acib GmbH is firmly established within the national and international research and business communities. Through our active participation in professional associations and our commitment to global standards of research evaluation, we ensure the transfer of knowledge and the quality of our scientific work.
We are an active member of leading biotechnology and innovation organisations, helping to shape the framework conditions for industrial research:
Biotech Austria (interest group representing the Austrian biotechnology sector)
As a full member of Biotech Austria, acib acts as a central link between cutting-edge academic research and commercial application. Our involvement focuses on the following key areas:
- Building bridges to application: Supporting the mission to translate excellent basic biotechnology research into concrete social and economic applications.
- Strengthening the ecosystem: Active participation in transforming Austria into a leading centre for biotechnology innovation and competitiveness.
- Networking and visibility: Utilising the platform for intensive exchange between founders, SMEs and large-scale industry to leverage synergies across provincial borders.
- Framework conditions for innovation: Supporting initiatives to improve the economic framework conditions for research, infrastructure and investment in Austria.
Human.Technology Styria (HTS) – Innovation from Styria
As a company headquartered in Graz, acib GmbH is actively committed to its responsibility towards Styria as a research hub. Membership of the Styrian Human Technology Cluster HTS underscores our regional identity and our role as a driver of innovation in southern Austria:
- Regional resilience & strengthening the region’s position: As a Styrian company, we specifically promote the visibility of local research expertise in industrial biotechnology and contribute to securing highly skilled jobs in the region.
- Catalyst for technology transfer: We utilise the HTS network to link Styrian industrial companies directly with scientific excellence and to translate research results ‘Made in Styria’ into marketable applications.
- Interface between Graz’s universities and industry: Thanks to our close ties with Graz University of Technology and the University of Graz, we act within the cluster as a strategic partner for interdisciplinary collaborations in the region.
- Active cluster work: We contribute our expertise to regional
BioNanoNet – European Network for Key Enabling Technologies
Membership of BioNanoNet underscores our commitment to responsible research and integration into international innovation networks:
- Key Enabling Technologies (KET): We use the network to position our expertise in key enabling technologies (such as nanotechnology and biotechnology) on the international stage.
- Safety & Sustainability: Together with BioNanoNet, we are promoting approaches to safe and sustainable technology development (Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design) to address regulatory requirements at an early stage.
- International Consortium Building: BioNanoNet supports us as a strategic partner in identifying and networking with European stakeholders for Horizon Europe projects.
- Innovation support: The platform serves as a catalyst to bring complex scientific questions into industrial application more quickly through interdisciplinary collaboration.
Austrian Society for Molecular Biosciences and Biotechnology (ÖGMBT)
acib GmbH is a member of the Austrian Society for Molecular Biosciences and Biotechnology (ÖGMBT). This membership serves to foster professional networking within the Austrian life sciences community and to promote exchange between research institutions, industry, and early‑career scientists.
Participation in ÖGMBT activities primarily takes place through attendance at scientific events, conferences, and career fairs. The aim is to accompany current developments in molecular biosciences and biotechnology, support knowledge transfer, and contribute to the visibility of Austria as a research and innovation hub.
European Federation of Biotechnology (EFB)
The European Federation of Biotechnology (EFB) is a European umbrella organization dedicated to promoting biotechnology in science, industry, and society. Membership supports acib’s international networking with European research institutions, industrial partners, and professional communities across the entire biotechnology value chain.
Participation in EFB activities mainly includes attendance at conferences and involvement in European dialogue formats on research, innovation, and technology transfer. The objective is to reflect on current scientific and technological developments at the European level, identify synergies, and contribute to the further development of a responsible European innovation ecosystem.
Within the framework of the EFB as well, acib GmbH maintains its scientific and institutional independence. Membership does not constitute political advocacy in the narrow sense; any positioning is based exclusively on facts and evidence and is aligned with the principles of good governance and acib GmbH’s internal compliance regulations.
Commitment to DORA (San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment
acib GmbH has signed the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA). In doing so, we are sending a clear signal in favour of a modern, fair and substantively sound culture of research assessment that prioritises actual scientific value over purely statistical metrics.
- Quality over quantity: We are committed to evaluating scientific output primarily on the basis of its substantive contribution, methodological rigour and technological impact.
- Moving away from the Journal Impact Factor (JIF): acib supports the central DORA demand that the Journal Impact Factor should not be used as a substitute measure for the quality of individual research articles or for staffing decisions and funding.
- Recognition of diverse outputs: In applied research, we consider other achievements—such as the generation of intellectual property (IP), the development of software, the provision of valid datasets, and the successful transfer of technology to industry—to be of crucial importance alongside publications.
- Fair career paths (mosaic careers): The application of the DORA principles protects our early-career researchers from one-sided pressure to meet metrics. We promote career models characterised by quality and the transition between academia and industry.
- Transparency in evaluation: We require our cooperation partners and researchers to provide a holistic presentation of their expertise that goes beyond mere lists of publications and emphasises the societal and environmental benefits of their work.
