Research centers: liaison w ith industry Case of the Center of Biotechnology of Sfax / Tunisia Dr. Hichem CHOUAYEKH Maître of Conferences & responsible of the Technology Transfer Office «BuTT-CBS» Center of Biotechnology of Sfax, PO box «1177», 3018 Sfax Tel: 0021674871816/ Fax: 0021674875818 Email: [email protected] Web: www.cbs.rnrt.tn Technology Transfer and Valorization of Research Results in the MED Region 25-26 October 2012, Larnaka 1

Centre of Biotechnology of Sfax « CBS »

The CBS is a research center involved in Biotechnology R&D, created in 1983 and recently has become a public institution with scientific and technological character. General director: Pr. Sami SAYADI Email: [email protected]

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Human capacities in the CBS The center includes:

Researchers: 47 Engineers and technicians: 64 Students: More than 100 students Administrators: 20

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CBS’ MISSIONS Due to its academic status, the main missions of CBS are:  To contribute to the developement of the scientific research in the biotechnology field and its integration in the social and economical sectors  To contribute to the formation of technical experts and highly qualified researchers, to improve their competencies and encourage the collaboration with university in the areas of scientific research and technology improvement  To valorize the research results and to help at their exploitation by economical partners  To perform activities of expertise, pursuing as well as scientific and technological improvement in the field of biotechnology for all sectors of the national economy

research

Skill Developement

Missions Mission

Valorisation, Transfer and Development 4

Research Organization in the CBS

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Research laboratories 1- Laboratory of Environmental Bioprocesses: - Development of bioprocesses for wastes treatment and valorization - Rehabilitation of contaminated sites by bioremediation

2- Laboratory of Microorganisms and Biomolecules: - Study, improvement, production and formulation of enzymes and microorganisms for use in the food industry and other sectors - Study and production of bioactive molecules for use in food industry and agriculture

3- Laboratory of Biomass Valorization and Production of Proteins in Eukaryotes: - Study and production of enzymes for use in biomass valorization and other applications - Production of recombinant proteins with biotechnological importance

4- Laboratory of Plant Improvement and Protection: - Development of drought and salt tolerant plants by genetic engineering - Study and production of biopesticides intended for use in plants protection

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SERVICES  Analysis service

Bioinformatic unit

Training center

Informatic service

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scientific Production

Patents'evolution(1997-2010)

140

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120

10

100

Nbr of patents

Nbr of publications

Publications'evolution (2000-2011)

80 60 40

8 6 4 2

20 0

0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 year

In 2011: 3 publications/researcher

1997 2000 2001 2002 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 year

From 2006 To 2010: 38 patents (3 PCT)

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International Cooperation Type of cooperation

Number of projects 2005-2009

Numbre of projects 2010

Numbre of projects 2011

Multilateral Cooperation

7

3

5

Bilateral Cooperation

29

20

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Cooperation with International organizations

7

3

3

Total

43

26

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 The CBS is involved in FP7 European projects : - BioNexGen project - CLARA project - Water Biotech project - Bioprotech project (CBS is the coordinator)

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Examples OF COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH CONTRACTS WITH industriAls During last years, the center has signed more than 28 collaborative research contracts with national and international industrials, some examples are: 1- Nationally: - SOTULUB company (Rehabilitation of polluted sites by bioremediation) - Nutrisud/Medimix company (Feed additives: phytases and probiotics) - klin Production company (Peroxydases in lundary detergents) 2- Internationally: - La SARL Agritex company ( Antioxydants from olive leaves) - LESAFFRE company ( Feed enzyme improvement) - ADISSEO company ( Feed additives: probiotics )

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Some examples of Liaison with industry and Environmental opening

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Laboratory of Environmental bioprocesses Valorization of the olive wastewaters (collaboration with a Local Campany and the Ministry of Environment) Implementation of an industrial plant (100 m3) for treatment and energetic valorization of olives waters (olive oil industry) 1- Biogas production: containing at least 70% methane which can be converted to: - 210 kWh of electric energy - 600 kWh of thermal energy 2- Production of compost

3- Land irrigation with treated water (fertirrigation)

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Laboratory of Enviromental bioprocesses Rehabilitation of hydrocarbons polluted sites by bioremediation (collaboration with the SOTULUB company)

Treatment station of wastewater in the SOTULUB

Production of the biomass in SOTULUB for the treatment of land uses by Bioremediation

