Bio-Buzz No.11 / November 2007

IN THIS ISSUE

HEADLINE NEWS
INDUSTRY CORNER
EDITORIAL
EVENTS LISTINGS

Headline News

South West England Bio Gala Dinner

‘Globalisation and its impact on the South West biotechnology and medical technology industry.’

Key-note address from: James Wilsdon, Head of Science and Innovation, Demos

Date: 29th November 2007

There are still a few places remaining!

For more information please register click HERE
Telephone:- 0117 9008250

PML senior scientist delights in award of Nobel Peace Prize to the IPCC.

The Intergovernmental Panel on climate change has been jointly awarded the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize. Dr Carol Turley, a senior scientist at Plymouth Marine Laboratory, is a lead IPCC author on the “Ecosystems, their properties, goods and services” chapter of the recent 4th Assessment Report of the UN’s IPCC. For more information about this superb accolade see HERE

Technology Strategy Board launch calls

The Technology Strategy Board have announced two new competitions for applications for Collaborative R&D funding. The funding is for research and development projects led by companies in collaboration with at least one partner, either academic or company. Successful applicants receive between 25% and 75% of project costs from TSB.

£10 million has been allocated for companies for Cell Therapy see HERE for more information and £23million has been allocated for High Value Manufacturing R&D see HERE for more information.

Further details of the scope of the calls, timetable and how to apply are available by clicking on the links above or at HERE.

Please note the very tight deadlines for these applications - the closing date is 14th February 2008.

The Knowledge Transfer Networks can provide guidance with regard to the call. Visit the main website for all the KTNs HERE.

INDUSTRY CORNER

International Agri-Technology Centre
The International Agri-Technology Centre offers support and advice to UK companies in the agriculture and related technologies sector looking for new market opportunities across the globe. The centre is a joint initiative between UK Trade & Investment, DEFRA, the Royal Agricultural Society of England (RASE) and Advantage West Midlands. The IATC has been established to promote the capability of the UK agri-technology sector and its aims are to:

1. Act as the focus for the UK agri-technology sector in promoting and supporting international trade.
2. Develop a programme of support for the industry for international trade development.
3. Seek, where possible, other forms of support and partnerships with national and international organisations to develop specific projects and programmes in response to global industry needs.
4. Provide the focus and first point of contact for all international enquiries, international visitors and delegations seeking products and services from the UK

Knowledge Transfer Networks - news and update on special interest groups

KTNs have been set up by government, industry and academia to facilitate the transfer of knowledge and experience between industry and the science base. They bring together diverse organisations and provide activities and initiatives that promote the exchange of knowledge and the stimulation of innovation in these communities. KTNs encourage the active participation of all networks currently operating in their areas and aim to establish connections with networks in other fields that have common interests. The full list of KTNs can be found HERE

The Bioscience for Business and BioProcess UK networks are very active in a diverse range of biotechnology-related areas. The networks also feature special interest groups to cater for niche areas. For example, the Bioscience for Business KTN has a special interest group in marine biotechnology and Chemistry Innovation hold one in High Throughput Technology. The other KTNs of relevance to biotechnology and life sciences include Micro Nano Technology, Materials, Chemistry Innovation, Aerospace & Defence, Sensors, Electronics, Food Processing and Integrated Pollution Management.

The Health Technologies KTN is holding its launch event in Jan 2008 and details can be found on their website HERE. The Health Technologies KTN has also launched 2 new special interest groups in Advanced Wound Care and Medical Devices Clinical Trials. These are in addition to existing ones in Dentistry, Cardiovascular Technology, Urology, Cells/Materials, Orthopaedics and Assistive Technologies.

R&D tax credits. Is your company taking full advantage of the R&D tax credits system?

