Instead of the planned ceremonial opening of the biotechnical laboratory, the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center Tehnopolis from Nikšić decided to hand it over to the health system in order for Montenegro to fight the spread of the corona virus as effectively as possible. Laboratory equipment also enables the detection of a new virus, and 3D printing of visors and other medical aids has already begun in Technopolis.
"Laboratory equipment includes, among other things, the Genesig q16 Real Time PCR device, on which 14 samples can be processed simultaneously, and the results are obtained after 90 minutes. This device follows a laptop with installed software and what is very useful is that the equipment is mobile and can be easily installed in any place, i.e. the facility, and perform different analyzes depending on which kits (reagents) you have", explained the director of Technopolis, Ratko Bataković.
Knowing that with the mentioned equipment and an adequate reagent, the coronavirus can also be detected, they offered to transfer the equipment to the Institute for Public Health.
"We informed the President of the Municipality, Veselin Grbović, and the Director of the General Hospital in Nikšića, Ilija Ašanin, about this, who got acquainted with the capacities of our laboratories," said Bataković to "Vijesta".
According to him, they immediately contacted the supplier and ordered the first quantity of reagents for at least 300 analyses. They hope that, regardless of slowed down or interrupted traffic and transport communications and strong lobbying pressure from all sides, their partners from Vienna and Belgrade will react in the best and fastest way so that they can complete everything necessary for virus detection as soon as possible.
The equipment for the biotechnical laboratory, which aims to support the development of the agricultural and food sector in Nikšić and its surroundings, was provided by Technopolis through previously implemented projects and the support of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. Through one of the projects, equipment for 3D printing was provided, so in partnership with the Science and Technology Park from Podgorica, the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and with the support of the Minister of Science, Sanja Damjanović, they organized an action to print protective equipment, primarily for health workers (masks, visors and parts for respirators).
"We made prototypes and submitted those samples to the Institute for Public Health for analysis of resistance to different disinfectants. After receiving the green light from them, we will organize serial production in the capacities we have. In order to increase capacities, we animated four companies - Hiron Creative Lab, Arhitektonika, Drone Studio and Vakom and formed a 3D cluster that will produce these protective means without any compensation in the coming days, as long as it is necessary," said the director of Technopolis.
He reminded that since March 16, in accordance with the recommendations of the National Coordination Body, almost all employees work from home, that on-call shifts are organized, that the facility is regularly maintained and disinfected, and that in the context of the newly created situation, they created a crisis work plan and defined the role of each sector and individual in different scenarios.
"We considered how to be proactive and what it is that we can do and what capacities to engage in order to support the efforts of state authorities and the entire society to establish the best possible defense system against the corona virus. We are glad that we will contribute at least a little to preventing the spread of the current infection and preserving the life and health of all of us. In situations like this, I always remember the story about plucking a turnip in which all actors play an equally important role, from the strongest to the little mouse. Only together can we fight this and similar plagues," Bataković emphasized.
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