Treatment station of land uses by Bioremedation in the SOTULUB

Treatment of wastewater and hydrocarbons polluted soils of the SOTULUB by Bioremediation 13

laboratory of Microorganisms and biomolecules Improvement of poultry performances using the PHY US417 phytase as feed additive (collaboration with the Nutrisud/Medimix company)

The inclusion of phytase enzyme: - Increases the feed nutritional value by improving phytate-phosphorus assimilation and cations bioavailability - Reduces the need for supplementation with inorganic phosphorus - Protects the environment by reducing phosphorus excretion

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3 collaborative research contracts (LMB-CBS/Nutrisud-Medimix company) Isolation of Bacillus subtilis US417 producing the phytase PHY US417 (0.64 U/ml) with high potential for use as feed additive MM: 41 kDa  Optimal T of 55 °C et optimal pH of 7.5  Calcium-dependent  High thermal and pH stability  High specificity for phytic acid  Good stability during storage and in the presence of bile salts 

Heterologous expression of PHY US417 in Bacillus subtilis 168 and optimization of enzyme production by the recombinant Bacillus Developing a new expression system & optimization of production conditions which allow attaining an enzyme titer of about 47 U/ml 

Project of Valorization of Research Results (LMB & UVRR-CBS) (Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research) Production in fermentor of recombinant PHY US417, formulation and test of its efficacy as feed additive in poultry

PHY US417 (CBS): performances similar to Natuphos and Ronozyme P 15

laboratory of Microorganisms and biomolecules Improvement of rock phosphate (RP) assimilation by corn plants using mineral phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) (collaboration with the Tunisian Chemical Group)

Corn plant with RP as P source & inoculated with the phosphate solubilizing bacteria Serratia marcescens CTM50650

Corn plant with RP as P source uninoculated

S. marcescens CTM50650: a PSB with high potential in plant growth promotion 16

Laboratory of Biomass valorization and production of proteins in eukaryotes Improvement of olive oil extraction yield using the pectinase from Penicillium occitanis (collaboration with a local olive oil extraction company)

Use of pectinase enhances the olive oil extraction yield by 10% 17

Laboratory of Biomass valorization and production of proteins in eukaryotes Protection of Tomato against Fusarium oxysporum using the antifungal peptide AcAFP secreted by Aspergillus clavatus

(collaboration with the Olive Oil Institute)

Uninfected Tomato plant

Infected Tomato plant

Effectiveness of a preventive treatment with 1 mg of the antifungal peptide

Effectiveness of a curative treatment with 1 mg of antifungal peptide

AcAFP: Efficient protection of Tomato plants against Fusarium oxysporum 18

Laboratory of Biomass valorization and production of proteins in eukaryotes Protection of Tomato plants against leafminer « Tuta absoluta » using spores of Beauveria bassiana

(collaboration with the Olive Oil Institute) Infected Tomato plant

Infected Tomato plant treated with sporesInfected Tomato plant treated with spores of Beauveria bassiana P1 of Beauveria bassiana P2

Spores of Beauveria bassiana: Efficient protection of Tomato against Tuta absoluta 19

Laboratory of Plant improvement and Protection Protection of Tomato plants against leafminer « Tuta absoluta » using biopesticides from Bacillus thuringiensis

(collaboration with private farmer)

Infected Tomato plant treated by spraying Bacillus thuringiensis biopesticides

Infected Tomato plant

Bacillus thuringiensis biopesticides: Efficient protection of Tomato against Tuta absoluta 20

SupportING structures in the CBS

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Unit of valorisation of research results  It’s a specialized unit which focuses on : - The scale-up of bioproduction processes from laboratory to the semi-industrial scale - The inclusion of biotechnology in the production processes

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The incubator

Started in February, 2011 It covers a surface of 1000 m2, specialized in housing and accompaniment of newly created companies innovative on biotechnology (with housing capacity for 7 start-ups) 23

Technological transfer office It is an interface structure between the CBS (institution which offers technology) and the companies where the technological demand is defined.

Missions of the BuTT-CBS:  Information and communication  Implementation of the research partnership between the CBS and private companies through collaborative research contracts  Promoting the development and enhancement of researches and expertises of CBS and results of its research laboratories.  Helping in protection of Intellectual property  Networking and clustering  Valorisation and transfer of the CBS’ research results  Promoting start-up creating

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Technological Hall It is a central tool for increasing the efficiency of technology transfer and improving the utilization of top quality equipment

It will be composed of four technological platforms:  High throuput screening  Proteomics  Genomics  Bioprocesses

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FONCTIONing of the CBS Incubator

R&D UVRR analytic Plateform

TTO

Socioconomic Environment

TECHNOLOGICAL HALL

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Thank you

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