PARIS The Ginoptle, France¿s biotechnology business and research park in Evry, 35 kilometers south of Paris, was officially inaugurated Oct. 23 by Claude Allhgre, minister of national education, research and technology, and Dominique Strauss-Kahn, minister of economy, finance and industry. The officials said they hope the Ginoptle will become not only a national, but a European, focus of biotechnology research, development and industry. (See BioWorld International, Aug. 12, 1998, p. 1.)

Pierre Tambourin, the Ginoptle¿s director, reiterated at the inauguration ceremony that his objective is to have 50 to 60 biotech companies located at the site within three years. In addition to big names like Genset SA and the Rhtne-Poulenc Group, which already have research facilities at Evry, the next firm to set up shop there will be Neurotech. Established in 1995 to develop immortalized cellular vectors for cell-based gene therapies to treat diseases of the central nervous system, Neurotech is due to relocate to new premises at Evry in early November.

Rather than attracting existing firms, however, the Ginoptle¿s primary purpose is to be a seedbed for biotech start-ups through the financial and logistical support it offers to would-be entrepreneurs. James Etheridge