 4) Prospecting for markers associated with animal diseases and genetic improvement.
The network general objective is to contribute to the development of new methods, models, techniques, and tools in biotechnology to solve societal problems, paying special attention to the challenges facing the interior of Ceará. The network specific objectives are listed below:
- To promote interaction among researchers working in biotechnology in the region.
- To optimize the use of participating institutions’ physical infrastructure and equipment.
- To reduce research costs and increase the publication and development of biotechnological products.
- To encourage researchers to establish partnerships with biotechnology companies.
- To encourage bio-entrepreneurship among researchers and students by prospecting innovative ideas and/or research.
- To encourage the creation of business incubators to develop innovative businesses in the biotechnology sector.
- To promote training for human resources and transfer technologies generated, adapted, and validated within the network to the productive sector.
- To organize scientific events to disseminate research and facilitate the exchange of ideas among researchers.
- To define strategies for raising funds from research funding institutions.
- To develop strategies for training undergraduate students in the laboratories of the participating institutions.
