Biotechnology

Biotechnology can be defined as:

• a collection of technical knowledge about living organisms or the elements they are composed of that are used to create products and services to satisfy our needs and desires, or,
• a body of techniques that utilize biological systems, living organisms, or derivatives thereof to make or modify products or processes for specific use.

Biotechnology has been used in agriculture and manufacturing industry to produce food, chemicals, medicines and many other products that have been of benefit in many areas including nutrition and human and animal health. In agriculture, recent biotechnology applications include tissue culture techniques for mass propagation of planting materials, disease diagnostic techniques, molecular marker techniques for the characterization of germ-plasm and to assist breeding.

The most recent advances in biotechnology are often called Modern Biotechnology or genetic engineering. They include a cluster of techniques that have been focused on genetic modification of crops and production of animal vaccines. Modern Biotechnology is based on the manipulation of coded chemical information/instructions existing in the nucleus of cells. In doing so, biotechnology can be used to change the function and processes of living organisms. These manipulations increase the precision and decrease the time that it would take to make the same changes by conventional techniques. Not withstanding its potential for socioeconomic development, the challenges facing humanity include serious ethical concerns emerging from the use of the technology to manipulate nature in such an intrusive manner, and potential risks to human health and the environment.

Globally, the biotechnology industry is still in the formative stages (market undefined, uncertain yet possibly powerful technological capability, uncertain demand and market response). In South Africa, it is still very much in the research and development stage. The DST acknowledges the uncertainty and controversy inherent in biotechnology. However its chosen mandate is to operate within a framework of science-based decision-making. Science is not value free and the commercialization of research and science, because of profit driven agendas, is a definite reality. However publicly funded research must recognize the window of opportunity that exists in the technological disequilibrium created by biotechnological breakthroughs, and, must create capacity to make sure we are organized and involved. A revolution is taking place in the knowledge base of the life sciences and biotechnology, opening up new applications in human healthcare, animal health, agriculture and food production, environmental rehabilitation and mining. Today's rapid rate of innovation in the life sciences provides undiscovered areas where no nation holds the upper hand - with the proper infrastructure to support and facilitate innovation, South Africa can be ready to seize the opportunities when they arise.

As we move from an industrial age to an information age, the appropriate investments made in Research and Development will be the key to making SA competitive in a globalized knowledge-based economy. DST has undertaken several initiatives to investigate conditions limiting the development of competitive industries in the country. These initiatives indicate that SA lacks enabling mechanisms for the establishment of companies. The main limiting factors include lack of:

• Infrastructure for R&D
• Institutional capacity
• People in science and technology
• Business support and management of start-up technology companies
• Technology platforms in science and technology
• Co-ordination of policies and programmes
• Collaboration
• Funding for innovative ideas

In this regard the government has explicitly stated its intention to increase R&D spending from approximately 0.27% to 1% of national GDP. The funds subsequently made available will be channeled into three operational objectives as outlined in the National Research and Development Strategy, which aims ultimately to create employment and improve the quality of life for all South Africans:

• Innovation - generating ideas that create value
• Human Capital Transformation and Capacity Building - investments in South Africa's SET base
• New social systems and organizational frameworks - collaborative corporate environments and progressive business management techniques indicative of the knowledge based economies.

Within the strategy, specific technology missions have been identified as foci to drive South Africa's research and development competitive advantage. Technology missions can be effective in that they:

• Are the basis for business growth - key driver is innovation and improvement
• Create new firms and technology platforms for industry
• Links SET human resources to key industrial strategies, and
• Allows industry to be smart buyers of imported know-how.

