Maximising the impact of KET biotechnology : workshop report Brussels, 15-16 November 2016

The European Commission organised a second EC-Workshop "Maximising the Impact of KET Biotechnology" in Brussels on 15-16 of November 2016. The event provided an opportunity for KET Biotechnology funded project beneficiaries to show progress towards expected impacts. International speakers outlined the history, state of the art and interests in industrial biotechnology in their countries in view of potential cooperation with Europe. The discussion of impact at the workshop focused on: 1) successes, difficulties and good practices for maximising impact plus common interests for collaboration, 2) building capacities for a new generation of researchers, 3) need for supportive public policies for industrial biotechnology that would facilitate the transfer of research products to the market and 4) identification of standardization of synthetic biology as a driver of the fourth industrial revolution.