Vellore, India, and Villach, Austria, September 20, 2012 / B3C newswire / - Center for Bio Separations Technology (CBST)/VIT University (Campus: Vellore, India Chancellor: Dr. G. Viswanathan CBST Director: Prof. M.A. Vijayalakshmi) and BIA Separations (Head Office: Villach, Austria, Managing Director and CEO: Dr. Ales Strancar) announced that they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 31st August 2012 and entered into an agreement to cooperate and to work together towards:

• developing innovative bioseparation platforms and technologies,
• education and training of students to prepare them for working in biopharmaceutical industry
• providing technical support, contract research and services to the biopharmaceutical industry, through the setting up of a BIA Separations Platform of Excellence at CBST.

From CBST/VIT perspective, teaming up with BIA Separations will give CBST/VIT access to a unique and leading edge technologies and know-how in the field of downstream purification and separations of large bio-molecules. Combining this technology and know-how with CBST/VIT excellence in "oriented research" and excellent scientific base, provide opportunities for bridging the gap between industry and academia, in the areas of bioseparations.

BIA Separations recognizes CBST/VIT academic and bioseparation excellence. Therefore from BIA Separations perspective this partnership is very important for a successful implementation of BIA Separations technologies that would bring benefits to the biopharmaceutical industry and academic research not only in India but worldwide. This partnership is also in-line with BIA Separations plans to establish BIA Separations India.