EIF and K.U.Leuven announce milestone partnership
The Catholic University of Leuven (K.U.Leuven) and the European Investment Fund (EIF) have entered a partnership agreement to create a Centre for Drug Design and Discovery (CD3).
The Catholic University of Leuven (K.U.Leuven) and the European Investment Fund (EIF) have entered a partnership agreement to create a Centre for Drug Design and Discovery (CD3).
The centre will build upon research carried out in the biomedical field at the university to discover novel therapeutic compounds directed against biological targets.
CD3 will source projects from the various research groups in life sciences of the K.U.Leuven, and in second instance from external partners such as other research institutions. It will seek to collaborate with and/or license results to the pharmaceutical and biotech industry.
CD3 will enhance the value of the intellectual property developed at K.U.Leuven and open the door to new innovative research. At the same time, it will address the clear need for new and safer drugs within the pharmaceutical and biotech industry. Both K.U.Leuven and EIF will invest a total amount of Euro 8m in the initiative.
Francis Carpenter, chief executive of the EIF, said: 'In this landmark operation, EIF's investment will permit the creation of a leading technology transfer operation. This investment allows EIF to address an unmet need in the field of commercialisation of I.P. from universities.'