The Welsh Assembly Government has identified the bioscience industry as a key growth sector for the Welsh economy.
The Welsh Assembly Government has encouraged a number of Welsh bioscience businesses to exploit their innovative ideas. It has provided or helped them to access - business support that meets specific needs, such as marketing, new product development and R&D. Some examples include:
Marketing
An International Business Wales (IBW) mission to Japan was particularly successful for Brecon, which gained several Japanese clients that frequently use Brecon’s services.
New product development
West Wales based MicroPharm has benefited from two successful Welsh Assembly Government/ SMART (government funded) awards - one for the development of a treatment for overdoses of the drug colchicine (used in the treatment of gout), and the second for the development of anti-toxins for accidental or intentional ingestion of toxic compounds from certain types of poisonous plants.
Research and development
Morvus Technology lease a state-of-the-art laboratory building in the grounds of the National Botanic Garden of Wales.
Getting the right people
"Within Wales we have been fortunate enough to attract and retain high quality staff," Peter Cashin, Managing Director, Huntleigh Diagnostics.
Team Wales support for bioscience businesses
A key Team Wales member, the Welsh Assembly Government has established relationships with businesses in the bioscience sector. Its advice and support has proved invaluable to Welsh bioscience businesses and those considering Wales in their expansion plans.
Already here
Welsh Assembly Government account managers have long term relationships with Welsh bioscience businesses and they provide proactive personal support to help them achieve their business objectives. They use a consultative approach to work out the right package of support to help businesses at different development stages.
Expansion in mind?
The Welsh Assembly Government has a dedicated team which continues to develop the sector through business start-ups, existing company expansion and the encouragement of inward investment. The team comprises of sector experts who understand the market. Whether an indigenous company looking to expand, a new business start-up or an inward investor, the sector team can connect businesses to a range of programmes designed to help bioscience business flourish.
Starting out
Wales can offer a host of targeted opportunities for businesses starting out in the bioscience sector, including the Wales-wide Technium network.
Technium
Technium offers the optimum environment to enable knowledge-based start-up and spin-out companies to realise their potential. Technium includes a network of state-of-the-art facilities across Wales served by the latest information technology and fibre optic bandwidth capabilities. Inside Technium, companies are supported by a team of business and technical support staff and have access to specialist laboratory facilities and communal networking areas. Strong partnerships forged between Technium and local Centres of Research Excellence provide specialist academic support for research & development projects.
Technium Aberystywyth and Technium Optic are particularly relevant to young bioscience businesses.
For more information on the Technium network click on the following link (opens in a new window): www.technium.co.uk
