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At the request of the Flemish Department of Economy, Science, and Innovation (EWI), Dialogic is conducting a midterm evaluation of the establishment of the International Industrial Biotechnology Network (IIBN). Dialogic is collaborating with the Dutch consultancy firm InnoTact Consulting for this evaluation.
The International Industrial Biotechnology Network (IIBN) was founded in 2010 with the aim of catalysing collaboration between developing countries and Western countries in the field of biotechnology. This collaboration includes activities such as developing new medicines and vaccines, biofuel production, enhanced crop cultivation, and creating products to replace fossil fuel derivatives as industrial inputs.
Mutual benefits arise from the collaboration between Western and developing countries, such as an increased demand for biomass cultivation. Western countries may need to import biomass, providing new economic opportunities for developing countries. Through collaboration, these countries can acquire new knowledge and access existing markets in which they currently have a limited presence, possibly due to not meeting sustainability and quality criteria. The role of IIBN is to facilitate matchmaking and, where necessary, coordination. In this way, IIBN contributes to the achievement of three Millennium Development Goals: (i) eradication of extreme poverty and hunger, (ii) ensuring environmental sustainability, and (iii) developing a global partnership for development.
For the period 2010 to 2015, the Flemish government has provided a contribution of 1.25 million euros to IIBN. This amount has been deposited in a trust fund managed by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). The trust fund, used to finance the development of IIBN, is overseen by the Institute of Plant Biotechnology for Developing Countries (IPBO).
On behalf of EWI, Dialogic will, in collaboration with InnoTact, assess the extent to which the project's objectives have been achieved and determine the continued relevance of providing support.
