FIGON mission and plan of action

Mission: "Promoting innovative drug research in the Netherlands"

Recently, representatives from the founding participants came together in a brainstorm session to determine the FIGON policy and the key activities for the start-up period. When FIGON has reached a more established state it is expected that these activities will be redefined and extended. The following section gives a short overview of FIGON's activities:

1) To enhance the interactions between the actors in this field.
To achieve this, attention will be focused on the interaction between all scientists contributing to the process of drug development and on the communication with governmental organizations and the pharmaceutical industry. Concerning the first point, the Dutch days of Medicines ("FIGON Geneesmiddeldagen") will be organized on a yearly basis. Each meeting will be focused on upcoming developments in this area of research, with themes which are likely to attract scientists from all the different disciplines and backgrounds represented in FIGON. In addition, FIGON will organize partnering events between academic and industrial researchers aiming for new research collaborations. Concerning the second point, regular meetings will take place to discuss issues related to the mission of FIGON with representatives of the ministries for Science (OCenW), Health (VWS) and Economics (EZ), but also with the national research council (NWO) and with the Dutch Association of the Research-based Pharmaceutical Industry (Nefarma).

2) To establish FIGON as a sparring partner for the government in drug research-related matters
For this, FIGON will comment on all relevant governmental policy statements affecting drug research. This may concern specific issues, e.g. regulations for genetic engineering or orphan drugs, and , more generally, the position of and budgets for academic pharmaceutical research in the Netherlands. Moreover, FIGON will contact representatives of political parties to discuss these issues. Finally, the mission of FIGON will be brought to the attention of representatives of European biomedical and pharmaceutical research programs.

3) To encourage entrepreneurship and business development based on pharmaceutical research
In collaboration with the Incentive Fund Program for Innovative Drug Research and Entrepreneurship in the Netherlands (STIGON) and the coordinating office of the Life Sciences Action Plan (BioPartner), a guideline ("best practices") will be elaborated for stimulating entrepreneurship and business development in Dutch public research institutions. In line with this, activities are planned to rise the awareness for the issue of intellectual property protection among Dutch pharmaceutical scientists.

Besides the above mentioned activities FIGON publishes the magazine Conceptuur four times per year. Conceptuur provides relevant information about drug research and is distributed to all members of the participating organizations of FIGON. In addition, this website is maintained to provide more recent news and background information. The website will also contain free space to be used by the participating scientific associations.

The organizational structure comprises the FIGON council, with representatives of all participants, and the FIGON board, which is in charge of the day-to-day management. The general policy of FIGON will be determined by the council, and will be executed by the board.