INITIATIVES & RESULTS

To support the growth of new businesses, Adebag designs and carries out collective actions which help to:

• pool resources on specific themes: seeking out sources of finance (reducing business costs), securing the involvement of notable specialists, etc.
• encourage businesses to get involved on a given theme by making the most of opportunities available (e.g. QSE policy)
• support businesses on key issues in the sector (Quality, Bioethics etc.)
• suggest a more collective approach by encouraging the sharing of experience whilst still working on individual areas
• represent businesses in key national and/or international events in the sector

Training and activity workshops

Quality, Safety and Environment approach

- Principle: a collective action undertaken by Adebag for the benefit of new biotechnology and biomedical companies in Rhône-Alpes to help them set up a quality process and quickly qualify for ISO 9001 v.2000 and ISO 14001 certification, and move closer to the OHSAS 18001 standard.

- Organization of two sessions combining group training and individual counselling to:
- optimize costs engaged by companies
- encourage companies to emulate one another and pool experience
- personalize the process to suit each companie's specific problems

- Results: 12 firms took part; 4 firms were certified for ISO 9001 and 13485 in July 2007 (others are still in the process); two firms qualified for CE certification; seven firms passed the dry-run audit
- Budget: €160,000
- Duration: two and a half years (2005-2007)
- Financial partners: Rhône-Alpes Regional Council and the Rhône-Alpes branch of the ministry of Industry and Research
- Technical partner: Arteb

:: Press release (fr) | Final document (fr) ::

Other workshops and training sessions

Here are some examples of the workshops and training sessions organised by Adebag for the benefit of its members:
- "Preparing and optimising one's presence at a congress or trade fair"
- "Networking: from experimentation to application"
- "Building a network: Grenoble 's biotech business models"
- "Partnerships and Alliances in Bioindustry: how to manage strategic challenges better"
- "Biotech Business Models" – organised in collaboration with France Biotech
- "Qualification of health products"
- "Strategies to Approach the US Bio Market"

Support for European programmes (7th FPRD)

Adebag is aware of the impetus needed to promote the participation of SMEs in the European FPRD programmes (Framework Programme for Research and Development) and therefore has joined forces with the ANRT (National Agency for Technical Research) and its "Innovation School" to raise awareness among Grenoble businesses of the various calls for tender of the 7 th FPRD.

In practice: Adebag's participation in the ANRT Innovation School 's supervisory committee (made up of all the French technological and technical centres and a representative from the cluster) has enabled the various training modules to be adapted to this context, and company-specific training modules for the Grenoble bioindustry sector to be put together.
- Objectives of these training sessions: to make Grenoble businesses aware of the (regulatory and practical) requirements for participating in the cooperative research projects financed by the EU and also those of the Centres of Excellence and of the Agency for Industrial Innovation.
- Original approach suggested by the " Innovation School ": to establish a working dialogue between SMEs and local and national technology centres to facilitate the creation and technological implementation of R & D projects.

Bioethics campaign

Start of a bioethics campaign to enhance the social acceptability of bioindustry firms:
raising awareness of ethical issues among entrepreneurs and project leaders: assessment of possible risks and how to control them, principle of responsibility and vigilance ;
encouraging transparency and communication with public at large

This innovative and original approach has led to the creation of a knowledge base and a new work methodology. The objective of the work group is to develop a pragmatic approach based on a code of practice which strikes a balance between work ethics and moral principles and which aims to support businesses rather than place constraints upon them. (As yet no decision proper).
In order for project developers to be able to follow the bioethics group's guidelines, which will constitute the outcome of the group's work (assessment of risks/benefits, anticipating and reversibility of decisions), it has drawn up a questionnaire for entrepreneurs and project developers to complete prior to meeting with them as well as an assessment questionnaire.

International

Representing the cluster at major international events

As the key coordinator of the bioindustry community in the Grenoble area, Adebag organizes the representation of the cluster and the presence of one or more companies (depending on the topic at issue) at major international events (trade fairs, business conventions, etc.).

Every year Adebag attends the top international bioindustry trade fairs and conventions, ranging from BIO in the United States to BioVision/Biosquare in Lyon and Swiss and Medica in Germany . It is also present at key European events such as EuroBiO.

To promote the image of the Grenoble cluster and make it easier for companies to attend such fairs Adebag organizes shared booths. It teams up with other local and regional (Lyonbiopole for example). It also provides financial and logistics support for the organization of group booths to promote companies at trade fairs and business conventions. Collective communication campaigns may be organized to coincide with such events.

In addition to boosting Grenoble 's international image, attending such high-profile events enables Adebag to make invaluable contacts, paving the way for strategic partnerships involving local companies and organizations.