Bridges Trade BioRes • Volume 4 • Number 18 • 8th October 2004
‘Open-Source’ Initiative to Facilitate Biotech Research
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Biologists launched an ‘open-source’ initiative last week which aims to make research tools, information and patented technologies more readily available to scientists, in particular in developing countries. Founded by the Australia-based Center for the Application for Molecular Biology to International Agriculture (CAMBIA), the Biological Innovation for Open Society (BIOS) initiative describes itself as “an effort to develop new innovation systems for market failures and for neglected priorities”. Richard Jefferson, CAMBIA’s Chairman and leader of the initiative, hopes that BIOS can create an “open source movement” in biotechnology, similar to the one that has developed in the computer software industry, and establish an international community of interested researchers. BIOS’ first priority will be to create a portfolio of research tools that can be used for free, and to construct an easy-to-use database of patent information. BIOS will include information on all forms of biological innovations, including agricultural and animal-breeding tools, genetic resources, medical treatments and environmental remedies. Open-access licenses will be granted for free under the condition that the user grants BIOS the rights to any improvements made. Licensees can contribute a non-compulsory annual fee to BIOS, proportional to their capabilities. Sponsors and “non-compulsory” subscription fees are expected to cover all costs. Though BIOS expects some resistance from biotechnology companies, some have expressed their support for the initiative. “We have had discussions with BIOS and these will continue,” says Ganesh Kishore, Vice-President of Technology at DuPont. “I don’t view BIOS as a threat: it will be complementary. We need many innovations to build all the products that we want to build.”
“Biologists Launch ‘Open-Source Movement’,” NATURE, 30 September 2004; “Open Source Bt,” ELLINGHUYSEN, 4 October 2004; “BIOS to Break Biology’s Tech Barrier,” AUSTRALIA IT, 6 October 2004.
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