12th November 2009

The fourth annual Bio-Entrepreneur School is taking place at BioCity Nottingham on the 10th – 12th March 2010. The school’s reputation is such that places are rapidly filled and applicants need to register quickly. There are twenty fully funded places available which will be selected from the best applications received by 11th December 2009 while a further 10 partially funded places will given to priority applications. Corporate places are also available. Full information and application details for the school are available at www.bioentrepreneur.co.uk.

The School, now in its 4th year is delivered by a partnership between BioCity Nottingham Limited and QED Consulting. It is open to anyone wanting to develop an entrepreneurial career in the commercialisation of bioscience. It is especially suited to recent graduates, post-docs and academic researchers. Bioentrepreneurs should be planning to commercialise a particular science or idea, just starting a business in the sector, or wanting to learn how to turn science into commercial technologies.

BioCity Incubation Manager, Nick Gostick says, “The Bio-Entrepreneur School has become an annual institution in the bioscience sector. It has a reputation for delivering accessible commercial wisdom to people who are more at home in a scientific environment. The School supports their goals by taking them through an intense three-day programme, developing the business skills and confidence that helps them to reach their potential in this rapidly expanding sector.”
The Bio-Entrepreneur School is sponsored by a number of leading organisations with an interest in developing the bioscience sector. New sponsor this year is major international healthcare business, AstraZeneca, which joins the other senior sponsor Nottingham City Council. Other sponsors include intellectual property experts Adamson Jones, Connect Midlands, a not-for-profit network that supports technology and high growth companies to gain investment, and UK Trade and Investment, who support companies wishing to trade overseas.

AstraZeneca New Opportunities Director Andy Hargreaves says, “Making the link between scientific developments and their potential commercialisation is vital for the prosperity of the UK bioscience sector. Our sponsorship of the Bio-Entrepreneur School recognises that it plays an important role in helping develop scientists into entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs who understand how that vital link between science and business is made.”

ENDS
Media enquiries:
Andrew Third
Integra Communications Ltd
0115 912 4350 andrew@integracommunications.co.uk

Notes to Editors:
1. BioEntrepreneur School
Full information on the School is available at www.bioentrepreneur.co.uk
Full details of available places:
Fully Funded Places (through competitive entry):
• Applications welcomed from current students and researchers
• The best 20 applications received by 11th December 2009 will be awarded places
• Free to delegates: places are fully funded through Bio-Entrepreneur School sponsorship

Priority Applications (partially funded):
• 10 priority applications that meet minimum quality standards will be awarded places (on a first come first served basis)
• Applications welcomed from researchers, university staff and small businesses
• Cost per delegate is £350 + VAT for 3 day school (places are subsidised through Bio-Entrepreneur School sponsorship)
• Priority applications bypass competitive entry requirements for fully funded places.

Corporate Applications
• Cost per delegate is £650 + VAT for 3 day school
• Suitable for entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs working for pharmaceutical and other corporate organisations.

2. Bio- Entrepreneur School Sponsors

Senior Sponsors
AstraZeneca is a major international healthcare business engaged in the research, development, manufacturing and marketing of meaningful prescription medicines and supplier for healthcare services. AstraZeneca is one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies with healthcare sales of US$ 31.6 billion and is a leader in gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, neuroscience, respiratory, oncology and infectious disease medicines. For more information about AstraZeneca, please visit: www.astrazeneca.com
Nottingham City Council. Nottingham was designated as a Science City in 2005 in recognition of its rich scientific heritage, industrial base and role as a leading research centre. Nottingham has since embarked on a wide range of business, property, knowledge transfer and educational initiatives (www.science-city.co.uk) in order to build on its growing reputation as an international centre of scientific excellence. Nottingham City Council is a partner in Nottingham: the Science City.

Other Sponsors
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. www.adamson-jones.co.uk
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. www.connectmidlands.org
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/

Delivery Partners
BioCity Nottingham Ltd was launched in 2003. The company develops and operates bioscience and healthcare-related incubation and innovation facilities. The first facility opened in September 2003, and Phase 3 in the form of grow-on space, opened in October 2008. BioCity is currently home to 66 fast-growing companies, including R&D and business support services. BioCity was founded by Nottingham Trent University, the University of Nottingham and East Midlands Development Agency. www.biocity.co.uk
QED Consulting works with a wide range of public and private sector clients across the UK and Europe, enabling them to improve and enhance their organisations, people and operations. QED Consulting has grown in size year upon year since its formation in 1993, by Steve Hinton (Executive Chairman) and Jeremy Thorn (President). The main office is in Doncaster, South Yorkshire and is accompanied by a base in London. Whilst working with all sectors it is QED's mission to help improve the performance of organisations and effectiveness of their people. www.qedconsulting.co.uk