Biotechnology was identified as one of the technology missions, the implementation framework for which is mapped out in the National Biotechnology Strategy. The stated objective of the strategy is not to promote Genetically Modified Organisms but rather to address the primary means by which Government can influence the development of biotechnology. These means include:

• The legal framework
• The funding mechanisms
• The creation of new infrastructure and institutional arrangements, and
• The construction of research capacity through appropriate human resource development

In each of these areas the government has a number of instruments in which to achieve certain outcomes. The Biotechnology Strategy document presents both the desired outcomes and the interventions by which such outcomes can be achieved:

The unit was officially created with the appointment of Ben Durham as its Manager and Pravin Mark Maistry (Deputy Director). The purpose of the unit can be broadly defined as follows:

• Implementation of the strategy - management of new institutional and infrastructure arrangements
• Co-ordination of biotechnology research and development (key words: facilitate, people, resources, information, truth, honesty)
• Alignment of biotechnology with national priorities.

The major intervention of the strategy in monetary terms, but also in long-term strategic outlook, is the formation of the BRICs. The DST is investing R 400 million over three years to address the lack of innovation in biotechnology. The BRICs are not funding organizations - they will act as nuclei for the development of biotechnology platforms, from which a range of businesses offering new products and services can be developed - a sustainable biotechnology industry to create economic growth and employment through innovation. Each BRIC will specialize in specific areas of technology within the national development imperatives, local expertise and market opportunities. For example, to paraphrase Mark Fyvie, CEO of CBI, "the Cape Biotech will provide a networking, facilitating, marketing and information sharing function to the Western Cape's biotechnology sector, as well as functioning as the global portal into the regions biotech industry, thus establishing the area as a vibrant bio-economy and global biotech hub"

In essence the BRICs are envisaged as biotechnology cluster development initiatives. Clusters can be defined as geographic concentrations or critical mass of interconnected companies, specialized suppliers, service providers, firms in related industries and associated institutions eg. Silicone Valley. In essence, what is necessary for a competitive advantage and to stimulate innovation in a knowledge-based economy, is a "corporate community" were all partners share responsibility for the success of the enterprise.

In 2002 DST invited expressions of interests from consortiums made up of public and private partnerships (higher educational institutions, private companies, national research councils). The successful expressions of interests were from:

Western Cape Region, focusing on human health and industry related biotechnology.

Kwazulu Natal and East Coast Region, focusing on human health and industry

Gauteng region, focusing on animal health and industry.

National but based in KZN and focused on plant/forestry/agriculture-related biotechnology

The NBN is being set up to provide computational power, genome interpretation facilities and networking links between the BRICs and other research institutes. In addition the Department of Labour has joined forces with the DST to create learning opportunities to ensure the development of bioinformatics skills and capacities in South Africa.

There is much controversy about biotechnology such as GMOs, biosafety (environment and human), corporate control and agendas, trade, stem cell research, cloning, HIV, research funding priorities, to name a few. Due to the influence public perception will have on the biotechnology industry, these issues must be discussed and debated. Responsible, honest and ethical development in this field is essential for innovation. At the beginning of 2003 the Foundation for Education, Science and Technology (FEST), now renamed SAASTA (South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement) launched a program, funded by DST, on the Public Understanding of Biotechnology (PUB). The aim of the programme being to promote a clear understanding of the scientific principles that underlie biotechnology as well as to stimulate debate on the benefits, risks and ethical issues in biotechnology.

The eGoliBIO incubator is an initiative of GODISA (a innovation and incubator program funded by the DST, DTI and the European Union, and launched in 2001). The primary means by which GODISA provides its services are technology transfer and innovation centers. Currently GODISA is providing financial, strategic, technology and management support to six incubators, one innovation support center and one technology demonstration center. eGoliBIO Incubator received its first funds in April of last year. Since then it has established itself as a provider of support to life sciences research and biotechnology start-up companies that aim to commercialize research. eGoliBIO is undertaking an "Audit of the South African Biotechnology Sector," which is jointly funded by the DST. The purpose of the project is to:

• Undertake an audit of all private entities currently offering or developing biotechnology products or services in South Africa
• Identify the key biotechnology research organizations (including tertiary education institutes) and activities in South Africa.
• Identify and quantify the market opportunity for the support services component of the national biotechnology sector
• Quantify the extent of the South African bio-economy in terms of total turnover, earnings, employment and number of companies
• Quantify the extent of biotechnology research including total number of projects, turnover, and anticipated outcomes
• Identify sources of funding including local and international public and private sectors, such as donors, private equity and venture capital

The final outcome will be used to create a baseline for the biotechnology and life sciences industry. The DST for example will have quantitative baseline data against which to measure and track the effectiveness of its numerous initiatives in the SA bio-economy.

