Appendix B

back to the table of contents

In line with its policy of promoting international scientific cooperation, the Stazione Zoologica has signed several agreements with international bodies.

Italian-Japanese Biological Association

The Stazione Zoologica and the Italian-Japanese Biological Association have signed an agreement to promote scientific collaboration and exchange between Italy and Japan.

Both parties agree to cooperate in the fields of Marine Biology, Biochemistry, Physiology, Ecology and Molecular Biology, using marine organisms. The forms of collaboration include: joint research activities; exchange of investigators studying topics covered by the agreement, and invitations to participate in conferences, symposia, and seminars; exchange of information in fields of interest to both parties.

Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole (MA), USA

An agreement has been made between the Stazione Zoologica and the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) in Woods Hole for the purpose of strengthening the scientific cooperation between Italy and the United States in the areas of biology, marine ecology, molecular evolution, and related sciences. The aim of this agreement is to facilitate the mobility of scientists and the availability of laboratory space and research facilities to investigators from both countries. Individuals from any scientific institution, research laboratory, or university from Italy may apply to the President of the Stazione Zoologica to enter the exchange program with the MBL. Upon approval by the Stazione Zoologica, the application is forwarded to the MBL for final approval and acceptance. Individuals from any scientific institution, research laboratory, or university from the United States may apply to the Director of the MBL to enter the exchange program with the Stazione Zoologica. Upon approval by the MBL, the application is forwarded to the Stazione Zoologica for final approval and acceptance.

Participants from the United States are expected to pay the MBL the current rate for research space at the MBL in order to use the research facilities of the Stazione Zoologica or of another related Italian laboratory. The Stazione Zoologica is responsible for levying any charges to Italian participants in the program, if necessary. A major benefit of this agreement is in avoiding the international exchange of currency for the use of laboratory space or research facilities. Transportation and living expenses are the responsibility of each participant or their home institution.

Istituto Universitario Navale, Naples, Italy

The aim of this agreement between the Stazione Zoologica and the Istituto Universitario Navale is to promote, develop and coordinate education and research of mutual interest in the field of biological, chemical and physical oceanography. Under the terms of this reciprocal agreement both institutes make available to each other their scientific equipment, computing facilities and boats without, however, compromising or delaying their respective institutional activities. The total costs for the use of scientific and technical equipment, particularly that related to the running and use of the equipment, is to be paid by the requesting institute, while costs relating to ownership of the equipment is paid by the granting institute.

The two institutes agree to allow reciprocal free access to their libraries according to the rules and regulations in place at each institute. Groups consisting of lecturers from both institutes are formed to organize courses and seminars for scholars of the pertinent disciplines. The Istituto Universitario Navale and the Stazione Zoologica promote and coordinate exchanges with research workers from other Italian and foreign institutes in order to fulfill the aims of the agreement.

BioLink

The Stazione Zoologica, together with the Naples Chamber of Commerce, and has set up the non-profit Biolink Consortium. Biolink’s mission is to establish and coordinate applied scientific research in order to improve the services and production processes involved in the Fish and Aquaculture industries, as well as in Hydrobiology, Biotechnology, and Environmental Management and Monitoring. Biolink will achieve this purpose by establishing new methodologies, processes and technologies and by acquiring protocols and results obtained from other organizations. New applications will be developed by technology transfer and by facilitating technology access for operators, particularly in small and medium-sized enterprises.

BioGem

The Stazione Zoologica, together with the city of Ariano Irpino, the mountain community of Ariano Irpino "Valle Ufita", the town of Accadia (Foggia) and the Province of Foggia, have constituted a non-profit consortium for Biotechnology and Molecular Genetics in Southern Italy denoted by the name BIOGEM.

Biogem intends to stimulate the establishment of centers of excellence where state of the art research in biotechnology will be performed. Derived know-how will subsequently be transferred to health care organizations, and agroindustry and livestock breeding sectors through the exchange of personnel, data and services. Three research centers will be established: a Centre for Human Molecular Genetics at Ariano Irpino (GEUMO), a Centre for Plant Biotechnology (CBP) at Accadia (Foggia), and a Centre for livestock breeding within the Consortium conSDABI, already in operation at Circello (Benevento).

The list of researchers that will be involved in Biogem includes the best and well known scientists already operating in Southern Italy and the Scientific Director is to be the Nobel Prize winner Prof. Renato Dulbecco.