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£6.45 million boost for bio-tech will help Scottish firms become world players - McLeish
05/08/1999
The Government's new £6.45 million programme for biotechnology research, backed up by a 10-point action plan, will help Scotland's growing biotechnology companies become world players, Henry McLeish, Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning, said today.
Speaking in Dundee, Mr McLeish said:
"The announcement today of £6.45 million under the Biotechnology Exploitation Platform Challenge (BEP Challenge) to help the UK and Scotland maintain their leading position in biotechnology is tremendous news. Scotland has a world-class science base in biotechnology and a strong concentration of dynamic, innovative companies.
"I am confident that the University and companies like Cyclacel here in Dundee will play their part in bringing a substantial proportion of this funding to Scotland and in turning scientific excellence into economic benefit.
"The launch of the 10-point action plan reinforces the Government's support for the growth of this key part of the Scottish economy. It sets out the conditions necessary to create the biotechnology equivalent of Silicon Valley in the UK and Scotland has an important part to play. Biotechnology can play a vital role in improving the quality of life - in healthcare and medicine, agriculture, food and the environment. Biotechnology employment in Scotland has grown at around 40 per cent per year over the last four years: it is a real success story and an exciting industry with the potential to be a major force in the next century."
Over the last few years, the Scottish Enterprise Network has undertaken extensive consultation with the biotechnology community in Scotland to develop a national strategy. Welcoming the announcement, Peter Lennox, Network Director, Biotechnology at Scottish Enterprise said:
"The signs are looking good. With support from the Scottish Enterprise Network and the recommendations from Government, the Scottish biotechnology community is ready to act in a more co-ordinated way to grow and develop the industry successfully. We are the catalyst in the process: the strategy will be actioned by the biotechnology community, demanding co-operation, interaction and vision from everyone."
Bob Downes, Director, Cluster Development at Scottish Enterprise added:
"The future success of industries will depend heavily on individual organisations' ability to learn, interact knowledgeably with other members of their community and develop a more cohesive business network. The cluster approach reinforces this working method and the Government's endorsement through this report will help to create the supporting infrastructure to allow the biotechnology cluster in Scotland not only to develop but to thrive in the years to come."
BACKGROUND
1. The report on biotechnology clusters in the UK was launched by Lord Sainsbury, Minister for Science at the Department for Trade and Industry, in London today. Lord Sainsbury also announced new funding of £6.45 million under the Biotechnology Exploitation Platform Challenge (BEP Challenge) and a further call for proposals under the Biotechnology Mentoring and Incubator Challenge (BMI Challenge).
2. The biotechnology clusters initiative was first announced in the Competitiveness White Paper Our Competitive Future: Building the Knowledge Driven Econom, published in December 1998. Membership of the biotechnology cluster team supporting Lord Sainsbury was announced on April 16, 1999. It comprises: Professor Philip Cooke, University of Wales, Cardiff; Dr Chris Evans, Merlin Ventures; Professor Mark Ferguson, University of Manchester; Professor Sir Gareth Roberts, Vice-Chancellor, University of Sheffield and Professor Alan Wilson, Vice-Chancellor, University of Leeds. During the course of their fact-finding mission, the team visited areas in the UK and US, including Cambridge, Oxford, Surrey, Central Scotland and Dundee, Boston and Seattle.
3. The ten critical success factors for cluster development identified in the report are: a strong science base, an entrepreneurial culture, a growing company base, the ability to attract key staff, premises and infrastructure, availability of finance, business support services and large companies in related industries, a skilled workforce, effective networking and a supportive policy environment. The report's recommendations range from measures to support the science base to encouraging the flow of venture capital into companies and having urban planning policies that allow clusters to grow.
4. The Biotechnology Exploitation Platform Challenge (BEP Challenge) is a competition to improve the management of intellectual property in the bioscience base. The challenge is open to academic institutions, industrial liaison offices, university commercial companies, research and technology organisations, charities, trade associations and other intermediaries that offer necessary specialist skills in the management of bioscience. Winning bioscience syndicates will be offered grant of up to 50 per cent of eligible costs. Applications will be judged by an independent panel of experts according to the credibility of the business plan, the quality and the experience of the team in intellectual property management, the commercial potential of the technology and the extent to which Government support will stimulate new collaboration and leverage new private sector finance.
5. The Biotechnology Mentoring and Incubator Challenge is a competition to encourage the provision of incubators and specialist business mentoring services to help young biotechnology companies grow. Under the initiative, up to £5 million will be made available. BMI Challenge winners will be offered up to £500,000 towards the cost of a demonstrator project. Organisations may apply individually or on a collaborative basis. Applications will be judged on their contribution to the growth of the British biotechnology sector, the degree of innovation and the wider benefits. This is the fourth call for proposals.
6. The Challenges are open to organisations operating in England, Scotland and Wales. Entry forms will be available from the relevant Challenge Secretariat (BEP on tel: 0171-215-4120 and BMI on Tel: 0171-215-5856). The closing date for applications under both Challenges is 1200 noon on November 30, 1999.
News Release: SE0236/99
5 August 1999