Research and development (R&D) tax credits are a company tax relief which can either reduce a company’s tax bill or, for some small or medium sized companies, provide a cash sum.
Tax credits were introduced to encourage greater R&D spending in order to promote investment in innovation. The R&D tax credit works by allowing companies to deduct up to 150% of qualifying expenditure on R&D activities when calculating their profit for tax purposes. A specific booklet of support is available for SMEs and SMEs can, in certain circumstances, surrender this tax relief to claim payable tax credits in cash from the HM Revenue & Customs.
Full information is available from the HM Revenue & Customs website HERE and your local Business Link and the regional Development Agency have information and support available.
By early 2006 about 22,000 claims had been made - amounting to almost £1.8 billion of support claimed through both schemes.

APS pharmaceutical poster website

The Academy of Pharmaceutical Scientist of Great Britain (APS), which is the main academic society for pharmaceutical scientists in the UK and the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) (the world body), is developing a website to show pharmaceutical science posters that have been displayed at scientific conferences around the world. This promises to be a useful resource for scientists as it contains early results and information not published in more formal journals. Please visit the posters website HERE or contact Dr. Kevin Maynard for more information email: kevin.maynard@imprintpharma.com

Information portals – discovering what’s out there….

Biotechnology and life sciences covers a very broad range of topics and the number and diversity of electronic newsletters and information portals continues to grow. In addition to the main national portals (such as the knowledge transfer networks) there is a wealth of information available through other channels. As well as being a resource for online news and information many offer advertising opportunities for products and services. Here is a small sample of those that may be of interest:

BioTech Circle News is available through registration HERE

The monthly electronic newsletter of the US Biotechnology Industry Association and their website both contain valuable information, including information about the various Bio Conferences that take place each year. See HERE for more information

Nutraceuticals Now, the website for the Nutraceuticals Now technical review journal. The sites offers useful links, recent news and training opportunities

Laboratory News and the linked site HERE www.labnewsdirectory.co.uk contains news and information as well as product listings

APS pharmaceutical poster website

GM observer – newsletter of the agricultural biotechnology council

International Labmate The website contains news and articles as well as information about tenders, forthcoming exhibitions and advertising opportunities.

Water and Waste Water International The online resource offers up to date information and news, coupled with a catalogue of buyers and sellers around the globe.

Pharmaceutical International News and articles from pharmaceutical areas, as well as a portal for advertising products and services

Packaging International This online resource provides information about the latest developments in the field of packaging including a list of leading packaging firms, the latest product releases and news, details of conferences and exhibitions as well as a list of Worldwide Packaging Associations.

Hospital International is an online resource to help people order the right equipment and/or services for hospitals and medical centres worldwide. It also contains information and news.

EDITORIAL

Peninsula BioVentures

Peninsula BioVentures is a knowledge and technology transfer partnership created by the Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry (PCMD) and its founding Institutes. The goal of Peninsula BioVentures is to exploit the considerable commercial opportunities in biomedical research and clinical expertise which exist within the bioscience base of its partners. PCMD is developing world class research and is starting to make a real impact in particular disease areas.

Peninsula Bioventures provides expertise in the discovery, development, strategy and commercial exploitation phases of novel biomedical technologies.

Our goal is to prioritise and manage innovation, allocate resources and establish best practises to create pioneering new products and services that will benefit healthcare. This will be accomplished by licensing and assigning IP to existing companies or creating spin-out vehicles depending on the nature of the innovation.

Wealth generation that is coupled to this will directly benefit the innovators, the innovating partner and also the local economy by helping to develop the biomedical cluster in the South West. The Universities of Devon and Cornwall and the major NHS Trust Hospitals have agreed to work together with the aim of creating a platform for successful exploitation of intellectual property. Peninsula Bioventures also works closely with the Technology Innovation leaders appointed by NISW for the region.

Contact Mark Kelly Technology Transfer Manager
t 01392 263686
e mark@peninsulabioventures.co.uk
w www.peninsulabioventures.co.uk

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: 07715 856262 Email: Jade@BioApproaches.co.uk

Dr Pauline Lee – Network Manager
Tel: 07710 779548 Email: pauline@BioApproaches.co.uk

BioApproaches SW is funded by the South West of England Regional Development Agency to support the professional and business development of the South West of England Lifesciences and Biotechnology Industry.