Relationships between public and private research in the area of genomics

The upsurge of biotechnologies and especially of genome projects is taking place in a context of increasing interplay between science ana the market p lace. Collaboration and partnership between the public and private research sectors are at the heart of a new economy. A large number of contracts now link universities to biotechnology firms, to large pharmaceutical companie s and a number of researchers are involved in the creation and development of start-up companies. Through this cooperation, a private research market is developing, mainly based on private databases sold under license to phar maceutical or agri-food firms, as well as to scientific and medical institu tions. In 1991, the NIH were first to file patent applications for gene lab els. In 1997, public research institutions accounted for 36% of all genome- related patent applications. The strengthening of ties between scientific i nstitutions and private firms, as well as the management of information wit h both academic and commercial values, underline the need for new regulatio ns between the public and private research domains. These should invigorate the openness of the research system, and stimulate cooperation and success ful technology transfer from academic laboratories to industry.