Portuguese Platform for IMI

The Joint Technology Platform “Innovative Medicines Initiative” (JTI IMI) was set out with the objective of making Europe the world leader in pharmaceutical research, not only for the benefit of the patients, but also of the society and economy, by removing research bottlenecks in the current drug development process.

The IMI programme fosters the establishment of partnerships, thus harnessing the know-how and expertise available across Europe's biopharmaceutical sector, by pooling competencies and resources from the public and the private domain. The programme is targeted to the following organizations:

- Higher Education / Academia
- R&DI Research Institutes
- Pharmaceutical companies
- Patients associations
- Regulatory entities
- Etc.

The Portuguese entities are therefore challenged to set-up a structure capable of mobilizing and supporting potential Portuguese participants in the identification of successful partnerships in the European Area. This challenge can be addressed through the creation of an informal association – the Portuguese Platform for IMI -, a structure that will, amongst others, collect expressions of interest from the Portuguese organizations interested in participating in the IMI, and support preparation of project proposals and execution of the projects.

In this context, APIFARMA, INFARMED and Health Cluster Portugal decided to work together with the Portuguese FP7 Promotion Office (GPPQ) to launch this platform with the aim of increasing the participation of Portuguese organizations in this JTI.

This group of stakeholders will welcome the integration of new members, who may wish to join the Platform, and the following short and medium-term objectives were outlined:

1. To support the Portuguese groupings interested in participating in the highest number of consortia applying for the 18 topics launched in the call for Proposals in 2008.
2. To promote the emergence of consortia under the leadership of national organizations, applying and winning at least to one of the 18 topics open for 2008.
3. To inform the Portuguese organizations about international consortia, so that those national groups interested in topics may prepare and send them concrete proposals for collaboration.
4. To inform the international consortia about the Portuguese groupings working in each topics of the Calls for Proposals, about their skills and know-how and finally who may be interested in participating in joint projects.

For these goals to be achieved, the Portuguese Platform for IMI will establish contacts and connections to similar initiatives in Europe.

More details available at:

IMI Portugal Platform: www.imiportugal.pt

IMI - http://imi.europa.eu

APIFARMA - www.apifarma.pt

GPPQ – www.gppq.mctes.pt

HCP - http://www.healthportugal.com/

INFARMED - http://www.infarmed.pt/