The Minister officially opened a new Bioincubator building, Moneta, funded as part of the £44 million BBSRC project announced by Government last year - an investment in capital infrastructure to support bioscience innovation. Moneta, which is already over 50% occupied, offers businesses access to capital equipment, provides small, flexible laboratory space and allows companies to be part of a research driven campus.
Minister for Universities and Science, David Willetts said, “Thanks to recent investment Babraham is expanding and nurturing biomedical companies. The new facilities at the Moneta building will allow world-leading academics to rub shoulders with business, driving innovation and helping commercialise research.”
Moneta adds to the extensive facilities on one of the UK’s leading innovation campuses. Babraham’s heritage supporting early-stage enterprises has so far attracted 5 new companies to Moneta with 5 campus companies expanding their operations from smaller facilities on the campus.
One of these is Cell Guidance Systems, founded in 2010, which focuses on stem cells - developing and manufacturing reagents for life science research and bio-manufacturing. CEO Dr Michael Jones, explained, “The hurdles to starting a biotech business are much higher than for most other business. Even the smallest company needs a lot of infrastructure. Babraham Research Campus provides an ideal environment for our company to grow. The interaction we get with neighbouring companies and academics here is a real bonus.”
During the visit, the Minister also cut the turf at the site of a new follow-on laboratory, which will equip campus with an additional 20,000 sq ft of laboratory and office space. These new premises will accommodate a diverse set of companies throughout an intermediate stage; early-stage companies will be able to draw upon the facilities and expertise at the Babraham Institute in order to grow and ultimately to create high-quality new jobs.
Professor Michael Wakelam, Director of the Babraham Institute said, “We are delighted to show the Minister the progress that we are making to support economic growth here at Babraham, a research-led campus that builds on the world-leading BBSRC-funded research of the Babraham Institute. As a leading hub of life sciences innovation in the UK, the Babraham Research Campus plays a key role in supporting early-stage biomedical enterprises, while also helping to attract inward investment. These new facilities will enable us to build on our current strengths and support the life sciences industry in both the region and the UK.”
While visiting the Campus, the Minister also highlighted £250M funding that will ensure the UK’s bioscience research base remains globally competitive and at the forefront of meeting the grand challenges faced by society in the coming decades.
The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) has allocated the strategic investment that includes 26 strategic science programmes and 14 key national research capabilities, to be delivered by eight of the UK’s world-leading bioscience research institutes and their university partners.
Thirty-seven million pounds has been allocated to the Babraham Institute, including a Strategic Program Grant to improve understanding of immunology. This will have important implications for supporting healthy, longer lives as the population ages.
“We are delighted that this funding award will continue to support world leading, strategically relevant bioscience research at the Babraham Institute,” Professor Michael Wakelam added.
Professor Douglas Kell, BBSRC Chief Executive, said, “By almost all measures the UK has the world’s best bioscience research base. BBSRC’s strategic funding of institutes with distinct missions and unique national facilities is one of the reasons we achieve this. However, being the best doesn’t mean much unless you make a difference in the world. Through their close links with industry and policy makers, and through engaging the public, the institutes are at the forefront of translating fundamental bioscience into products, services and advice.
“This investment is a major commitment to realising the potential of a bio-based economy in the UK. This is only possible through a sustainable, excellent fundamental research base with the right people, skills and facilities.”
George Freeman MP for Mid-Norfolk and Government Life Sciences Adviser commented, “We face an urgent challenge of global sustainable development. Explosive growth of population and emerging economies in the developing world creates urgent problems of food security, public health and clean energy. There is a massive demand for new technologies in the three key 'life sciences' of Biomedicine, Cleantech and Agri-science. Today's announcement of £250m of new funding for the UK Bio-economy is a historic shift in the development of a new Industrial Policy for Science and Innovation. With today's massive vote of confidence in Babraham and Norwich Research Park as world-class life science clusters, East Anglia is set to become the bio-economy capital of the UK."
The Babraham Research Campus is currently home to 35 early-stage life science companies. With this latest development, the campus will offer over 100,000 sq ft lab/office space, a hub of innovation in the greater Cambridge Biocluster. This ‘follow-on’ laboratory building is the first of four new research buildings at The Babraham Research Campus. Other developments at the site include improved infrastructure, including roads and utilities, and a new composting facility, underscoring the commitment at the campus to sustainable environmental practices.
Cllr Nick Wright, South Cambridgeshire District Council’s cabinet member for planning and economic development, said, “This investment is a huge boost to the area and shows how important South Cambridgeshire science and innovation businesses are nationally. I am delighted how quickly our planning team has granted permission for the first building, which has been possible by taking a can-do proactive approach. Residents and businesses have asked us to help develop the economy, and teams across the Council all have a part to help achieve this. On top of the work by our planners, we have already launched Cambridge Plus, a new website to help existing businesses and encourage new ones to the area.”
The Babraham Institute, which receives strategic funding (£22.4M in 2010-11) from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), undertakes international quality life sciences research to generate new knowledge of biological mechanisms underpinning ageing, development and the maintenance of health. The Institute’s research provides greater understanding of the biological events that underlie the normal functions of cells and the implication of failure or abnormalities in these processes. Research focuses on signalling and genome regulation, particularly the interplay between the two and how epigenetic signals can influence important physiological adaptations during the lifespan of an organism. By determining how the body reacts to dietary and environmental stimuli and manages microbial and viral interactions, we aim to improve wellbeing and healthier ageing. (www.babraham.ac.uk)
About BBSRC
BBSRC invests in world-class bioscience research and training on behalf of the UK public. Our aim is to further scientific knowledge, to promote economic growth, wealth and job creation and to improve quality of life in the UK and beyond. Funded by the UK Government, and with an annual budget of around £445M, we support research and training in universities and strategically funded institutes. BBSRC research and the people we fund are helping society to meet major challenges, including food security, green energy and healthier, longer lives. Our investments underpin important UK economic sectors, such as farming, food, industrial biotechnology and pharmaceuticals.
Babraham Bioscience Technologies Ltd.
Babraham Bioscience Technologies Ltd is the commercial arm of the Babraham Institute, an institute which receives strategic funding from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) devoted to life sciences research. BBT promotes, supports and encourages academic and commercial biomedical research locally, regionally and nationally. BBT delivers the Knowledge Exchange remit of the Institute and is responsible for managing the Babraham Research Campus’ Bioincubator, currently home to around 30 early-stage biomedical companies. BBT brings together all the elements to support innovation and enable the successful exploitation of research in the biomedical sector based on technologies emanating from the Babraham Institute and bioventures relocating to the campus. BBT has taken a prominent role regionally, initiating and leading partnerships to promote knowledge and skills flow and has established a reputation for successfully translating innovative science into viable business opportunities through partnerships for wealth creation. Website: www.babraham.com
For more information about BBSRC, our science and our impact see: http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk
For more information about BBSRC strategically funded institutes see: http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/institutes
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CONTACT
Dr Claire Cockcroft
Head, External Relations
Email: claire.cockcroft@babraham.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1223 496260
Fax: +44 (0)1223 496002
Mobile: +44 (0)7786 335978
The Babraham Institute
Babraham Research Campus
Cambridge CB22 3AT
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BBSRC External Relations
Rob Dawson, Head of News
Tel: 01793 413204, email: robert.dawson@bbsrc.ac.uk
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