On October 14-15th, representatives of Europa Media travelled to Vienna to attend the second progress meeting of the LinkTADs project where we act as partners responsible for management assistance, dissemination actions, platform development and establishment of the Focal Point Network for increased cooperation between researchers from the EU and China.
Launched in November 2013, LinkTADs is a three-year initiative funded by the European Commission’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) to coordinate European and Chinese research on animal health.
Over the first two years LinkTADs achievements have included a series of workshops in the EU and China focusing on important epidemiology issues in preventing animal diseases; a number of webinars in English and Chinese with a focus on a specific disease or technology; active cooperation with other relevant projects, such as EPIZONE, RISKSUR, EuFMD, STAR-IDAZ; establishment of joint veterinary laboratories between European and Chinese partners; three successfully completed exchange visits resulting in the development of new assay; a report comparing priority diseases for the EU and China and suggesting options for joint work.
Moreover, the LinkTADs platform developed by Europa Media serves as a main source of information for international researchers on the issues of animal health policy and practice in the EU and China, together with EM’s active dissemination actions on popular social networks. As a result, the LinkTADs platform has more than 1000 connections on LinkedIn who are interested in the discussions generated by the LinkTADs project.
The second progress meeting took place at the premises of the Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture back to back with LinkTADs Workshops on Laboratory issues. This meeting discussed new diagnostic technologies in prevention and control of transboundary animal diseases (TADs) and zoonoses, coordination of research as well as veterinary laboratory systems and policy in the EU and China. Horizon2020 opportunities for joint EU-China research in the field of animal health were also presented during the workshops. Europa Media is ready to assist interested partners with potential submission of applications.
In addition, FAO IAEA organized a visit to its Agriculture & Biotechnology Laboratory to familiarize all partners with various techniques applied at the laboratory in the field of animal health.
During the second progress meeting, the LinkTADs team evaluated the project’s progress over the first two years and set goals for the next six months. LinkTADs partners came together to discuss administrative and financial aspects of the project, agree on future steps, approve upcoming events, and decide on any corrective measures, if necessary. Upcoming LinkTADs events include analytical epidemiology training, a dissemination event in China, training and exchange opportunities for young researchers from the EU and China and two final events next year.
Europa Media will be actively involved in management and dissemination planning as well as drafting a sustainability plan beyond project completion via the established LinkTADs Focal Point Network.
All scientists and researchers working in the animal health and food safety field are welcome to register on the LinkTADs Member Area or address LinkTADs Focal Points with any queries regarding joint cooperation, funding opportunities or partner search for joint applications.
