UnB and Chinese biotech company start partnership

– 03/11/2022

Representatives of the higher administration, PCTec and Xamano Biotech during the signing of an agreement with the Chinese company to set up an Integrated Technology and Innovation Centre (CITI) at the University.

Photo: André Gomes/Secom UnB

Last Thursday afternoon (27), the rector of the University of Brasília (UnB), Márcia Abrahão, signed a protocol of intentions with the Chinese biotechnology giant Xamano Biotech. The agreement regulates the form and conditions by which the University and the company propose to develop an Integrated Technology and Innovation Centre (CITI), as well as guiding rules for a possible installation of Xamano in UnB’s Science and Technology Park (PCTec).

Xamano will occupy an area of 454 m² in the building of the Foundation for Scientific and Technological Ventures (Finatec) on the Darcy Ribeiro campus. The installation of the company at UnB makes it possible to expand the company-university relationship, with a view to strengthening the research and innovation structures at the university.

 PCTec director Carlos Gurguel emphasised the importance of partnering with large groups to promote innovation at UnB. Photo: André Gomes/Secom UnB

The director of PCTec, Carlos Alberto Gurgel, emphasised the importance of a company like Xamano occupying this space for innovation at UnB. “One of the aspects of PCTec is purely technological. This means that it’s very important for us to attract large groups that can use the university’s entire research structure to leverage their innovation. Here, Xamano will have access to intellectual capital that is second to none in the country.”

Currently, one of Finatec’s buildings at UnB is used to set up CITI and to run companies linked to PCTec. Xamano is one of the companies that intends to occupy the building.

Finatec’s CEO, Augusto Brasil, emphasised that the institution’s fundamental role is to be an arm that makes UnB’s actions with its PCTec viable. “That’s why we allocated an entire building for this purpose. We want to make the university better and better, boosting it with research, innovation and technology.”

Rector Márcia Abrahão said that the agreement between the institutions is an important step in consolidating the Science and Technology Park. “Since we took office in 2016, we have been strengthening PCTec, starting with its direct link to the rectory. Today, we have signed an agreement that aims to give Xamano all the conditions and support to carry out its research and innovation activities, including the possibility of working with our Molecular Biotechnology Centre (C-Biotech), which is under construction, with the University Hospital, Fiocruz and Finatec. I’m sure that this partnership will be fruitful for both Brazil and China.”

The CEO of Xamano Internacional, Wang Wei, also considered the partnership a significant step for both countries. “We aim to make progress in technological innovation in Latin America, especially in the area of health and medicines. I’m grateful for the opportunity to join UnB and for all the support offered by Finatec.”

XAMANO – Xamano Biotech is a multinational company, leader in the distribution of vaccines, medicines and health products. In Brazil, it intends to advance in the areas of regulatory analysis, biopharmaceutical development, biological trial development, pre-clinical research, clinical research, clinical trial management and pharmacovigilance.