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INTERVIEW 2007, March 7   Philippe Michonneau: “The Biopole, fertile soil”   According to Philippe Michonneau, “any and all innovatory companies have got to work with universities.”   President of the Poitiers Biopole association, Philippe Michonneau is a perfervid advocate of interchange between companies and campuses. With a doctorate in physiology and vegetal biochemistry, the Geniflore director practices what he preaches, day in and day out. Interview: Why did you accept the presidency of the Poitiers Biopole association? “ It bears mentioning that I wasn’t necessarily aspiring to the presidency… That said, it seemed to me that within the Biopole, the plant branch was somewhat less structured than the others; I thought that if I acceded to the position, it could motivate the troops and involve the directors. Moreover, since my activities were already interwoven with those of the eco-industries and of Valagro, I found it interesting to serve as a link bringing together the three networks. I consider the Biopole as fertile soil likely to yield positive results. That is one more reason why I opted for the adventure.” How do you perceive your new function? As a unifier, an artisan of exchanges? “ Indeed! I aspire towards having people work hand in glove. In the heart of the Biopole, there exist manifold forms of complementarity both within and between the branches. At present, there are three distinct ones. Water and plants already collaborate a tad, and I am sure we can create synergies between plants and medications-clinical trials.” Besides these associative commitments, you’re running Geniflore. Can you describe its activities? “ One part of the company is devoted to research and development for the horticulture field and the other to production. The latter stems exclusively from in-house R&D. At present, we are producing rose blossoms for the food processing industry, and they serve as decoration for pastries. Cultivation is performed without chemical additives. The second product is comprised of in vitro plants, the orchid and the anthurium. It is at the request of the horticulturists, who wish to recover their independence with regard to northern European countries, that we produce them in vitro, thereby shortening their cultivation cycles. Lastly, Geniflore develops zeolites that supply the plant with oligo-elements in a gradual, progressive and protracted manner.” In what way do collaborative efforts with Poitiers University cross-fertilize with the activities of Geniflore? “ It’s simple enough, we could not produce plants in vitro without the partnership provided by the Plant Physiology Laboratory. It should likewise be known that the zeolite project is coming to a conclusion thanks to “diagonal” collaboration with the Organic Chemistry Catalysis Laboratory and the Assimilate Transport Laboratory. That brings us back to what I said a little while ago; any and all innovatory companies have got to work with universities. Above all, it behooves them to invest in know-how and the team.” Contact: Geniflore – 40, avenue du Recteur Pineau – 86022 Poitiers cedex – Tel. 05 49 45 49 43 – E-mail: michonneau79@yahoo.fr The Biopole en masse at Eurobio 2008 Read ...   Water information days (September 23 – September 25) Read ...   The rose and its genetic transformation Read ...   Christian Huyghe aims for “excellence” read...   Creating “medical branches” read...   A neuro-cardio-vascular pole is taking root read...   Valagro on the horticulture market read...   ERM, the winning spin-off read...   GMOs under debate in Poitiers read...   Isabelle Cameleyre, new representative read...   Cystic fibrosis: The molecule of hope read...   Irfaq, a manufacturer of innovations read...   CHU: State-of-the-art quality read...   Soil organic matter under examination read...   Parexel: The Cap provides its support read...   Philippe Michonneau: “The Biopole, fertile soil” read...   Painless monitoring of hepatitis read...   The Biopole structured as an association read...   Futuramat steps up the pace read...   Technova, or life in 3D read...   B Braun burnishes its image read...   Proteomics platform: The CHU strides ahead read...   The three missions of the University Botanical Garden read...   Clinsight in the big leagues read...   Natural energies for an autonomous building read...   Aster-Cephac turns into SGS Cephac read...   The previously unseen heart read...   BIOalternatives diversifies its markets read...   Two Poitiers-based projects awarded read...   IUT pores over biofuels read...   Poitiers, the biotechnology capital read...   PAREXEL wagers on the human factor read...   Saunier and associates wish to diversify read...   Biocydex and BioXtract move forward hand in hand read...   The grass of champions read...   Ianesco steadfastly believes in its future read...   A tumorotheque, what is the purpose it serves? read...   TechnAvOx has turned the corner read...   Larime is aiming for 40 beds in Poitiers read...   Poitiers is out to promote its research read...   A true Biopole milestone read...   A regional cancerology pole in the pipeline for 2007 read...   Nobel prize winners in Poitiers read...   A platform offering numerous advantages read...   @rtMolecule fashions in its own way read...   It’s plastic, it’s fantastic read...   The Poitiers hospital (CHU) stakes its claim read...   BIOalternatives exports its know-how read...   The physiological and computer science engineering program turns 30 read...   The Biopole takes center stage at Investiga read...           Legal mentions