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Bio-Buzz No.02 / February 2008
IN THIS ISSUE
HEADLINE NEWS
INDUSTRY CORNER
EVENTS LISTINGS
Headline News
R&D tax credits – a window of opportunity
In the November BioBuzz we highlighted the importance of R&D tax credits. The R&D tax scheme potentially offers significant benefits to technology companies; whether they are heavily research orientated businesses involved in drug discovery or nanophysics, or more traditional engineering and manufacturing companies. If you haven't looked into your entitlement to R&D
tax benefits before, now is a crucial time to do it, because the time span for
retrospective claims is going to be reduced from six years to two years at the
beginning of April.
More information about tax credits can be obtained from your accountant or financial advisor or click HERE or contact Business Link. Changes to the Grant for Research and Development.
From the 1st of January there have been a number of changes to the important
R&D grant scheme. Some of these changes include:
- The maximum grant for a research project has increased to £100,000 (previously £75,000)
- The maximum grant for a development project has increased to £250,000 (previously £200,000)
- The minimum grant level for a micro project has increased from £2,500 to £5,000
The Grant for Research and Development Scheme in the South West
has awarded over £3m in grants since October 2005. If you would like more information about the details of the R&D
grant scheme please see the SWRDA website HERE or
contact your local Business Link.
INDUSTRY CORNER
White biotechnology – European summit
The European Summit entitled Commercial Strategies and Novel Science to Advance the Production of Biochemicals & Biomaterials in Europe will be held from the 21-22 May 2008 at the Sheraton Congress Hotel, Frankfurt, Germany.
For more information please click HERE or contact Naomi Gill HERE
For the event brochure download Click HERE
BioInnovators workshop
The Bio-Innovators workshop will bring together a number of leading thinkers and practitioners to highlight experience related to bio-based innovation and biomimetics with a particular focusing on the challenges of moving ideas through to commercialisation. This networking event offers leading edge presentations from innovators, practitioners and entrepreneurs, a unique forum for new ideas and concepts and access to new ideas and thinking
For more information click HERE
Studentships… the value and importance of being involved
Many companies are actively involved in the numerous student placement schemes that exist across the UK. However, many others have never been involved and are perhaps unsure of the benefits it can bring. We have taken the opportunity to list some of the better known studentships schemes - as well as some you may not have come across. If you have not engaged with one of these schemes before this could be an opportunity to find out more. The schemes can offer enormous benefits for both students and employers and are well worth investigating.
Nuffield Bursary Scheme.
The Schools and Colleges Bursaries are for students in their first year of an advanced or higher-level science, technology, engineering or maths (STEM) course. The scheme gives them the opportunity to join a real research project with practicing scientists in any area of STEM that interests them. Projects run for four to six weeks in the summer vacation and students receive a £75 a week bursary.
Undergraduate Research Bursaries are for those considering scientific research as a career. They enable students in the middle years of their degree to take part in a defined research project for six to eight weeks of the summer vacation. Students receive a bursary of £175 a week
Year in Industry Scheme
The Year in Industry provides talented young people with paid, degree relevant work placements in the year out before or during their university course. They cover all aspects of engineering as well as science, IT and computing, and other areas of business. This highly regarded scheme brings benefits to both the student and the company. For more information click HERE
Undergraduate/postgraduate Placement Studentships
Many companies will be familiar with UK University undergraduate placement schemes where students work for a 12 month or possibly 2x 6 month placements during their degree course. Similar placements exist for MSc and PhD students. If you’d like to explore the offerings of the regional universities in the SW please follow the links to the universities or contact BioApproaches.
Overseas connections
It is also worth noting that some companies take part in studentship placements with non-UK research establishments (both EU and further a field). These are usually built up though business connections and can be extremely fruitful. If you’d like more information about the opportunities we have heard about in this area please contact us.
Technology Strategy Board - your opportunity for feedback
The Technology Strategy Board (for more info click HERE delivers the Government’s Technology Strategy and is involved in a wide range of activities including promoting and supporting research into, and development and exploitation of, science and technology for business benefit, economic growth and quality of life. Importantly they also deliver a programme of financial support to encourage business investment in, and use of, technology across all sectors in UK. Over the next three years they will be investing around £1bn (including partner contributions) in the development and exploitation of technological innovation in those areas which will make the greatest difference to the prosperity and wellbeing of the UK. The Board also provides leadership to Government Departments and Agencies on technological developments and innovation of importance to UK industry as well as advising Government
on areas where barriers exist to the exploitation of new technologies and putting forward recommendations as to how they can be removed.
With these broad roles in mind, the current activities of the Technology Strategy Board fall into several categories: Collaborative Research and Development, Innovation Platforms, Knowledge Transfer Networks, Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, Emerging Technologies.
The Technology Strategy Board is keen to hear from anyone with experience of these areas or to hear your views on how they believe developments in these areas should occur. If you would like to contribute your views please send them to enquiries@tsb.gov.uk or for more information go to www.innovateuk.org
Introducing Nanomedicine
Working in the medical field? Interested in the applications of new technology to the prevention and cure of disease? A series of expert-led short courses and workshops will be taking place during 2008 to help you gain a insight into how advanced technology is radically changing the way we prevent and treat disease.
For more information click contact Richard Moore HERE
Gradsouthwest
Gradsouthwest offers a free online recruitment service and operates across the South West to help businesses find graduate employees. Endorsed by a partnership of university careers services across the South West, and under the umbrella of HERDA (the regional Higher Education Association for the South West), the Gradsouthwest team works closely with careers professionals from partner universities to develop and maintain the service.
Over 10,000 employers and over 40,000 jobseekers have used the service since its launch in 2001Gradsouthwest is funded by the Regional Development Agency
For more information click HERE
EVENTS LISTINGS
Covering Lifesciences (biotechnology) and Medical interests can be found at HERE
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