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Bio-Buzz
No.10 / FINAL
 
IN THIS ISSUE
HEADLINE NEWS
INDUSTRY CORNER
Headline News
Your last edition of BioBuzz
Dear reader,
At the end of September BioApproaches South West reached the end of its funding period and so this will sadly be the last edition of BioBuzz. For the last few years BioApproaches, funded by the South West Regional Development Agency and managed by GWE Business West, has provided biotechnology and life sciences business support across the South West of England. In doing this we have been involved in many diverse and interesting projects, provided individual support to many regional organisations and worked closely with a number of regional and national partners. Our aim has always been to provide targeted, appropriate support and we hope we have made some positive differences to the organisations with whom we have worked.
The good news for the region is that plans are now well underway to roll out a new support organisation that will encompass not only biotechnology and life sciences but also medical technologies. This is part of a new programme of biomedical innovation networking called Biomedical iNET. It is our hope that this will be up and running early in 2010 and will incorporate a SW Biotech MediLink type support body. There will be further announcements in the coming months so please do keep an eye on the BioApproaches website which will be maintained for the interim period and will show updates as they are available.
In brief the new Biomedical iNet support programme will include the stimulation of productivity and economic competitiveness through the increased exploitation of new ideas within the South West biotech and biomedical businesses and public research organisations including the NHS.
The aim will be to encourage and facilitate these businesses in building relationships with other businesses, knowledge base institutions, intermediaries and government, thereby improving knowledge exchange and linkages across business supply chains, leading to more collaborative innovation activity. The aim is to address unmet needs, support better medical provision, create economic value and ultimately create more jobs in the South West.
In the interim the staff of BioApproaches SW wish everyone we have worked with much success in the future.
Industry Corner
Government to invest £2.5 million in innovation for industrial biotechnology
The Technology Strategy Board is to manage a £2.5 million investment programme on behalf of the Government aimed at stimulating innovation in the UK’s industrial biotechnology sector, and is encouraging small and medium-sized companies to apply for funding.
The aim of the competition, which is funded by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), is to encourage the development and commercialisation of innovative processes that will generate high value chemicals through industrial biotechnology.
Through the competition, which closes on 19 November 2009, BIS will fund feasibility studies mainly for short-term projects, usually lasting up to six months, which are likely to cost up to £200,000. Up to 75% funding may be made available for such studies, and applications from small and medium-sized companies (SMEs) would be particularly welcomed. Applications can be made by single companies or collaborative consortia.
Explaining the background to the competition, Merlin Goldman, the Technology Strategy Board’s Lead Technologist for the Biosciences, said: “BIS’s Industrial Biotechnology Innovation and Growth Team recommended earlier this year that an Industrial Biotechnology Fund should be set up by the end of 2009. This would provide industry, again focusing on SMEs, with access to demonstration facilities.”
“Through the fund, BIS has allocated £2.5m to support feasibility projects from this 2009 competition. We anticipate that the successful demonstration, through this competition, of a process, feedstock or material using industrial biotechnology will lead directly to production-level activities within two to four years”.
Enterprise Europe South West supports SW companies at MEDICA 2009
Enterprise Europe Network South West is pleased to give companies the opportunity to participate in a Brokerage Event at MEDICA 2009, the global No. 1 meeting place for the medical sector. The aim is to assist enterprises, universities and research institutions in finding partners in Europe for product development, manufacturing and licensing agreements, joint ventures or other types of partnership.
Participants will have the opportunity to:
- Use the event to initiate new business
- Meet providers of innovative technologies from throughout Europe and beyond
- Enter into contact with potential partners for future co-operation
- Establish cross-border contacts for long-term business relationships
How to participate:
Enterprise Europe Network South West can work with you to produce a profile describing your requirements. This will be published in the online catalogue of the Brokerage Event which will form the basis for selecting partners for meetings and making appointments at the event.
For more information and for online registration HERE
Cost
A participation fee of 200 EUR + VAT (up to 5 profiles) will be charged to each participating organisation submitting profiles. A fee of 40 EUR + VAT will be charged for each further profile.
To contact the Enterprise Europe Network South West to discuss this opportunity please email kenny.legg@enterpriseeuropesw.org.uk
International Events
Taste of Britain- Poland 17-18th November 2009
UKTI are planning a food & drink sector visit to Warsaw, Poland to include store visits, networking events and More
4th British Polish Agrifood Forum, 19th November 2009
This popular event brings together growers, packers, transporters, marketers & retailers from the UK & Poland. It is a chance to meet potential clients & partners, learn about one another's markets & do business More
Arab Health exhibition
If any companies are planning to visit the Arab Health exhibition and trade show in Dubai at the end of January 2010 and would be interested in joining a South West UKTI outward trade mission, then please contact Rob Thompson at: rob.thompson@uktisouthwest.org.uk 07790 908821 as soon as possible.
Contact Us
For further information please visit our website:
www.bioapproaches.co.uk
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