Kick Off Meeting for the Bio'Occ project

Winner in January 2023 of the AMI (Appel à Manifestation d'Interet)-
CMA (Compétences et Métiers d'Avenir) call for projects in Biotherapies-Bioproduction, the University of Montpellier is a partner in the consortium that brings together training organizations (the University of Toulouse 3 (project leader), the UM, the INSA, the IMT, GIP Formation et Certification pour l'Insertion Professionnelle), employers (GTP Bioways, Evotec, BioMed Alliance, Pôle de compétitivité Eurobiomed and INSERM), local authorities (Région Occitanie Pyrénées Méditerranée, Toulouse Métropole, Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole) and hospitals (CHU Toulouse, CHU Montpellier, CIC Biothérapie).

The aim of the " Biothérapie & Bioproduction en Occitanie " (Bio'Occ) project is to inform, attract, train and retain the talents and players of tomorrow to support innovation in the field of bioproduction and biotherapies, in response to the significant development of this sector of activity in Occitanie (and more widely in France) and the demand from manufacturers who are facing recruitment difficulties, from both a quantitative and qualitative point of view.

The Bio'Occ project is structured along four lines, which meet the objectives of the AMI CMA:
- adapt existing training courses: improve their relevance to needs by strengthening partnerships with industry and setting up teaching platforms;
- complete the existing training offer: respond to specific skills needs in initial and continuing training;
- develop foresight tools: better target changing needs and better adapt training on an ongoing basis;
- deploy communication initiatives: improve the attractiveness of the professions and the social acceptability of biotherapies.

UM Steering Committee: Laila Gannoun, Thérèse Commes, Estelle Grousseau, Anne-Dominique Lajoix, John de Vos.