NEWS&VIEWS 11


Specialist Equipment and Facilities for Hire


Regional businesses can now access research equipment and facilities at the Institute of Research in the Applied Natural Sciences (LIRANS), University of Bedfordshire. The service specialises in four areas: imaging, molecular biology, chemical analysis and fabrication. Professor Tiantian Zhang, Director of LIRANS, said: “LIRANS is equipped with a wide range of modern imaging technologies. Scientific equipment such as the confocal laser scanning microscope, the 3D surface confocal microscope, the cryomicroscope and the real-time PCR machines might be valuable for some small and medium enterprises (SMEs), but are not cost-effective to procure. Through LIRANS services, SMEs can access these instruments at an economical hourly or daily rate, allowing them to


develop new and improved products and processes without the potentially substantial investment needed in equipment, staff and training costs.”


Experts are also on hand to offer training to company employees who can then undertake work at the research facility, or who can assist businesses in their required area of research, from experimental design through to data processing and analysis.


LIRANS is located at the new Butterfield Business and Technology Park on the outskirts of Luton, near to the University’s Putteridge Bury campus. For more information, visit www.beds.ac.uk/research/lirans/services or telephone LIRANS on 01582 489 333 or 01582 743 724.


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Epistem Wins UK Trade and Investment Award


Epistem received the UKTI's 'Internationalise Your Business' award at the recent Genesis 2009 biotechnology conference in London. UKTI presents this award to the company which it judges has been most successful in expanding into new markets. Nominee companies are established companies who have extended their footprint with UKTI assistance, notably through the UKTI Tradeshow Access Programme. Epistem, led by Matthew Walls CEO, was extremely pleased to have been honoured with this award, which reflects the rapid recent expansion of its business, working with larger pharmaceutical companies in new overseas markets building on the successful presence which it has achieved in the UK. Other nominated companies for this award were: BioFocus DPI, Eden Biodesign, Epistem, Neem Biotech, Winscribe Europe. The UKTI Assisted


Newcomer of the Year Award for first use of UKTI services for internationalisation, and most successful first export, went to Cambridge Temperature Concepts for their spectacular growth from an investment funded startup to international exporter in the space of a single year. The runners up were Bio Nano Consulting and Crystec Pharma. BioPartner.co.uk managed the selection process for the 2009 UK Trade & Investment Internationalisation Awards, presented at the Genesis Conference Awards Dinner, 10th December, in London. The awards are designed to recognise companies that are successful in exploiting UKTI services to grow their business internationally - through expert advice and assistance, commissioned market reports and Tradeshow Access Programme grants.


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Mark Silver Scoops BVCA CEO of the Year Award


Inspicio's Chief Executive Officer Mark Silver won the Private Equity Backed CEO of the Year Award for the South East Region, including London. The accolade was announced at a dinner in London following the BVCA Summit 2009. The BVCA, (British Venture Capital Association), is the industry body and public policy advocate for the private equity and venture capital industry in the UK, and presentation of the awards is the culmination of a six region-wide nomination process throughout the UK.


Mark Silver


Inspicio is a global leader in the international inspection and testing market and the Group operates across three key market segments: commodities and agriculture, environmental compliance and food testing. Inspicio is


backed by 3i and funds managed by 3i as well as the Group's management and employees following a buy-out in February 2008.


Mark has extensive Board experience in both CEO and Finance Director roles and joined the Inspicio Board in 2005 when he founded the business.


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Dr John Duffy


Malvern Instruments Product Technical Specialist for Rheology, Dr John Duffy, has been awarded the prestigious Vernon Harrison doctoral prize given annually by the British Society of Rheology (BSR). He received his award, and gave his award lecture, at the BSR Midwinter Meeting at the University of Edinburgh’s School of Physics and Astonomy, Edinburgh, Scotland, (14-15 December 2009).


