Bio’Occ Project Kickoff Meeting

Winner in January 2023 of the AMI (Call for Expressions of Interest)-
CMA (Skills and Professions of the Future) in Biotherapies and Bioproduction, the University of Montpellier is a partner in the consortium that brings together training organizations (the University of Toulouse 3 (project leader), UM, INSA, the IMT training institute, GIP Training and Certification for Professional Integration), employers (GTP Bioways, Evotec, BioMed Alliance, the Eurobiomed Competitiveness Cluster, and INSERM), local authorities (Occitanie-Pyrénées-Méditerranée Region, Toulouse Métropole, Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole), and hospitals (Toulouse University Hospital, Montpellier University Hospital, CIC Biothérapie).

The goal of this project,“Biotherapy & Bioproduction in Occitanie " (Bio’Occ) is to inform, attract, train, and retain the talent and key players of tomorrow to support innovation in the field of bioproduction and biotherapies in response to significant growth in this sector in Occitanie (and more broadly in France) and to the demand from manufacturers facing recruitment challenges, both in terms of quantity and quality.

The Bio’Occ project is structured around four key areas, which align with the objectives of the AMI CMA:
– Adapt existing training programs: improve their alignment with industry needs by strengthening partnerships with industry and establishing educational platforms;
– Expand the existing training offerings: address specific skill needs in both initial and continuing education;
– Develop foresight tools: better identify evolving needs and continuously adapt training programs;
– Implement communication initiatives: enhance the appeal of the professions and the social acceptance of biotherapies.

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