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In the last few decades in Biology, tremendous progress has been made in the fields of Genomics and Biotechnology, particularly from studies with model organisms as well as with the successful completion of the Human Genome Project. This knowledge has been acquired through sophisticated research projects, from well-educated skilled scientists and research groups mostly from model organisms particularly arabidopsis for plants. This research took place in centers that are using expensive infrastructure, equipments and consumables and is continuously expanding and generating new data in many fields including elucidation of the molecular mechanisms of growth and development, morphogenesis, stress responses, plant-microbe interactions, energy transduction, cell metabolism, among others. The useful information accumulated will be more effective in generating new biological resources.
However, exploitation of the new knowledge and technology locally, will require existence of analogous infrastructure and equipment, well-educated and very skilled personnel concentrated in a critical mass in a research Institute, working in close collaboration with Universities and graduate training centers, in close relation with the productive sector and attracting extensive resources for research funding.
This, in other words, is a technology that is continuously developing in even accelerated rates especially now with the genomics and bioinformatics boom, producing new products improved in a variety of ways. However, it also requires expensive infrastructure, highly educated and well-trained personnel, fast incorporation of new technology, and equipment that have to be renewed and maintained continuously. In addition, capable and highly skilled staff that is continuously learning and keeping up with new developments, information (from a wealth of books and periodicals), and in contact with similar large research centers and leading groups abroad, is very important for proper exploitation of horizontal technologies and infrastructure. This is not something that can be done individually by each separate body in Greece (individual companies, farmers’ co-operative, state organization, University Depts., etc.) It would be totally uneconomic and of doubtful effectiveness for all these bodies to create their own infrastructures, hire staff, etc., for use only once in a while for a single problem, a single organism e.t.c.
The goal of INA is to establish a facility with state of the art infrastructure and equipment, staffed with skilled high-level scientific personnel, aiming to enable the transfer and application of current knowledge accumulated from genomic and biotechnology on model organisms, in order to provide solutions in problems that occur in modern agriculture.
This facility will incorporate and promote current innovative technology, provide training to new scientists in the field of plant biotechnology, and provide services in all bodies that will require specific assistance and particularly in their projects involving genomics and biotechnology.