The information from the Audit may be used by:

• international enquirers to form partnerships with local groups;
• private sector companies to market biotechnology products and services;
• policy developers and planners to establish working groups;
• international groups to identify regional participants, and
• researchers to network effectively within and between sectors.

Within the technological disequilibrium that has been created due to the rapid advancements in the molecular and health sciences, a window of opportunity for high returns exists but South Africa needs researchers, entrepreneurs and new social systems - by providing funding within a strategic context, the DST is creating capacity to make sure we are organised and involved. The strategic aim is not necessarily to promote genetically modified food but to look at human health, animals, plants, industry processes, trade issues and the ethical aspects of biotechnology. South Africa must be in a position were we are able to prioritise and control our outcomes, needs and interventions - we do not want to be just technology adopters or a supplier of raw materials and resources to multinationals and developed countries with already advanced biotechnology and R&D capabilities.

The government's allocation of R400 million, earmarked for the BRICs over the next three years, shows its clear intention to keep South Africa on track with biotechnological research and development. However it should be understood that the support being provided for the BRICs is for the creation of new capacity and is not intended to displace current funding such as for CSIR or the NRF. The NRF is commended in making big investments in the biological sciences with a quarter of Masters students and half of Post-doctorates being in this field.

The potential for applications of life sciences and biotechnology promises to be a growing source of wealth creation in the future, leading to the creation of jobs, many of which will be highly skilled, and new opportunities for investment in further research. The BRICs will be able to network South Africa's biotechnology and life sciences community to facilitate open access to knowledge, skills and best practices.

In December 2001 the Cape Biotech Initiative (CBI) was formed to oversee the promotion and development of the Biotechnology sector in the Western Cape. Mark Fyvie was appointment as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in February 2003 taking over the reigns from Lisa Picard who acted as CBI's Interim CEO. The first quarter under his leadership proved to be very productive as the CBI team moved into their new offices at Acorn House. As part of establishing a new corporate identity CBI has undergone a name change and is currently operating as Cape Biotech.

The Cape Biotech team also includes Arlene Smith (Chief Financial Officer), Vanessa Thomas (Marketing and Knowledge Manager), Britt Akermann (Executive Assistant) and Jacques Nel (Business Analyst). The Cape Biotech team is now settled in at Acorn House after the numerous disruptions due to office renovation and setting up of the required infrastructure. After the first quarter of the year they are fully operational and have made great progress.

The significant successes of Cape Biotech over the last 3 months included the creation of infrastructure to assist the successful operations of Cape Biotech and the achievement of their objectives. Current trends in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors were identified for regional, national and global markets. Furthermore a due diligence process is in place to evaluate the 16 short listed project proposals. Robert Zipplies, an independent consultant, and Acorn Technologies were instrumental in developing a workable scoring system able to determine the value of the projects under investigation.

• Executive team recruited.
• Board of Trustees finalised
• Trust registration process in progress.
• Offices located, equipped and occupied
• IT systems procured and installed
• Internal processes and controls introduced
• Investment and business strategy formulated
• Incubator, legal, business and technical service networks established.
• Biobuzz networking event successfully arranged at the University of the Western Cape
• Official launch (June 12, 2003) of Cape Biotech at the Mount Nelson sponsored by Merck.

The Deed of Trust has been lodged with the Master of the High Court. The Trust is being registered, and there is a reference number, IT722/03.

The Trust Deed stipulates that there should be nine Trustees plus the CEO as an ex-officio member. ECoBio currently has five Trustees; these are:

The current five Trustees represent a quorum, however four more trustees have to be elected by the Board of Trustees. Two additional trustees have been nominated, and their acceptance is awaited. The final two Trustees will be appointed before year end (2003), and one will be drawn from the Eastern Cape. They are expected to be both female, to provide a gender balance to the Board.

