Incubation Centre opens call for Emerging Biotech

A collaboration between UKRI’s Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC), which is set to help biotechnology start-up businesses in the North-West progress innovative technology concepts into market reality, has formerly launched with its first call for participants.

The new Biotech Business Incubation Centre (Bio Bic) located at STFC’s Daresbury Laboratory site, will offer support initially over a five year period for successful start-up applicants up to the value of £90,000 in the form of:

up to £45,000 targeted research and development (R&D) funding

up to 100 hours access to R&D facilities and ongoing onsite technical advice

intellectual property protection support

unlimited business coaching provided by dedicated business experts

networking and introductions to investors, customers, sector stakeholders and next stage funders

BBSRC has invested around £110 million across the north-west’s bioscience and biotechnology research, including funding to 8 higher education institutes.

Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: “The Liverpool City Region is lucky to be home to a thriving community of businesses that are constantly innovating and finding better ways of doing things.

“We have an invaluable natural resource, our people, which combined with our asset base, can help put as at the forefront of UK science and innovation.

“I want to take advantage of our strengths, and potential, and turn them into profitable businesses, creating better, greener jobs and bringing greater prosperity to local people.

“We’re putting our money where our mouth is too, by investing 5% of our GVA in research and development over the next few years, nearly double the government’s national targets, to ensure our region is the fuel that powers the country’s innovation engine.

“Programmes like Bio BIC are helping us to do just that.”

Paul Vernon, Executive Director of Business and Innovation at STFC, and Head of STFC’s Daresbury Laboratory, said: “The Bio BIC marks the start of exciting opportunity for pioneering biotech start-ups across the north-west.

“STFC’s Daresbury Laboratory is the UK government’s national laboratory of the north and I’m really looking forward to working closely with BBSRC to help businesses innovate and turn their ideas and biotechnology applications into viable and successful businesses.

“The Bio BIC could be the start of a catalyst for growth of the biotechnology sector in the region, ultimately benefitting our economy and society.”

More information online