![[BioMatNet Database - FAIR Program]](../images/Fair.gif) |
ECLAIR
EUR 19338: FAIR-CT98-4822 Report on Commercial Success of ECLAIR Programme 1999 - Project Summary |
Introduction
This report, that was produced on behalf of the non-food secretariat of the European Commission DG XII, reviews the extent to which commercial activities arose as a result of the research funded by the European Commission through the ECLAIR programme. This activity, European Collaborative Linkage of Agriculture and Industry through Research, was established by Council Decision 89/160/EEC, within the Second RTD Framework Programme and ran from 1998 to 1993.
The programme aimed to select projects that would encourage the production and testing of new products derived from agricultural raw materials, as well as the development of new inputs for agriculture, such as fertilisers, pesticides, vaccines, inoculants and growth promoters. The 42 shared cost projects that were funded, receiving around 65 MECU, were pre-competitive in nature and further effort would be required to commercialise the results from ECLAIR. The purpose of this assessment study was to establish to what extent, some seven years later, this had occurred.
Activities
The co-ordinator and/or commercial partners of each project was contacted by phone, fax or email and asked to complete a basic questionnaire, that was derived from and supplemented information on the state of projects at the end of the programme. This information was based to a large extend on final reports that had been used to produce items for the NF-AIRID Database ( AIR3-CT94-2299) subsequently developed further as NF-2000 Network ( FAIR3-CT96-1904). Background information on the members of consortia and progress during the course of the ECLAIR programme was obtained from a number of EC publications including ECLAIR: Agro-Industrial Research Final Results (ISBN 92-826-9712-6, EUR 16952 EN); Evaluation of the ECLAIR and FLAIR Programmes (1988-1993) and (1989-1993) - Research evaluation - Report No. 67 (ISBN 92-827-0120-4 EUR 16192 EN) and ECLAIR programme project catalogues (EUR 14967 EN, EUR 16047 EN). Information on non-food AIR and FAIR projects was also obtained from the NF-2000 Network database. Background information on food-related FAIR projects was obtained from the project catalogue (EUR 18306 EN). Further information was obtained from the Internet (including EU sites: ec.europa.eu and cordis.europa.eu, as well as those run by companies, trade associations, NGOs, government organisations, etc.) and from company literature covering products that are now for sale. In some cases sites or factories were visited in person.
Results
It was found that obtaining information was not as simple as had been expected, due to the extent of changes that had occurred both to individuals and to organisations since the programme ended. Some senior staff had retired, been promoted, or changed organisations, whereas researchers on fixed term contracts under ECLAIR had moved away. Changes in the industrial participants included both demergers and mergers affecting large multinationals while some agro-biotechnology companies had ceased to exist or been restructured under a new name, in some cases with intellectual property passing through a succession of companies. In other cases the original industrial participants had lost interest in the area of activity investigated under ECLAIR, with the development coming to an end or being transferred to another individual or organisation.
Where it was found difficult to contact the industrial partner, the universities and/or research institutes associated with the project were contacted. Here it was found that, in several countries, the structure of government funded research institutions had changed significantly. Amalgamations, closures, privatisation and formation of agencies had occurred. Although universities were more stable, some people had changed jobs. Even where this had not happened those involved were not necessarily aware of developments that had occurred since the project ended. As a result of these complications, it could not be guaranteed that all commercial developments have been fully documented. Hence, this report may indicate a lower level of commercial development than has in fact occurred.
Using the information available, the projects were classified within the following categories: work completed - no further activity recorded; further research carried out; undergoing trials, pilot activities, or prototype constructed; near market; and continuing market. It was found that 35% of the projects resulted in marketed products, 14% resulted in products that should be marketed in the near future and a further 35% have reached the prototype, pilot or trials stage.
The result clearly indicated that the greater the industrial participation in the initial project team, the more likely it was that the project would produced a marketable product. However, those projects that were technically successful, but did not have a commercial co-ordinator, were more likely to be in a near-market situation. The level of industrial participation or coordination appeared less significant for those projects that had reached the pilot, prototype and trials stages of development. The impact of research carried out subsequent to ECLAIR (1 - precompetitive, 2 - near-market and 3 - in-house research) was also analysed. This indicated that projects that had reached the market had probably benefited to a greater extent from applied (in-house) research. It also suggested that products that were near to market might have reached the market place by now, but for a lack of industrial follow-up.
Although these results were clear, the number of projects was too low for a proper statistical analysis at the cluster level. However, differences were apparent. Those projects that were directed towards consumer products were more likely to get to the market place than those involved in introduction of new crops, plant breeding or use of genetic engineering or other biotechnical processes as a means of improving existing products or processes. This is illustrated by the list of those branded products now being sold. These include nematodes, fish vaccines, pheromone traps and lures, soil inoculants, a scanner for microbial contamination, wine inoculants and a cheese starter culture, as well as various beneficial insects. A considerable number of other products have been marketed.
The success in reaching the market place appears to combine achievement of the technical objectives together with other factors reflecting rate of transfer from research to the market place. For some plant products, as well as those generated using advanced biotechnical processes, the nearness to market reflected the time required for breeding programmes, product registration and other non-technical matters. However, for some specific projects there were other barriers to commercialisation. These included concern about genetically modified organisms (GMOs), effects of legislation concerning BSE and, in some cases, the fact that the anticipated cost-benefits over existing products were not obtained. Projects on food flavours from citrus and a flavour precursor based on hydrolysis of a bacterial exo-polysaccharide were affected by legislation, take-overs and/or changes in market conditions. A fish growth hormone, effective in salmonids, was produced as an injectable protein. However, the company discontinued working on fish and the product was not marketed.