It is expected that ECoBio will, in the foreseeable future, finalise its Procurement Policy. In the interim the services of the attorneys will be procured for a period no longer than twelve months, or until the Procurement Policy has been established.

The firm of Mallinicks and Leibowitz in Cape Town has been provisionally appointed for the IP audits to be conducted on the five short-listed projects.

The Board of Trustees resolved that KPMG be appointed as Auditors of ECoBio for the purposes of Trust registration.

The University of Natal has signed a sub-lease agreement with the KwaZulu-Natal Innovation Support Centre (KZN-ISC) on behalf of ECoBio. The proviso for the University to sign the lease is that it will be transferred to ECoBio once Trust registration is finalized. The lease is a temporary, month to month lease and is for two offices.

It is intended that ECoBio will move to Pods 7 & 8, currently under construction, in November 2003. The total space to be taken up by ECoBio will be 550m², of which over half will be taken by the Clinical Research Organisation (CRO), National Bioinformatics Network (NBN) node and Functional Proteomics and Genomics Platform (FPGP). The three entities would sublease the space from ECoBio, and would have to include this rent in their project costs.

T H Nyasulu and Associates have been engaged to develop a communication strategy for ECoBio. T H Nyasulu and Associates are part of the internationally renowned public

relations firm Tupper and Paton. She has an extensive working relationship with Ethekwini Unicity, which ECoBio has leveraged to get cost-effective rates.

The current logo was designed by Ms Georgie Hawke and is being used in our letterheads. Trademark Attorneys are being engaged to commence the process of registering the logo and the ECoBio trademark. This process is estimated to take up to two years. T H Nyasulu and Associates will refine the logo trademark (ECoBio), and this will form the basis of ECoBio's branding.

T H Nyasulu and Associates have submitted a proposal for ECoBio's brand positioning. This includes the development of a logo and a corporate image, which should be ready by the time of ECoBio's launch.

A date sometime in late October 2003, subject to the availability of all the Board members, has been earmarked for the launch. This date will be preceded by a Board Meeting.

The following projects have been shortlisted for final approval subject to the submission of a full Business Plan, a complete IP Audit and a financial audit:

• Value addition and beneficiation of citrus waste (Pectin).
• Development of bacterial biological control agents and Probiotics for use in plant, animal and human health.
• Development of liquid fermentation technology for the commercial production of bacterial control agents and Probiotics for the use in plant, animal and human health.
• Production of Furanone through a process utilising biotransformation of sucrose.
• Application of Thermostable Xylanase.

The following platforms have been approved by the Board of Trustees subject to the submission of a full Business Plan, a complete financial audit and an IP audit:

• Clinical Research Organisation
• Functional Genomics and Proteomics Platform
• Umboginitwini Semi-Commercial Fermentation Unit.

The process of IP due diligence, for projects, is expected to start in the second week of August 2003. This process will last six to eight weeks. However, by the end of August several projects will be cleared to start developing their full Business Plans. Both the IP specialist and Business Plan Development experts have been engaged by ECoBio, and the process will begin as soon as seed funding is available. The development of the Business Plans for the platforms is also dependent on the availability of funds.

ECoBio started operating in November 2002, with an Acting CEO (Dr N. Msomi) and in March 2003 ECoBio engaged the services of expert to provide dedicated Project Administration and Support (Ms Tammi Oberink). In this interim period, this management structure has been responsible for setting up the Intuthuko Junction Office, operations including finalisation of the review process, stakeholder relationship management, back office support for the platforms, liaising with the Department of Science and Technology and all other ECoBio activities.

The CEO position was advertised in the national print media (Mail and Guardian/Sunday Times) and the closing date was 30 June 2003. The office of Prof Bharuthram (Director of Research) is handling the process of short-listing the candidates. The Board shortlisted several candidates in its first meeting (24/25^th July 2003), interviews and appointment are scheduled for the 2^nd September 2003.

The four key positions will be advertised soon (mid August 2003). This is to enable the new CEO to finalise the appointments as early as possible.