Dr Mike Kaszuba, Malvern’s Technical Specialist Supervisor said:


“This is a superb achievement. John was awarded his Doctor of Philosophy degree in November 2008 from the University of Nottingham for his work on rheological studies of the microstructure of molten coal as it undergoes carbonisation. By then, Malvern had already snapped him up. Known for the high calibre of our in-house scientific specialists, we recognised the importance of the rheological expertise and industrial experience that John brings to the company and the benefits for our customers.”


John Duffy’s award winning thesis is entitled: ‘Understanding the Mechanisms Behind Coking Pressure: Relationship to Pore Structure and Thermoplastic Properties.’


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Planning for Success – Nano Industry Report


The Nanotechnology Mini-Innovation and Growth Team (Mini-IGT) has presented a report to government and Industry giving its recommendations for safeguarding the UK’s future success in nanotechnology. It compares where the UK sits in comparison with competitors in terms of sector funding and considers a strategic approach to the commercialisation of nanotechnology based products.


The report entitled ‘Nanotechnology: a UK Industry View’ details work carried out by the Mini-IGT following Lord Drayson’s launch of the Government evidence gathering website on 7th July 2009 with the announcement that the UK would develop a Nanotechnology Strategy.


The Report’s recommendations have been listed under four headings: Policy and Regulation, Funding, Skills, and Engagement. As innovation and exploitation is business driven, the main recommendation is that the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) should be responsible for leading and coordinating activities across Government to ensure investment provides added value for the UK.


Funding can be directed through the various bodies responsible to BIS and made available to both SME’s and larger companies developing nanotechnology based products. Further information at www.nanoktn.com


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Biotage is now selling SPE products directly into non-pharma application areas within the UK, markets previously managed by a distributor. The company’s sample preparation products are available in a variety of media types and formats for bioanalytical, forensic, environmental and agrochemical/food applications. "This is a logical step for Biotage. Many applications for our products exist beyond the biopharmaceutical market, where Biotage has focused historically. We are now actively seeking to broaden our customer base and this is one of the routes we will exploit. SPE is a product area in which Biotage has great knowledge and experience. This is something we are going to take advantage of going forward," said Torben Jørgensen, CEO.


"Our strategy to invest more heavily in the sample prep area and the expansion of direct sales in the UK has excited our Marketing and Sales teams. The Sample Prep market is growing and we feel we have excellent technology and potential to grow our market share. This move is important for us as it enables us to get closer to our customers in the UK market at the same time as we are venturing into new customer segments," said Scott Carr, VP of Commercial Operations.


Vision Source has been appointed by Lumenera as its exclusive partners for microscopy camera systems in the UK & Ireland. Lumenera’s Sylvain Dignard said he was excited to have such an experienced sales and distribution channel as offered by Richard Fry and his team based in Axbridge. “Lumenera is committed to providing unparalleled Customer Service and world-class technical assistance. Our goal is to provide our customers with services and experiences that exceed expectations. The reputation of Vision Source for immediate customer support has been built over more than ten years and at Lumenera, we believe they will help raise our profile in the growing marketing here in the UK and Ireland.”


Oxford Expression Technologies Ltd (OET), a provider of baculovirus-based protein expression products and services, has signed research collaboration agreements with ParaTechs and LifeSensors. Investigations will include assessing the potential impact of expressing a Vankyrin gene in tandem with a foreign gene on the quality and yield of the foreign protein; also to compare vectors expressing Vankyrin gene-fusions in ParaTechs Vankyrin- Enhanced cell lines, with standard insect cell lines.Under the agreement with LifeSensors, the two companies will work together to incorporate a SUMO (small ubiquitin-like modifier) tag into OET’s flashBAC system, and evaluate whether this increases the quality of protein produced. “The collaborations form part of our ongoing strategy of developing new and improved protein expression systems for our customers,” said James Bernard, Director, OET. “We’re delighted to be working alongside these companies and look forward to generating exciting results.” OET was recently named ‘Best Early Stage Biotech’ at the Oxford and South-East Bioscience Awards, in recognition of its introduction of its new technology with commercial value and development of a revenue stream.


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