Issue 1, Dec 2012

UMI3 The University of Manchester Innovation Group www.umi3.com

UMI3 NEWSUMI3 NEWSUMI3 The University of Manchester Innovation GroupUMI3 The University of Manchester Innovation Group

WELCOME TO THE FIRSTISSUE OF UMI3 NEWS…Through our bi-annual newsletter we will keep you informed of themost recent activities of our Intellectual Property commercialisationdivision (UMIP) and our Innovation Centre (UMIC).

We have selected a number of interestingarticles ranging from our regular UMIP PremierFund (UPF) update, to the latest developments ofUniversity innovations as well as news of eventsand new initiatives taking place within ourInnovation Centre.

I hope you enjoy this issue and encourage you toexplore the possibilities of working with us –whether you are an academic with a discovery, acompany looking for an innovative solution oran entrepreneur looking to invest in the resultsof world-leading research.

UMI3 ENTREPRENEURSHIP FORUM

Since November, we have beenactively seeking entrepreneurialstaff, students and recent alumni(graduated within the last 12months) of the University toenter our Social Enterprise ‘Lite’Competition. This builds on thesuccess of the pilot competitionrun in association with the

Faculty of Humanities earlier thisyear and the subsequentannouncement that theUniversity had been chosen tobe one of the 56 partnerinstitutions in the HEFCE/UnLtdHigher Education Support Programme.

The Social Enterprise ‘Lite’Competition which has acted asa soft launch for our maincompetition (details below) hasoffered awards of up to £500 tokick start new ideas. By hostingan inspirational workshop togive potential applicants theopportunity to sit in the ‘Hot

Seat’ and outline their ideas wesparked a flurry of interest andstimulated the audience tosubmit applications. We willshortly be announcing thewinners of this competition andwill be actively monitoring theprogress of these ideas oncethey start in the New Year.

From January 2013, our mainSocial Enterprise Competitionwill go live giving applicantsfrom across the campus thechance to win up to £5000 tosupport entrepreneurialsolutions to social andenvironmental problems.

We will also be accompanyingthis with an active eventscalendar to assist potentialapplicants to develop theirideas. Further informationregarding submission dates,workshops and events can befound at here

Clive Rowland, CEO UMI3

Since its launch 12 months ago, our Entrepreneurship Forum has gone from strength to strengthencompassing initiatives such as:

> Social Enterprise > Open Innovation > Entrepreneur-in-Transit > Digital Accelerator (IQuBIT)

Social Enterprise

Social enterprise ideas tree

‘Entrepreneur-in-Transit’ Scheme The Science and TechnologyFacilities Council (STFC) andUMIP are collaborating toenhance the innovationoutput of the University’sextensive research base. Thepartnership aims to fast-track innovation byembracing the businessacumen of entrepreneursand business alongside itscreative academicresearchers and intellectualproperty to build and sharevalue through companyformation and licensing. The‘Entrepreneur-in-Transit’ (EIT)scheme works closely with,but independently to, the‘Entrepreneur in Residence’(EIR) scheme alreadyundertaken by the STFC.The EIT complements itscurrent activities in thecommercialisation ofintellectual property andbuilds new capability to

enhance technologycommercialisation outputs.This scheme integrates withUMIP infrastructure andmechanisms to injectadditional entrepreneurialflair and domain expertise.Entrepreneurs workalongside UMIP’s ventureteam within identifiedSchools to align closely withthe academic innovators. Thefirst EIT scheme at theUniversity is in the School of Physics and Astronomywhich has a very strong linkwith STFC via its big science projects.

Dr Rich Ferrie, Director of IPCommercialisation and Headof UMIP, comments: “Ourpartnership provides thefoundations of the new EITscheme and will enablecreative innovation teams toform between our academics

and external entrepreneursand businesses at a muchearlier stage than ourstandard process. Inprinciple, this should allowus to respond to the needsof the market in a moreagile way and direct ourinnovation activities atbetter validated commercialtargets, priming our IP forearlier and more successfulcommercialisation. We aresending out a signal thatUMIP is literally “open forbusiness” and willing toshare value with thoseseasoned entrepreneurs who are willing to share risk with us along thisexciting journey.”

Ian Tracey, who runs theSTFC EIR programme, said:“We have demonstrated theimportance of matchinginvestment ready

management, to our worldclass science to increase theEconomic Impact of ourscience base and to increasethe ease by whichinvestment money can beobtained. There is everyreason to work with UMIP inscaling this up across theirinnovation landscape and co-create new research basedenterprises.”

For further informationabout UMIP’s EIT scheme,please contact:

Tony Walker, Head of Salesand Marketing,tony.walker@umi3.com0161 603 7780

Our Open Innovation events aim to seedcollaborative relationshipsbetween the externalcommunity, whose interestslie in entrepreneurship and innovation, with the University’s world-class academic andresearch community.

