About ACTO

Interdisciplinary cooperation currently allows the networking of highly specialized knowledge to treat illnesses whose therapy, only some years ago, had not yet been in the focus of therapeutic efforts. On this basis, the interweaving of fundamental science and clinical research is indispensable.

In this context, new organizational forms have to be conceived, which touch upon interdisciplinary developments, accompany them and coordinate processes down to clinical use.

With ACTO e.V., we have created an institution, that works between academia and value creation-oriented industry. This special position facilitates the development processes in fundamental and applied research, promotes intensive networking and optimally mediates, mainly there, where academic administration, based on its public mandate, is not yet conducive to the developments regarding an economic, profit-making mindset. In particular, new development processes require such a mediator due to clinical problems as well as the transfer of results of fundamental research into clinically applicable concepts.

From the development of ACTO up to now, three strands can be defined to exemplify these options:

• Patenting of already tested project ideas combined with the search for suitable business partners to promote economic utilization of these concepts as well as consulting regarding international patent law and the operation of cooperation licensing contracts.
• Initiation of new developments within the scope of confidential conferences of independent scientists of various expert fields to solve concrete problems, e.g., in the field of vitreous body replacement.
• Cooperations with various actors regarding the monitoring of eye diseases. Here, the interests of rehabilitation companies, medical doctors and the pharmaceutical industry as well as of public institutions can all be integrated to improve health care.

Starting from these experiences, we have founded an institute whose mission is to bring together physicians, fundamental research scientists, technicians, biologists, IT-specialists and engineers for expanding therapeutic opportunities.The suffering of individuals and their respective medical and social rehabilitation are hereby the guiding values of this enterprise. Up to now, this could be demonstrated in projects such as the development of “SOBES”,”PROZESS” and “Visus TAS” Software, through the organization of the Congress on Burns and Irritation of the Skin and Eye in October 2007 as well as by the annual hosting of the “Sight-City Forum” since 2005. All these illustrate the active engagement and aims of our research institution.

Prof. Dr. med. Dr. h.c. Norbert Schrage
Chairman of ACTO e.V.

apl. Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Doris Klee
Chairwomen Supervisory Board