ECoBio operates under a ring-fenced University of Natal cost center (H533). A sum of R1, 000,000-00 was deposited by the Department of science and Technology to facilitate the process of Business Plan Development. In addition, Ethekwini Unicity contributed a sum of R120,000-00 to assist with engaging two international experts on incubation (Dr Atul Wad and Mr Rustum Lalkaka). These funds have been utilized for operations to date including all business plan development, management fees, travel expenses, stakeholder relationship building, setting up the office and other overheads. A financial report as presented by the University's Finance Office is presented overleaf.

ECoBio is negotiating a financial management contract with the University of Natal. The current status is that the University already has an ECoBio cost center (H533). This cost center was used for the Business Plan development funds. ECoBio has proposed to the University that a Financial Management Contract should be sufficiently flexible for ECoBio to appoint its own suppliers based on its procurement policy and price competitiveness. In the interim ECoBio, in its endeavor to comply with the Public Finance Management Act, will utilize the University's procurement systems.

CEO:Butana Mboniswa

Operations and Projects Manager: Delon Mudaly

Personal Assistant: Eunice Jase

Investment Manager: Vacant

January 2003: 25 short-listed projects

February 2003: 23 projects requested to submit full business plans

March 2003: Grant and Consortium agreements sent out for comment

March/April 2003: Consortia unable to agree on BioPAD's grant Document

April 2003: Final document agreed upon

April/May 2003: Budget and content discussions with 21 short-listed projects

May/June 2003: Budget and content discussions with 21 projects continue

30 June 2003 Deadline: 19 Signed contracts received.

July 2003: Discussions continue with 3 remaining projects (Deadline Mid July).

BioPAD is currently managing 21 projects in the focus areas of Animal Health, Industrial Biotechnology, Mining and Environmental Biotechnology. The portfolios may be categorized as follows:

The development of novel vaccines and therapeutic agents:

• East Coast Fever and Heartwater
• Phage display technology
• Recombinant vaccine technology
• Tuberculosis and brucellosis
• Phyto-antimicrobials
• Drug delivery systems

Waste treatment and beneficiation:

• Sulphate reduction and acid treatment in mining and industrial waste streams
• Copper bio-leaching
• Zinc bioleaching

New processes and biocatalysts for industrial applications

• Extreme enzymes
• Aquaculture
• Enantiopure chiral chemicals
• High energy feeds
• Menthol
• Tea
• Microbial flavours
• New generation colour indicators
• Value addition to aloe

• BioPAD has a complete board
• BioPAD has appointed an Operations and Projects Manager
• 19 of the 21 contracts signed
• 2003/2004 funds allocation to be received from the Department of Science and Technology

In contrast to the three regional BRICs, PlantBio will operate as a single Innovation Centre operating nationally. The original PlantBio business plan therefore had to be extensively rewritten, and subsequent draft, Draft 19a, was then submitted to DST in April.

• PlantBio will operate as a Plant Biotechnology National Innovation Centre (PB NIC)
• PlantBio will be constituted as a non-profit trust, similar to the other BRIC's; essentially, it will be a national BRIC.
• PlantBio's Board of Trustees will be nationally represented, and will seek trustees with a similar set of expertise as the BRIC's. Gender and race representation will also be addressed.
• The PlantBio Development task team, with the guidance of Ben Durham of DST, will contract appropriate legal experts to establish the PlantBio Trust legal framework.
• Once the trust is constituted, the post of a full-time CEO will be advertised.
• PlantBio will contract the University of Natal to provide the financial services required for PFMA status
• The operating budget for PlantBio in 2003, 2004 and 2005 will be R7 million, R7 million, and R42 million respectively.
• Given the limited budget, the main objective in the first two years will to be establish protocols and procedures, and to fund relatively few projects which will probably be high potential, low-risk, late stage projects. Some funds may be invested in biotechnology platforms.
• In Year 3, or if external investors invest in PlantBio earlier, then substantial funding of projects can start to take place.
• As with the BRIC's, PlantBio will operate with a portfolio approach. It will NOT adopt a project call approach. In other words, it will have a strategy of actively seeking out potential projects, then nurturing them all the way from current state to sustained commercial viability or licensing, and then exit.
• The Biotech Conference in Johannesburg in May 2003 showed a critical and very public need for effective plant biotechnology sector in South Africa.