As a result, we have playedhost to a series of majorpharmaceutical andhealthcare companiesincluding; Reckitt Benckiser,Shire Pharmaceuticals, GEHealthcare, Pfizer, Lilly and Philips.

Each event is based oncompanies sharinginformation, across allaspects of business andresearch, giving academicsand innovators an insightinto the companies’ specific areas of interest

and a platform to explorepotential collaborativeopportunities withtechnology sourcingdirectors.

In the coming months, we willbe bringing you more majorcorporate names fromindustries such as healthcare,retail and utility to name buta few. In addition to this, wewill continue to engage withthe investor community andbring you unmissable eventssuch as the recent LondonStock Exchange- The FundingEscalator event; follow thelink to view the videos fromthe day. http://bit.ly/THbbe6

If you are interested inparticipating in futureevents, please contact:

Dr Laura Etchellslaura.etchells@umi3.com0161 606 7264

Open Innovation

UMI3 ENTREPRENEURSHIP FORUM

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Open Innovation events

We are shortly to openIQuBit (I-cube-it) our newaccelerator aiming to inspire,invent and innovate a newgeneration of software,social networking and digitalventures. IQuBit will supportideas for information andcommunication technologybased products and services created byresearchers, students orrecent alumni from theUniversity.

Ideas do not necessarily haveto have any initial IntellectualProperty to be considered forsupport, but should

demonstrate clear links to theUniversity. Ideas mightinclude web-based, mobileapps, social networking,gaming, cloud-based,software etc. Typically thesetypes of ideas do not requirepatents, research facilities,large immediate investmentor Proof-of-Concept fundingand can be built early on‘lean start’ up principles.

IQuBit will offer qualifyingentrepreneurs and founders:

> Prestige on-campuslocation in our Innovation Centre.

> Well-equipped communalstart-up facilities.

> A vastly experiencedAdvisory Panel led byImran Hakim, UMIPEntrepreneur-in-Residence,other seasoned fundersand successfultech entrepreneurs.

> Commercial mentoring -external expertise tovalidate early-stagetechnology and helpshape ideas.

> Co-operation with otherlike-minded businesses topromote collaborativeknowledge exchange.

So if you have an idea, orperhaps are alreadyunderway but would like tobe based in a supportiveenvironment, or just curiousto find out more then pleasecontact us for an informaland confidential discussionplease contact:

Ellie Sagarellie.sagar@umi3.com0161 606 7265

Got a new digital/IT idea?Talk to us about it.

UMI3 ENTREPRENEURSHIP FORUM

IQuBit - UMI3’s Digital/IT Accelerator

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INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY COMMERCIALISATION DIVISION

Mark RahnInvestment ManagerMTI Partners (Managers of theUMIP Premier Fund)

www.theupf.com

OUR SEED FUND RUNNINGSINCE MARCH 2008

UMIP Premier Fund Update...

www.umip.com

In the last six months moreUPF portfolio companieshave secured substantialfurther investment bothfrom the UPF and from otherinvestors. Bioxydyn (lungimaging) secured £1M, CableSense (cable management)secured £800K and one ofour external investmentsEykona also secured asignificant sum. It is now thecase that every single one ofour investments has securedinvestment from additionalinvestors. This is importantfor two reasons. The first isobvious, the money, but thesecond is equally important.

The second reason isvalidation. Venture Capital,like many other professionssuch as medical or military,involves making decisionsbased on incompleteinformation. Whilst it mightbe possible to be sure that aproduct will work, it is neverpossible to be sure that there

will be a market for it. It isnever possible to be surethat the business model isright or the financial modelis right. These judgment callsare sometimes quitesubjective early in the life ofa technology company and itis important to us to knowthat other investors agreewith them and back thatjudgment up with furthercapital. That has nowhappened in everyinvestment we have made.

Another forum for thevalidation of our judgment isthe labour market. Seniorexecutives when they join abusiness make theirjudgment on viability as theywant to avoid beingassociated with a failedbusiness. Most of ourportfolio companies havemade a recruitment at boardlevel in the last six months.

Unfortunately, theinvestment phase of the UPFfinishes in March 2013. Afterthat the UPF can still makeadditional investments inexisting portfolio companies,but cannot add any newones to the portfolio. This isthe normal business cycle fora VC fund manager andUPF’s manager, MTI, is nowfundraising for the successorto the UPF. This is asignificant challenge in adifficult market, but whatwe do is exactly in the centreof the UK’s economicstrategy – supportinginnovators to create jobs,wealth and growth.

That strategy was furtherstrengthened by manymeasures in the Chancellor’sautumn statement, inparticular the consultationon ISAs investing on AIMthat could bring muchneeded liquidity to the market.

