UMIC and UMIP co- hosted a BBSRC–sponsored workshop on the morning of the April 21st at the Core Technology Facility. The event focused on informing young academic entrepreneurs of potential careers in start-up businesses particularly in the Life Sciences and Environmental business sectors. In addition, the organisations were preparing potential academic candidates at the post-graduate stages of their careers to enter the BBSRC-sponsored YES events; the NWEST regional final is held in Manchester, in November.
Prof. John Peberdy (Emeritus Professor, University of Nottingham) presented the process and benefit of entering the Biotech YES event to students. “Deciding on a career may be seen as challenging by PhD students and early-stage researchers in the Biosciences because of their limited awareness of the opportunities outside of academia. Biotechnology YES, a national competition for these young scientists, provides an opportunity for learn about the process of commercialisation of scientific discoveries and in so doing come to understand the wealth of potential jobs that they might seek,” John commented.
Over 75 people registered and the event was both vibrant and informative. “With such a good turnout, and with the quality of presenters, it was always going to be a great event. In addition, the level of discussion around improvements that could be made to the process of linking Incubation and Technology Transfer to young entrepreneurs in the University was most helpful,” said Martino Picardo, UMIC’s managing director. “I particularly felt the presentations by Curtis Dobson (AI2 Ltd and academic), Rod Benson (CEO Imagen Biotech, ex Astra Zeneca and academia) and Laura Lennox (former Biotech Yes applicant and now Business Development Manager, Epistem Ltd) were of great value in presenting the opportunities for graduates and post-graduates.
We now anticipate strong representation from the local Universities at the Regional Biotech YES event in November and we are grateful to the BBSRC for their continued support of our activities in this area. We look forward to the Regional Biotech YES event in November and to hosting a workshop for more senior academics in the November time-frame also.”
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