The London Bioscience Innovation Centre wins European Award
2 May 2007
The London Bioscience Innovation Centre (LBIC), owned by the Royal Veterinary College, has been recognised within the European community for helping fledgling businesses and developing links between universities and industry with an award from RUISNET (Regional Universities Industry Strategy Unit). LBIC been chosen as the 'Entrepreneurial Spirit and Knowledge-Based Enterprise Creation' category winner at the European Awards of University–Industry Co-operation with Regional Impact.
The award, which was presented to LBIC at the Awards Ceremony in Brussels on Thursday 26 April, recognises that LBIC is leading the way in creating links between university research and the bioscience industry. LBIC, London’s first bioscience incubator, has succeeded in contributing to the London BioScience network and creating a business support structure for young bioscience companies.
‘The creation of the London BioScience Innovation Centre was a direct response to the shortage of accommodation for life sciences activity in Central London. LBIC forms a key part of the London Development Agency’s strategy for life sciences and we are grateful to the LDA for supporting this initiative from the outset,’ said Professor Colin Howard, CEO of the London Bioscience Innovation Centre. ‘This award recognises the incredible achievements that we’ve been able to make in the six years since the London Bioscience Innovation Centre started up. It’s a mark of this progress that we’ve been recognised within Europe for the contribution that we are making to the London bioscience industry, and for the support that we have provided to help start-up businesses grow.”
LBIC currently provides 21st century laboratory and office facilities for 23 companies. Existing LBIC clients are biotechnology and diagnostic companies, life science product and service providers, venture investors and small pharmaceutical companies.
LBIC has also succeeded in attracting overseas investment to London by providing a high quality bioscience facility for overseas companies wishing to benefit from the capital’s extensive educational, business and financial infrastructure. This is done through offering virtual client packages which give overseas business a UK base; currently LBIC has clients from Australia, Canada, Finland, France, India, Japan and USA.
LBIC was also recognised for creating a business model that could be transferred elsewhere across the UK and into other European Countries, as well as to other business sectors. LBIC’s business model is predicated on supplying its clients with very flexible lease terms and accommodation arrangements, unlike many conventional science parks. This approach resonates with the needs of new and emerging bioscience businesses whose space and facility requirements can change within short timescales.- New companies looking to find out about more about using LBIC’s facilities should contact Bradley Hardiman, Chief Operations Manager: bradley.hardiman@lbic.com; telephone + 44 (0) 20 7691 2072, or visit www.lbic.com
- RUISNET is a pan-European project, part-financed by the EU, which is aiming to identify good practice in university and industry cooperation and the impact on regional development. Cases of regional strategies were assessed on the nature of university industry cooperation, their regional impact on GDP and employment, transferability to other regions, sustainability and innovation. RUISNET has a public portal found at www.ruisnet.net. London South Bank University [LSBU] leads the RUISNET project in the UK and has identified 48 cases of good practice in 3 areas: Training and the Labour Market; SMEs, Innovation and Territory; and Entrepreneurial Spirit and Knowledge-Based Enterprise Creation.
- LBIC's development was supported financially by the London Development Agency (LDA) as part of the Mayor’s vision to establish London as a world-leading hub for biotechnology. The LDA’s £2.7 million grant to LBIC funded the centre’s third phase of expansion. For more information visit: www.lda.gov.uk
The Royal Veterinary College
Established in 1791, the RVC is the UK’s longest-standing veterinary college—with a proud heritage of innovation in veterinary science, clinical practice and education.