ÖGMBT

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Petition to the Federal Government of Austria to support research and innovation in Austria

Dear Colleagues,
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

we would like to express our thanks for the incredibly widespread support for the "Research is the Future" platform.

As announced, a meeting with the Austrian Minister of Finance, Josef Pröll, was held on the 13th of February during which the list of the registered persons was handed over to him, the list containing at that time 6,600 supporters, there being currently more than 8,850 supporters registered.

The meeting was held in a very constructive atmosphere and was in our opinion extremely positive. The minister reinforced his commitment to science and research, and gave assurances that research will be amongst the very few fields for which budget means will not be drastically cut despite all the apprehensions. He reassured us he would endeavour to draw additional focus on research during the budget reviews. However, at this stage we should remain in a very watchful state as there is no reason to call off the alarm.

This meeting gives reason for a hopeful outlook, as we have gained the impression that Minister Pröll values the importance of research in the country and takes the concern of so many petitioners quite seriously.

However, this is a delicate time, at which we need to keep momentum. Among fellow petitioners we can now count Eric Kandel (Nobel Laureate, Columbia University), Helga Nowotny (Vice Chair ERC), Arnold Schmidt (ISTA, TU Wien), Christoph Kratky (FWF President), Carl Djerassi (Stanford Univ.), Heinz Engl (Vizerektor Uni Wien, RICAM), Peter Schuster (ÖAW President), Wolfgang Schütz (MUW Rektor) and an evergrowing number of friends. We believe that the 10,000 signatures mark is well within reach. Please keep spreading the message and link to the petition.

The link was open until April 21, 2009

In summary we believe that what we have done so far has been well received by the politicians and the public opinion as a serious warning from what may be a small community but one that has strategic value for the future of the country and that has so far acted with responsibility. The different initiatives pro-research are now linked so we can act in concert. As a community we now are all on the tip of our toes waiting for the concrete figures. Be prepared, even if there are some positive initial signs, this could be a long struggle.

Best regards,

Josef Penninger
Giulio Superti-Furga
Anton Zeilinger
Rainer Blatt

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In Vienna, just recently a new strong association of life scientists has been founded with the Austrian Association of Molecular Life Sciences and Biotechnology (ÖGMBT). The new association representing about 1000 scientists in Austria, comes to life through the amalgamation of three parent associations, namely the ÖGBT (Austrian Society for Biotechnology), ÖGGGT (Austrian Association for Genetics and Genetic Engineering) and the ÖGBM (Austrian Association for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology).

A constitutional General Meeting, held in the Institute of Molecular Pathology in Vienna, conquered the last barrier resulting in the election of the board of governors as well as an advisory board consisting of twelve heads. Members of the board of governors are Prof. Hans Grunicke (Medical University Innsbruck), president and Prof. Josef Glößl (University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences) and Prof. Dr. Helmut Schwab (Graz University of Technology) the first and second vice-presidents.

The new association aims to support interdisciplinary coopertions, to aggrevate public relation and university extension and to intensify the cooperation between science and industry. The ÖGMBT will be represented by regional branches all over Austria and will focus on the sponsorship for young scientists.

The prominence of Life Sciences is rising steadily for our every day's life. At the same time, the particular disciplines, fundamental research as well as the development of technology, cross-link and go from strength to strength. "By founding a strong scientific association, we will allow these progressions.", comments Prof. Hans Grunicke, the new president of the ÖGMBT.

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(Source: "transkript 10, 2008") A powerful institution will be implemented gathering approximately 1500 members when the new Austrian Association of Molecular Life Sciences and Biotechnology (ÖGMBT) comes to life. Her aim will be to represent the entire spectrum from fundamental research to applied sciences and to network science and politics.

The amalgamation of the three predecessor associations, namely for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ÖGBM), for Genetics and Genetic Engineering (ÖGGGT), and Society for Biotechnology (ÖGBT), rises hope to a better public cognition. "We intend to become the number one contact for R&D in Biology -including politics", says Prof. Dr. Helmut Schwab, ÖGBT chairman. A new branch with a full time leader shall be implemented for this purpose. "That's the way to strengthen the organization in order to react to prevailing occurences", explains Prof. Dr. Josef Glößl, ÖGGGT chairman. This is the reason why the idea of an umbrella organization was neglected. "We did'nt want an additional organization, this is why we dissolved ourselves", admits Prof. Hans Grunicke, ÖGBM chairman.

Wide Spectrum

When at a meeting close to the end of September a decision by consensus for launching a new organization passed, all three organizations denoted "Dawn to New Horizons" There is no association within the germanspeaking Europe representing this wide spectrum --from a labotatory bank to a 10.000 litre fermenter. Backed by this kind of network an efficient transfer of technology through a less official channel will be possible. Further focal points will be networking within Europe and education for the secondary growth, students already represent a well positioned group amongst the members.

In the field of Molecular Cell Biology and Biophysics including related sciences, the ÖGMBT aims to

Promotion and sponsorship for research and adult education.

promotion of professional cooperation and a lobby of related experts as a counterpart to the public and public corporations, nationally and internationally.

an intensification and cooperation between scientists and private enterprise.