The NBN started functioning on 1 January 2003 with the appointment of Prof. C.J.H. Schutte as Executive Chairman of the fledgling NBN. The NBN has now progressed to a functional entity and the following aspects need be noted:

The Trust is in the process of registration and provides for the governance and management of the NBN, as well as for a secure financial system of the organisation.

DST allocated the funds of R 12 800 00 for the period 2002 - 2003 were received by the NBN and placed in trust at the University of the Western Cape, who administers the financial affairs of the NBN until the Trust has been established.

The Department of Labour (DoL) promised the NBN an annual sum of R10 000 000 for student grants, especially to enable students coming from disadvantaged communities to study Bioinformatics. These funds have unfortunately not materialized. This will almost certainly have an impact on the ability of the NBN to deliver the capacity required by the country.

The firm BDO Spencer, Cape Town were appointed as Auditors for the NBN and the NBN Trust and have assumed their duties. They were involved in all financial decisions, and receive copies of all relevant financial and administrative documents (including emails and other electronic files) to enable them to exercise their duties. The audit of the period 2002-2003 is now in progress.

The firm Price-Waterhouse-Coopers Cape Town were appointed to advise the NBN on immigration and other procedures for appointing contract and other staff from overseas to assist the NBN in its obligations to deliver capacity in Bioinformatics.

The Scientific Advisory Board (SAB)

The SAB of the NBN, consisting of five internationally known Bioinformaticists experts, was established and is fully functioning. It has evaluated three rounds of Node submissions and has contributed in a remarkable way to establishing the NBN as a viable entity with international educational, training and research credibility.

One of the members, Dr. Victor Jongeneel of Switzerland, visited the RSA in December 2003 to study each of the Nodes and their proposed projects in situ and guided the SAB through the evaluation process.

The next round of evaluation, namely to evaluate the progress made by each Node towards fulfilling the agreed-upon milestones will take place around March/May 2003, depending upon the availability of the members of the SAB. This will influence the future funding of each of the Nodes.

The NBN has established seven Nodes at tertiary and research institutions after applications from interested institutions were requested by means of Newspaper advertisements. These applications were screened by the SAB during the selection process. These Nodes are:

• The Central Administrative Node, situated at the University of the Western Cape, adjacent to but independent of the premises of the South African National Bioinformatics Institute (SANBI). This Node will also house the computing centre and the core of the Bioinformatics telecommunication and data network.
• The Pretoria Node, situated at the University of Pretoria (UP), but incorporating the CSIR and the University of the North (UNorth).
• The Wits Node, situated at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg (Wits).
• The Rhodes Node, situated at Rhodes University (RU), Grahamstown.
• The Node at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) situated at the Bellville campus (SANBI).
• The Cape Town Node, situated at the University of Cape Town (UCT), but stretching over their many campuses.
• The Stellenbosch Node, at the University of Stellenbosch, but situated on at least two of their campuses.

Each of the Nodes received about R1 000 000 in initial funding for research projects, computing and communication equipment, student grants and post-doctoral fellowships. These Nodes are established and are now functioning.

• The NBN established initial student grants (MSc and PhD).
• Each Node has an NBN-funded scientific project (in addition to self-financed own projects), evaluated by the SAB. The funding of the NBN was not adequate to fully fund any single project at each institution.
• Each Node has an educational and training duty and will offer courses in Bioinformatics at both undergraduate and graduate level.
• The NBN will establish modern media laboratories at each Node, which will allow lecturers to make use of the most modern data and telecommunication facilities linking all the institutions in a teaching and training network.
• Each Node will establish its own NBN network and computing facilities, linked to the NBN's facilities at the Central Node. Some of these networks and computing facilities are already functioning.
• Each Node will establish a Services Programme in which it will deliver services to the broader community. At present only the Node at SANB (UWC) has a fully functional services programme, but as soon as the required bioinformatics staff are available at the nodes to guarantee service levels, this will be activated.

