Science - November 24, 2011
Genomics institute wins a million euros for mobile DNA labs
The Wageningen Centre for Biosystems Genomics (CBSG) has received the annual Valorisation Award of one million euros from the Netherlands Genomics Initiative (NGI) for its mobile DNA labs.
The international jury which awarded the Valorisation Award termed this a role model of 'societal valorisation' or using knowledge for the society. The prize of a million euros was handed over on 22 November. 'We will use this money to set up new DNA labs together with our current partners,' says CBSG director Robert Hall. 'Although the Netherlands Genomics Initiative will end next year, we will continue with the DNA labs. For example, we now want to set up a mobile sequencing lab to enable pupils to learn where DNA pieces come from.'
CBSG gets research funds up to the end of next year. After that, it will come under one of the top sectors, Horticulture and Propagation Materials.