The main aim of the project is to establish a transnational network in biotechnology and public health in order to pool innovative knowledge for vocational training in these sectors. To this end, a virtual training centre will be established bringing together individual experts and organisations in the target sectors. The project benefits from some of the partners' involvement in a previously-funded Socrates-Erasmus project which developed a Masters degree in microbiology and microbiological control and which provides the basis for a prognosis of training needs in the biotechnology sector, in addition to offering a ready-established expert network. A review of current European VET in public health aspects of biotechnology will evaluate the quality and relevance of learning material, services and the learning process. The development of the virtual training centre's curriculum will reflect the identified needs of trainees and the necessity of introducing ICT into teaching programmes. Particular attention will be paid to the needs of SMEs working in the biotechnology sector. The training programme will cover four areas, with each containing from 1-6 course modules. The content and mode of curriculum delivery will be developed and agreed upon by the project partners, to include a specific team of partners focussing upon evaluation & assessment. The project expects to construct a training curriculum that can incorporate advances in R&D in the biotechnology/health care sectors and which can advance the knowledge base and careers of trainees/employees. The transnational network of project partners will be supplemented by a second level of institutions which can assist the project consortium in its efforts to promote the activities of the network beyond the period of project funding. Dissemination will involve a range of electronic and non-electronic formats.