Message Board
Congratulations to all teams
I send my warmest congratulations to all of the teams that have reached the 2007 Final of the Biotechnology Young Entrepreneurs Scheme - a scheme that has made a real and positive impact on entrepreneurship and innovation in the UK for the past 12 years. You have already achieved a great deal; and you have learned skills and ways of thinking that will help you throughout your career whether you stay in academia or move into business.
I also congratulate the organisers of this annual competition, and all the companies and organisations that support it and provide mentors, judges and role models. Already, almost 2,000 early career researchers have benefited from this unique experience, with many going on to important roles in and supporting UK bioindustry, facilitating the translation of research outcomes into successful commercial ventures.
I am particularly delighted that for the first time this year, with support from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office and UK Trade & Industry, teams from India have participated, the winner being showcased here today. This is further evidence of the high international regard for the scheme and all that it stands for. I wish you a very successful Final.
Ian Pearson
Minister of State for Science and Innovation
YES North East!
Following the initiative by One North East to promote and support Biotechnology YES in the region, Professor John Peberdy was invited to talkto Research Staff and PhD students at Newcastle University about the Scheme. Some 20 people attended and proved to be a lively audience.
On this occasion, as well as highlighting how Biotechnology YES aims to increase awareness of commercialisation in the biosciences, he adopted a
new theme on the value of participation in Biotechnology YES in career planning; the decision to do this was based on past experience where he has found many young researchers have either given little thought to their future career or had found it difficult to access information about careers outside academia.
When speaking about the YES workshops John stressed the important inputs from practioners i.e. patent attorneys, venture capitalists, business development executives etc. as speakers, mentors and judges. Through the input of these people the participants can glean something of their work and responsibilities in the Biotech sector. In addition, many of the Scheme's industrial sponsors place a high value on seeing participation in YES referenced on a candidates CV. After making the point that increasing numbers of YES alumni are seeking work opportunities outside academia he went on to discuss seven case histories of past participants who had started careers in some of the diverse areas he had highlighted in the early part of his talk.
To give the audience a flavour of the commercialisation opportunities that flow from academic research Professor Mark Birch-Machin gave an illuminating presentation on his experiences in setting up the spin-out company Genesis Genomics UK Ltd which is working in the field of skin wellness based around DNA-based sun damage.
The outcome of the session was very positive and we look forward to welcoming several teams from the University taking part in the first workshop to be held in Newcastle from 29th to 31st October.
Bioscience YES Yorkshire and Humber – currently recruiting
Environment YES – currently recruiting