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Bio-Buzz No.05 / May 2007
IN THIS ISSUE
HEADLINE NEWS
INDUSTRY CORNER
EDITORIAL
EVENTS LISTINGS
HEADLINE NEWS
BioApproaches Bio2007 bespoke networking meeting in Boston
BioApproaches SW working with South West Regional Development Agency; British Expatriates in Life Sciences; Department of Trade and Industry; South West regional UKTI held a very successful BioPartnering dinner in Boston prior to Bio2007 this month. This high profile event was attended by the Minister for Science and Innovation Mr Malcolm Wicks and numerous companies from the South West of England and the USA.
BioApproaches SW invited its membership to attend the dinner in Boston submitting a wish list of companies from the USA that they would like to meet. Using these lists BioApproaches in conjunction with the above sponsors compiled a high profile guest list with the likes of Pfizer, Genzyme, Dstl and HPA among others attending the dinner.
The dinner was a consummate success with many valuable business links forged adding real value to the South West.
INDUSTRY CORNER
Funding
Angel Investments Top $25B in 2006 in the USA - a note for the European Market
More than 51,000 early-stage ventures took in $25.6 billion of angel investment in 2006, according to the 2006 Angel Market Analysis released by the Center for Venture Research at the University of New Hampshire. The dollar figure reflects a 10.8 percent increase from the 2005 findings. The number of deals made in 2006 only rose 3 percent over the previous year. As a result, average deal size grew 7.5 percent.
As in 2005, healthcare services and medical devices and equipment accounted for the largest share of angel investments, with 21 percent of total angel investments in 2006, followed by software (18 percent) and biotech (18 percent).
The center found the 51,000 angel investments made in 2006 helped support the creation of 201,400 new jobs in the U.S. during the year, or four jobs per angel investment. These figures, the center notes, only refer to employment at the time of investment and do not reflect anticipated growth as the ventures grow.
Angels continue to be the single-largest source of seed and start-up capital, with 46 percent of 2006 angel investments in the seed and start-up stage.
Government gives £45M for research into mental heath and other under funded areas
The Department of Health today announced £45m in funding for 29 important and substantial research programmes as part of the National Institute for Health Research into areas such as mental health, medicines for children, diabetes, stroke, and dementias, neurodegenerative diseases and neurology.
The programmes of research aim to increase understanding of how to manage and treat these types of diseases more effectively, develop new treatments and help prevent ill health developing in the first place. More information about 'Best Research for Best Health' can be found on the Department of Health website
HERE
International Business Opportunities
Thinking of expanding into China – This DTI booklet offers practical and effective help on how to protect and enforce intellectual property rights,
using the current Chinese system. It sets out broad guidelines and can be used as a straightforward starting point, for more click HERE
US business development opportunities....UK Trade & Investment would like to invite UK companies to an executive dinner and partnering event during the American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC) in San Diego, July 15-19, 2007.
If you, or someone you know, would be interested in receiving an invite to this dinner, please respond with name, email, and mailing address. UKTI will be sending out formal invitations in the next month. AACC draws thousands of people with some of the best and brightest minds in the clinical lab field. There are sessions on pharmacogenomics, immunology, toxicology, molecular diagnostics, biomarkers, micro array technologies and much more.
Details regarding AACC can be found at: www.aacc.org/2007am Contact - Mindi Hertzog, British Consulate-General, Los Angeles, UK Trade & Investment. HERE
European Business partnering opportunities...If any of these profiles are of interest contact, Kenny.Legg@southwestrda.org.uk - Kenny Legg of the IRC
Isolation and characterisation of enzymes from cold-adapted Streptomycetes isolated from Spitzbergen in the Arctic region (Ref: 07 BG BGAR 0HM2) More info HERE
Delivery System for Controlled Release of Active Substances (Ref: 07 GB NMRT 0HUJ) More info HERE
Novel therapies targeting acute and chronic degenerative diseases of the central nervous system (Ref: 07 GB LDLT 0HRV) More info HERE
ETNA are organising UK Pavilions at three International Trade Fairs this Autumn namely Biotech Forum in Stockholm, CPhI Worldwide in Milan and Biotechnica in Hannover. All three of these events are supported by UK Trade and Investment and all eligible SMEs can apply for government funding of £1,800 towards their exhibiting costs.
To be eligible you must not have exhibited at the trade fair in the last three editions but need not be a new exporter - Biotech Forum, Stockholm- September 24th-26th see HERE for more information; CPhI Worldwide, Milan October 2nd-4th see HERE for more information; Biotechnica, Hannover October 9th-11th see HERE
ETNA are also organising a booth for BioAustralia if industry is interested in developing business in this fast growing region please be in touch with BioApproaches or contact Samantha Bruce directly
(E: samantha.bruce@emtechna.net;) or for more general info click HERE
EDITORIAL
Business Support for the South West - Grants, knowledge transfer and more...
At the recent Salisbury Innovation forum organized by the South West Science and Industry Council several funding bodies namely the Department of Trade and Industry, the South West of England Regional Development Agency and Great Western Research gave presentations on funding and support available for companies in the South West.
DTI Technology Programme –
Key Technology Areas; Electronics and Photonics Information and Communication Technologies, Advanced Materials Bioscience and Healthcare Technologies, Emerging Energy Technologies, Design Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing, Sustainable Production and Consumption.
What they are funding;
Collaborative R&D (since 2004)
- Over 11,000 applicants
- Over 620 Collaborative R&D projects already approved
- Represents over £900 million of R&D activity
- £470 million committed by business
- £430 million committed in Government support
For more information Click HERE
South West of England Regional Development Agency -
1 -Micro Projects
- Maximum Amount Funded: £20k
- Intervention Rate:50%
- Length of Project:Less than 12 months
2 - Research Projects
- Maximum amount funded: - £75k
- Intervention Rate:60-70%
- Length of Project:6-18 months
3 -Development Projects (Also Exceptional Development)
- Maximum Amount Funded:£200k (500k)
- Intervention Rate:35-45% (Maximum 35%)
- Length of Project:6-36 months
For more information Click HERE
Great Western Research -
Key Technology Areas; Materials, Applied Mathematics, Sustainability, Psychology, Creative Arts these opportunities are adaptable, contact BioApproaches SW for details
What they are funding;
The fundamental concept of Great Western Research is to promote collaborations between the highest quality research groups in the South West and regional businesses in order to attract international interest and recognition and to support the growth of the South West. The provision of research fellowships and research studentships is seen as an effective way to catalyse research partnerships between research groups in SW HEIs and industry.
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External partner must be based in the SW or have a significant presence in the SW
- Minimum external contribution £4,600 pa
- HEI may contribute up to 25% (£4,600 pa)
- Project must be explicit about the positive economic impact on the company and/or SW region
- Application must include preliminary agreement from external partner, subject to contract, to support the research
- No reserved allocation by theme
For more information Click HERE
EVENTS LISTINGS
Covering Lifesciences (biotechnology) and Medical interests can be found at HERE
Contact Us
For further information on any of these items, please visit our website:
www.bioapproaches.co.uk or contact us directly.
Jade Fulbrook-Smith Project Coordinator, BioBuzz Editor
Tel: 07715856262 Email: Jade@BioApproaches.co.uk
Gugs Lushai Director of Network
Tel: 07710779548 Email: Pauline.Lee@bioapproaches.co.uk
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