Within the areas of microbiology and fermentation, new strains of lactic acid bacteria have been isolated for the production of artisanal cheese; a bacteriocin effective against mastitis in cows is under development and Lyven is now marketing a number of enzymes for the fruit juice, textile and animal feed industries. Strains of Pseudomonas fluorescens were incorporated into radish seed coatings and test marketed but the overall perceived cost-benefits were not sufficient to gain acceptance. The biodegradable plastic Biopol, was taken to the market place by the co-ordinator (ICI, demerged to Zeneca) but, following purchase by Monsanto (US), production has stopped. Various partial processes of thermophilic fermentation, using hydrolysates from agricultural wastes, were demonstrated and a company (Agrol) formed to take this to market (currently at pilot plant stage).
In the area of plant development, Plant Genetic Systems, having previously demonstrated the incorporation of insecticidal proteins derived from Bacillus thuringiensis, continued work on potatoes under ECLAIR. This led directly or indirectly to transgenic maize and other commodity crops that are currently grown in some countries, while generating marked opposition and controversy in others (including the EU). Vitro Hellas produced virus-free fruit stock and vines to become a major supplier of certified plants in the Greece; one of the novel oilseed crops investigated (Crambe) is now grown in small quantities; while Cultigar are contracted to produce 50,000 chestnut (Castanea sativa) trees per annum for the local administration. New wheat varieties are in field trials, as are plants with modified levels of lignin, melons with modified ripening characteristics, potatoes with modified crisping characteristics and other plants modified by incorporation of proteins that increase resistance to fungal infection, an objective also achieved by selection of chickpeas.
Conventional breeding and genetic manipulation resulted in rapeseed and sunflower oils that had been enhanced for industrial use (high erucic and/or oleic acid), while the agricultural potential of Coriander was established. A number of projects resulted in processes and/or products based on oleochemistry, including surfactants derived from D-galacturonic acid. Marketing of some of these products awaits availability of the raw materials. Several projects generated industrial processing, analytical equipment, genetic mapping techniques and other benefits to the industrial participants that are now being used in-house. Other industrial processes had mixed results. The whole crop biorefinery concept has received recognition outside the EU in less developed regions and continues with national and EU funding, with a focus on added value, novel products, including biocides. Several prototype de-barkers were produced and used by some participants, however benefits of mechanical, over hand, harvesting were only seen for dense stands. The complete chain from field to pulp was investigated and shown effective for production of continuous steam exploded pulp at pilot plant level, conferred insufficient benefit to justify investment in full scale plant. Other fibre projects produced prototype car parts. While those involved in the ECLAIR project continue development, other companies (for example, Mercedes) are now incorporating such parts.
Trials of the seaweed-based liquid fertilizer, showed promise for the organic and horticultural sectors. Commercial progress was hampered by changes in policies and acquisition of the original commercial partners. It is anticipated that products from a new company will be launched in autumn 1999. The cost-benefits of novel plant propagation containers could not be established, although used in extensive trials. Animal propagation using one week old frozen embryos from bovine ovaries collected from abattoirs was affected by variable results and changes in legislation linked to concerns about BSE. Viral epitopes and animal vaccines were produced, but required further work. This was also true in other projects, some of which received further funding under various national or EC programmes (AIR, FAIR, VALUE, INNOVATION, etc).
It is probable that the interest created by the ECLAIR project led to continuation of research in this area in the subsequent Framework programmes. AIR (Agriculture and Agro-Industry including Fisheries Programme of Research and Technological Development), was funded as part of the Community's Third Framework Programme (1991 - 1994) while FAIR (Agriculture and Agro-Industry including Fisheries Programme of Research and Technological Development) continued (1994-1998) the activity within the Fourth Framework programme. This area of activity continues to be supported under the current (Fifth) RTD Framework Programme (1999-2002). The future of non-food activities lies in Theme One (The quality of life and management of living resources) under Key Action 5 (The integrated production and exploitation of biological materials for non-food uses). These programmes have resulted in an increase in funds available, as well as a commensurate increase in number of projects and participants. As indicated above, these included continuation of some ECLAIR projects through development and demonstration
ECLAIR activities also impacted on national activities, although the specific programmes in most Member States tend not to directly reflect the activities funded within the EU. A number of national initiatives have been established, including setting of National Programmes as in Denmark (Non-Food Secretariat), UK (Alternative Crops Unit, changed to Agri-Industrial Materials in June 1999), in some cases in association with new institutes such as FNR (Germany). In general the extent of information (as summarised on the Internet through the website http://www.nf-2000.org, supported by the EC under contract FAIR3-CT96-1904), that has evolved through these EC programmes and national activities may be used to set clear objectives for the Fifth Framework Programme.
In conclusion, it is clear that ECLAIR did result in products reaching the market place. To achieve this requires much more than 'good science'. Non-technical factors, including legislation, public opinion and raw material availability and price affect the process of commercialisation. Where a project has a high level of industrial participation and is clearly focused on an identifiable product, there is a better prospect of getting to market. This may reflect the combination of commercial, marketing and processing knowledge, enabling the project to focus on key areas. At the same time some companies, especially SMEs, may lack the required contacts with science and not be aware of the current state of the art in areas that affect their business. ECLAIR was the first attempt to bring these two sides together. Many of the industrial participants regarded the contacts they made, including networking that has continued, as the most important aspect of the collaboration.
Publication of results
The full report will be printed by the European Commission in due course. In the meantime the results have been added to the NF-2000 website and will appear on a CD-ROM to be published by the end of 1999. The text of the report appears as Preface and Overview, with the individual project reports appearing as separate items as follows:
FAIR Programme (1994-1998)
Contacts
Author
For copies
© Copyright 2006 Policy Statements
Updated
by CPL Press:
24/09/2007
- biomatnet@biomatnet.org
 |
 |
 |
News |
 |
Events |
|
|