14th October 2008

The School takes place from 10th-12th March 2009 and is delivered by QED Consulting.
Funding is provided by the East Midlands Development Agency (emda) through the
Greater Nottingham Partnership. Anyone interested in applying should visit
www.bioentrepreneur.co.uk and submit their details as soon as possible as the first
selection of delegates will take place soon.

The QED Bio-Entrepreneur School is a three day, intensive programme designed to help
delegates explore their entrepreneurial potential, develop essential enterprise skills and
overcome confidence barriers to commercialisation and starting in business in this very
specialist sector.

Nottingham University molecular biologist Dr Des Powe attended the 2008 School with
his team colleagues Andy Green and Dr Jon Garibaldi who have been developing a
more personalised and targeted drug delivery process for breast cancer patients.

“The Bio-Entrepreneur School was the perfect opportunity for the three of us to take
time away from the lab to focus on our idea,” says Des. “It’s easy to get carried away
with a business idea but until it is tested through rigorous market research and taken
through the defined pathway into start-up it may as well remain as just another idea.”
Tapping into the expertise on the School, as well as bouncing ideas around the other
delegates gave Des and his colleagues a sense that they were on the right track. The
School also confirmed that they were probably more entrepreneurial than they gave
themselves credit for. “The fact that we recognised a business opportunity and are
excited about its potential gives us confidence. As a result of the School we have made
several really valuable contacts and now know where to go for further help. We are likely
to progress carefully in a measured way and will try to maintain a good sense of
realism.”

The 2009 Bio-Entrepreneur School will draw on the expertise of its sponsors throughout
the programme. These include Nottingham City Council and patent experts
AdamsonJones, together with UK Trade & Investment, Nelsons Solicitors, Connect
Midlands, the business insurance experts La Playa and accountants
PricewaterhouseCoopers.

“Each cohort of bio-entrepreneurs attending the school finds the experience rewarding,”
says Dr Glenn Crocker chief executive of BioCity Nottingham, the leading healthcare
and bioscience innovation and incubation centre. “The QED Bio-Entrepreneur School is
all about providing the tools to build a successful business, not to mention the benefit
that comes from mixing with executives from some of BioCity’s current fast-growing star
companies.”

Martijn Mugge, Director of Enterprise at QED Consulting, has run several Entrepreneur
Schools for different sectors: “We work with people who are finding out what it means to
be truly enterprising and so finding their way forward in the business world. Bioscientists
have a head start in their ability to discover new applications for science. We then help
them to realise their commercial potential.”

Popular with delegates of previous Schools are the ‘Meet the Entrepreneur’ reception,
the opportunity to pitch commercial ideas to a panel of friendly ‘Dragons’ and a formal
dinner at the University addressed by a leading bio-entrepreneur.

ENDS

Media enquiries:
Louise Third
Integra Communications
0115 906 1377 / 07773 288342
QED Consulting:
Amanda Edwards
01302 767884

Notes:

The Bio-Entrepreneur School takes place from Tuesday 10th – Thursday 12th
March 2009 at BioCity Nottingham, Pennyfoot Street, Nottingham NG1 1GF
Detailed information and registration instructions on www.bioentrepreneur.co.uk

Sponsor details:

BioCity Nottingham Ltd was formed in October 2002. The company develops and
operates bioscience and healthcare related incubation and innovation facilities. The first
facility was opened in Nottingham in September 2003 and Phase 3, in the form of growon
space, opens in October. BioCity Nottingham is currently home to 40 on-site
businesses, 17 virtual tenants (4 of which are foreign) and 3 companies benefiting from
the Germinator.

BioCity was founded by Nottingham Trent University, the University of Nottingham and
East Midlands Development Agency. The site the company is developing in Nottingham
was originally gifted to Nottingham Trent University by BASF plc.
East Midlands Development Agency (emda) is one of nine Regional Development
Agencies in England, set up in 1999 to bring a regional focus to economic development.
Working in partnership with public, private and voluntary organisations the aim is to
deliver the 2006 Regional Economic Strategy (RES) ‘A Flourishing Region’, which sets
out regional priorities until 2020.

The RES, coordinated by emda, highlights the themes of productivity, sustainability and
equality and builds on the previous two strategies; ‘Prosperity Through People’ and
‘Destination 2010’. In early 2007 the National Audit Office announced emda had
received the highest possible grade of 'performing strongly' in an independent
assessment of our work - scoring 22 out of 24. For more details visit www.emda.org.uk.

AdamsonJones is a forward-looking, client-focused patent and trade mark firm offering
a full range of intellectual property services in the UK, Europe and throughout the world.
Based at BioCity Nottingham, we specialise in helping companies in the bioscience
sector add value to their businesses through the creation and development of a strong
IP portfolio.

Nottingham City Council is working closely with partners across the City to capitalize
on the accolade of having been awarded 'Science City' status by the government.
Nottingham Science City is committed to pro-actively supporting the growth of the
Science & Technology sector in Nottingham and its conurbation, in recognition of the
importance of this sector to the growth of our 'Knowledge Economy' and our global
competitiveness. Science & Technology has been identified as one of the City's five
priority growth sectors. The Biosciences sub-sector is of particular importance to the City
in growing its presence and reputation in this niche market. The Council works with a
range of organisations, including Bio-Science businesses, to raise its profile with the
market beyond the UK.

UK Trade & Investment is the government organisation that provides integrated
support services for UK companies engaged in overseas trade and foreign enterprises
seeking to locate in the UK. It brings together the work of teams in British embassies and
FCO posts overseas and government departments across Whitehall. In England,
international trade support is coordinated by nine International Trade Directors working
in partnership with each Regional Development Agency. UK Trade & Investment
services are delivered locally through a network of International Trade Teams. For more
information visit the website http://www.emids.uktradeinvest.gov.uk/

One of the largest law firms in the East Midlands with offices in Nottingham, Leicester
and Derby, Nelsons is acknowledged as a ‘regional heavyweight’ by Legal 500, a
leading independently-researched legal directory.

The firm’s Commerce & Technology Group provides advice to businesses on a wide
range of matters, including commercial contract and partnership law, UK and European
Union competition law, and intellectual property issues.

Connect Midlands is a not-for-profit network, that supports technology and high growth
companies to gain investment through training and mentoring, investment showcasing,
and networking between businesses, investors and the professional services community
in the Midlands.

The member firms of the PricewaterhouseCoopers network provide industry-focused
assurance, tax and advisory services to build public trust and enhance value for its
clients and their stakeholders. More than 146,000 people in 150 countries across our
network share their thinking, experience and solutions to develop fresh perspectives and
practical advice.

Unless otherwise indicated, 'PricewaterhouseCoopers' refers to
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (www.pwc.com/uk) a limited liability partnership
incorporated in England. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP is a member firm of
PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited.

La Playa is an award winning insurance broker authorised and regulated by the
Financial Services Authority. With specialist advice in Science & Technology, our
bespoke insurance-based services are designed to factor insurable risk out of
investment in scientific innovation, whether you’re an inventor, investor, entrepreneur,
mentor or otherwise engaged in this field. We cater to a wide variety of industry sectors,
and are committed to outstanding service and first class advice.