Cooperation agreement signed with Italian research bodies AREA and CBM
Doha, March 20th 2007: iHorizons, a leading Qatar-based software developer in the region, has signed a cooperation agreement with two of Italy's most distinguished research bodies, AREA Science Park and Cluster in Biomedicine (CBM), located in Trieste, Italy. The three parties will collaborate on the development of innovative marketable solutions and services in the area of bioinformatics and related fields.
The combined focus will be on seeking to solve problems posed by the management and analysis of biological data through the creation and advancement of algorithms, computer science, artificial intelligence, informatics and statistics.
The software applications being developed will address industry professional's needs in mining, analyzing and serving data from many sources, including genome sequencing.
Mr. Mohamad Takriti, Chief Executive Officer of iHorizons commented on the signing of the agreement, "iHorizons' core competence in developing advanced software applications puts us in an ideal position to work with AREA and CBM in the development of highly complex bioinformatics solutions.".
"There is a great potential for Bioinformatics to enable major advances in medicine, agriculture and other fields and we are confident that this field will trigger considerable interest from research and academic institutions in the GCC as well as the Middle East. As an ambitious Qatari company we are pleased to be able to contribute to such advancement", he continued.
Located at Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP), iHorizons will take advantage of the park's R&D-focused culture to develop new technologies, including bioinformatics.
AREA Science Park Director General Mr Giuseppe Colpani added, "We place a special emphasis on the connection between scientific research and industry. It is this unique link that has led us to this collaborative arrangement with iHorizons. It is also this link combined with the unparalleled reputation of the Park's researchers that has contributed to the labeling of Trieste as a reference hub for science and technology by the G77. "
The cooperation is already fully operational. Following the signing of the MOU in December 2006 and the recent signing of the official agreement, the three entities are already detailing their first cooperative project, which is expected to commence shortly.
"The first joint pilot project has already been planned. Our first initiative is aimed at developing a software solution for the management of tissue biobanks. The solution will be fully integrated with generic hospital solutions as well as bioinformatics software tools," explained CBM Program Manager Mr Elia Stupka.
The tissue biobank solution will expand the range of solutions currently provided by iHorizons and it will further expand the international network in which the three institutions already operate, and boosting their economic potential in the Gulf market. This is the first in what is expected to be a host of projects the partners will collaborate on, with the common goal of linking IT to research activities in the fields of bioinformatics and genetics.
In addition to providing employment opportunities to people in Qatar, Jordan and UAE, iHorizons expects the collaboration to benefit to the Qatari population by developing advanced solutions for further improvement of the national health system.
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About iHorizons
iHorizons is a Qatar-based leading eBusiness solution and Internet software developer and provider in the Middle East. Founded in 1996, iHorizons has offices in Doha, Dubai and Amman and a client roster that includes prestigious organizations such as Al Jazeera Network, SAP AG, Aramco and Qatar Olympic Committee. iHorizons Knowledge Server, the company's flagship product, is currently deployed in large prestigious organizations including Al Jazeera, ASPIRE, and Qatar Financial Centre, among others. It also powers PublishArabia.com, the premier web-based content management service.
www.ihorizons.com.
About AREA/CBM
AREA is one of the six main National Research Institutes under the aegis of the Italian Ministry of University and Research, with more than 80 tenants involved in several fields of activity: life sciences; physics, materials and nanotechnologies; ICT; energy and environment; professional services. Its main focus is the support of starting up and developing high technology companies through technology transfer inside and outside the Park.
CBM - Cluster in Biomedicine is committed to applied research and technology transfer in the sector of biomedicine and specifically in the fields of bioinformatics and genomics. CBM acts as a bridge between research and industry by combining its state-of-the-art instrumentation with its expertise in research-related topics such as data analysis and informatization and IP protection. Both AREA and CBM have already created an interactive network of cooperation across the world.
About G77
The Group of 77 is the largest intergovernmental organization of developing states in the United Nations, which provides the means for the countries of the South to articulate and promote their collective economic interests and enhance their joint negotiating capacity on all major international economic issues within the United Nations system, and promote South-South cooperation for development.
For further information or to arrange an interview:
Mohamad Takriti
iHorizons
takriti@ihorizons.com
Tel: +974 432-2269
Elia Stupka
CBM
elia.stupka@cbm.fvg.it
Tel: +39 040 3757718
James Hawksworth
Hala Kassab
Asda'a Public Relations
T: +974 4351 113
j.hawksworth@asdaa.com
h.kassab@asdaa.com
© Press Release 2007
