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Re$earch Re$ources: Life Sciences Austria (LISA) Print E-mail
bridges vol. 11, September 2006 / News from the Network: Austrian Researchers Abroad
by Christian Hederer

Life sciences today are allegedly among the most innovative research sectors and exhibit excellent economic potential. However, the interface between research and business application is often problematic; scientists sometimes lack the skills and/or incentives to take their innovations to the market, and may not have a good overview of possibilities for obtaining support services and grants. The need to overcome these obstacles, and to support the establishment of a sustainable biotechnology sector in Austria, was the motivation for instituting LISA (Life Sciences Austria) as a central consulting and coordination device.

LISA is located within the Austrian Economic Services Society (austria wirtschaftsservice Gmbh; aws). Activities on the federal level are complemented by initiatives on the provincial level, notably in Vienna (LISA Vienna Region), Styria, and the Tyrol. The services portfolio includes the following main activities:
  • Financing in the preseed and seed phase
  • Support in devising business plans
  • Market research
  • Intermediation of cooperation partners and financiers
  • Business education for scientists.
As of now, the Austrian Life Sciences sector appears to be well established, and commands a considerable international reputation. For example, Vienna has become an important location for research activities by large international players such as Baxter, Novartis, and Boehringer. In view of this successful record, bridges asked Dr. Michaela Fritz, specialist for finance at the AWSG and executive director of LISA Vienna Region, about LISA's current activities and its challenges for the future.

bridges: In the understanding of LISA, which areas does "Life Sciences" include?

michaela_fritz_small Michaela Fritz: There are several definitions of "Life Sciences" available, but we would limit it to the fields of pharma, biotech, bioinformatics, and medical technology, focusing on those projects with a high level of innovative R&D activities.

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