Aberdeen University scientists make it through to competition final

A team of scientists from the University of Aberdeen have made it through to the final of a competition to find some of the UK's leading biotechnology entrepreneurs. The six teams taking part in the final of Bioscience Business Plan Competition on May 3, 2002, in London, have each submitted business plans to commercialise the findings of their scientific research.

The winners of the competition will receive £20,000 to help with business set-up costs, with the runner-up receiving £10,000. Lord Sainsbury, Minister for Science and Innovation, will be making the presentations to the winners.

The six finalists are: Haptogen, University of Aberdeen CoDa Therapeutics, University College London FFAST Solutions, Hannah Research Institute IntelliHep, University of Birmingham MedOptica, University College London Orla Protein technologies, University of Newcastle

"As a university academic looking to pursue commercial ideas, this competition provided a great opportunity to get advice from leading business professionals who could share with us their expertise," said Dr Porter.

Throughout the competition, organised by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council and the Medical Research Council, the entrants have received training and mentoring from top industry experts to help them make the most of their business opportunities. The event is supported by the Department of Trade and Industry, AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline and The Gatsby Charitable Foundation.

"The scheme, run through the two Research Councils, has proven extremely useful in providing mentoring for University spin-outs from the biosciences area and we are delighted that the University of Aberdeen team in Haptogen Ltd has progressed to this stage out of an initial x Business Plans submitted. It is particularly pleasing that the business opportunity of Haptogen has been nationally recognised," said Dr Liz Rattray, the University of Aberdeen's Company Development Manager.