Expert visit confirms Copenhagen Plant Science Center potential - 18.10.2011

Professor Wilhelm Gruissem from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, Switzerland, and Professor Ian Baldwin from the Max Planck Institute in Jena, Germany, have just conducted a ‘site visit’ to the academic environments which will become one of the world’s leading centres within plant research and study programmes, Copenhagen Plant Science Center (CPSC).

 

After the visit, the experts conclude that the future centre has the capacity to fulfil the ambition of becoming one of the top leading global contributors to the future biobased society.

- The centre is being launched at a time when plant research must develop innovative and tangible solutions for increased crop production in order to create food for a growing world population as well as accommodating the need for crops for the production of biofuels, drugs, animal feed etc., says Professor Wilhelm Gruissem and adds: And this at a time when we are combating climate change, environmental problems and dwindling natural resources.

After having listened to a number of researchers at the future centre present their fields of research, the experts are convinced that the centre will attract world-leading researchers within plant biotechnology.

At the same time, the experts recommend that the centre management should focus on creating and strengthening synergies and partnerships across the research fields.

According to the experts, this can be accomplished, among other things, by establishing a state-of-the-art technology platform capable of supporting frontline, interdisciplinary research.

The professors also recommend appointing a head of centre who is recognised worldwide for his or her research expertise and management skills and who focuses on creating and facilitating strategic research programmes.

Furthermore, the experts recommend establishing research groups consisting of three to five young, ambitious researchers recruited from the international talent pool, based, among other things, on the experience that junior research groups are excellent catalysts for synergies and collaboration as well as for being the most productive from an investment perspective.

 

Internationally visible Master and PhD programmes in plant science are also singled out as important factors for strengthening the synergies across the fields.

 

Further information

For more information on the expert visit and Copenhagen Plant Science Center, please contact the Dean at LIFE – Faculty of Life Sciences, Per Holten-Andersen, on tel. +45 35 33 2000 or via email to dekan@life.ku.dk.