The open minded expertise of the staff of the Department of Genetics enabled to establish the co-operation with 23 European institutes and organise 4 consortia to 5 Framework Programme. The activity resulted in the submission of 4 RTD proposals and participation in 1 thematic network within 5 Framework Programme, presenting 4 Expression of interests to 6FP and joining as East-European sub-contractor to network of excellence for under-utilised crops in Europe co-ordinated by International Centre for Underutilized Crops and prepared for 6FP call. In 2002 the Department received the status of National Centre of Excellence in Modern Biotechnology of Plants (Bio-Gene). The information about the Centre can be also find at http://www.npk.gov.pl/6pr/p/data/11.html and http://www.6pr.pl/coe/midi/data/478.html (fig. 16).

Fig. 16. Information about the Bio-Gene at National Contact Point pages.