A contract between the NBN and the UWC is at present being discussed and will be signed in the near future, since agreement over all issues has been negotiated to the satisfaction of both parties. These premises are at present being prepared for the NBN and will be ready for occupation by the beginning of September 2003.

It will house the administrative facilities of the NBN and its CEO. It will also house the central computing, networking and data facilities of the NBN which will connect to all the nodes by the NBN high speed communication network; all computers, large and small, attached to the NBN network will form one massive grid computing system which will be a world first in Bioinformatics.

The NBN has reserved some funds to establish National Programmes that will involve all the Nodes (and maybe even some of the BRICs). These programmes will be of National importance and will have the ability to contribute to the economy to the country and/or address problems in the areas of health and agriculture. Such Programmes are, for instance:

• The National Bioinformatics Grid Programme is well under way and will form part of the Bioinformatics network and computing systems. (The NBN is aware of other grid projects in South Africa and keeps track of their activities).
• A Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) for bioinformatics and related systems is being studied. This will not only benefit the Nodes, but also the activities of the BRICs.
• A National Microarray System is being studied and the first reports are under consideration in which all the diverse and fragmented activities in the country will be coordinated by the NBN to the advantage of all concerned, but without disturbing their autonomy. This is also being discussed with the BRICs.

The logo of the NBN was designed by the firm Maverick, and is in the process of being registered by the legal advisers.

At present, the NBN is managed by the Executive Chairman, assisted by an Executive Committee (Exco) consisting of a representative (the Heads of the respective Nodes) from each of the six Nodes. Ms. Janet Kelso of SANBI is the Secretary on a contract basis. The members of the Exco are:

Prof. C.J.H. Schutte Executive Chairman

Prof. Michele Ramsay Wits

Prof. Hugh Patterton UCT

Prof. Winston Hide UWC

Prof. Jannie. Hofmeyr US

Prof. Robin Crewe UP

Prof. Greg. Blatch RU

The Deed of Trust of the NBN is at an advanced stage of preparation. The undertaking of the Trustees has been signed by the initial trustees, and there are no barriers to the registration of the Trust Deed with the Master. There is uncertainty about the Trust and income tax, but the lawyers are confident that all problems will be sorted out, that the Trust will be registered as a PBO. The problems with VAT may also be solved.

16 February: call for proposals published in Sunday Times,

1 February: Appointment of first PUB Project Officer, Usha Desai

1 February: Appointment of Project Coordinator , Helen Malherbe

17 March: Appointment of second project officer, Rosa Seleke

22 April: Appointment of Professional Officer, Tebogo Gule

19-22 March: Human Genome Conference, Cape Town;

18 Apr-4 May: Rand Show, Nasrec

23 May: Genetics 2003 conference, Durban

21 February: Development of PUB logo and corporate identity;

April: Publication of PUB article/competition in Free4All (Wordsworth)

April: Publication of PUB advertorial in School Leaver

20 May: 50/50 insert on biotechnology broadcasted, Marina Joubert

30 June: "can you crack the code competition?"

29 April: AfricaBio medical forum business breakfast, Centurion Lake Hotel

6 May: Participated in AfricaBio lunch with Willy de Greef

19 May: Submission of concept proposal to US Embassy

28 May: Meeting with Alice Carrasqueira, LMS magazine to clarify PUB editorial

3 June: PUB strategic planning meeting, Irene Country Lodge

11 June: Meeting at MRC, Cape Town to identify areas of collaboration

12 June: Meeting with Dr Msomi (EcoBio CEO)

13 June: Meeting with Vanessa Thomas, Cape Biotech

13 June: Meeting with Alan Duggan, Popular Mechanics

June: PUB contracts signed and endorsed for four PUB projects (Ta Ta, DNA

Currently "Ta ta ma genes" biotechnology play on tour since SET week