Please click here to view UMIP’s Portfolio of Technologies4

Our Commercialisation Executives are your first point of call forany questions you may have should you have an idea orobservation and are wondering if it has potential value.

Our Commercialisation Executives are faculty specific:

MEET YOUR UMIP FRONTLINE CONTACTS

Mugdha JoshiTechnologyT: +44 (0) 161 306 8513E: mugdha.joshi@umip.com

Arnaud GarconMedical & Human SciencesT: +44 (0) 161 603 7757E: arnaud.garcon@umip.com

Gill ShuttleworthLife SciencesT: +44 (0) 161 603 7738E: gillian.shuttleworth@umip.com

Daniel SyderTechnologyT: +44 (0) 161 306 8512E: daniel.syder@umip.com

Mr Sandeep SinghTechnologyT: +44 (0) 161 306 8832E: sandeep.singh@umip.com

Dr Siobhan DanielsTechnologyT: + 44 (0) 161 306 8813E: siobhan.daniels@umip.com

Dr Hojjat AzadbakhtTechnologyT: +44 (0) 161 306 8528E: hojjat.azadbakht@umip.com

INTELLECTUALPROPERTYRESOURCE

An intranet resource for:> Understanding IP> IP Commercialisation> IP in Research

and Consultancy> IP & Academic Materials

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eIf you are working on researchthat you think has commercialpotential, we would be pleasedto hear from you.

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LATEST UMIP LICENSING NEWS

Earlier this year, we assistedProfessor Chris Carr and DrMuriel Rigout, from the Schoolof Materials, to license theirtextile processing technology toBeyond Surface Technologies AG.

The technology provides analternative to fossil-based rawmaterials currently used intextile processing and involvesthe replacement of

formaldehyde-based glyoxalresins, which are widely used ineasy-care finishing of cottonshirt and trouser fabrics.

There is a growing market and akeen demand from consumersfor crease resistant cottongarments and a broader rangeof crease resistant products.Having recognised this trend,the research team here set

about the challenge ofdeveloping an environmentallyfriendly crease-resistant finishfor cotton which would beattractive to the textile industryand comparable to existingformaldehyde based products interms of performance and price.The novel processing technologywhich was created came as aresult of an intensive 2-year R&D programme.

Both the University and BeyondSurface Technologies AG believethat this leading-edge approach,based on sustainablebiochemistry, will ultimatelyrevolutionise easy-care finishingtechnology and replaceconventional chemistries.

Professor Chris Carr and Dr Muriel Rigout, commented:“Here at the University we aredeveloping innovativetechnologies that emphasise theuse of renewable raw materials

as well as biochemicaltechnologies and BeyondSurface Technologies AG is adynamic company ideally placedto bring these to market.”

Matthias Foessel, ManagingDirector of Beyond SurfaceTechnologies AG concludes “Thisrapidly advancing developmentcan benefit the entire textilevalue chain, from raw materialto consumer. The newtechnology will help both toenhance the environmentalcompatibility of textileprocessing and to eliminateconcerns about the potentialhealth hazards associated with formaldehyde.”

Remember to discuss possible IP protection before you publish. Contact your UMIP Commercialisation Executive first.6

Earlier this year, we assistedClaire Mitchell from theDepartment of HumanCommunication and Deafnesswithin the School of Medicaland Human Sciences to developher software package forindividuals with motor speechdisorders into So2SpeakTM - anapp now available for downloadfrom the Apple Apps Store.

So2SpeakTM is an iPad and iPhoneapp which allows speech andlanguage professionals to designtailored programmes for anypatient who would benefit fromoral motor exercise therapy, suchas individuals suffering from aneurological condition (e.g.stroke) or following surgery.

The idea, which received UMIPProof-of-Principle (PoP) Funding,resulted from clinical workwhich indicated that paper-based oro-motor exercises werenot always clear and easy tofollow and had a potentiallylimited effectiveness. Speechand Language Therapists (SLTs)are already using app andiPhone/iPad technology withtheir patients so this seemed anatural transition.

The app is a simple andintuitative tool to use and allowsthe SLT to design, implement andadapt oro-motor exerciseprogrammes as quickly and easilyas possible. Following completionof the patient assessment, theSLT can work with the patient toagree their overall goals and thefrequency and duration of theirindividual programme.

Claire comments: ”The drive inthe NHS is to provide a betterquality health service for less timeand money. Using an app tosupport therapy meets both theserequirements. I am really keen forpeople to hear about this app as Ifeel it will improve the quality ofintervention for people needingthese exercises. Future apps fromSo2SpeakTM will build on the samefeatures we have used in this oneto provide high standards oftherapy to people.”

So2SpeakTM showcased its app toover 12,000 delegates at theannual American Speech-Language-Hearing Association(ASHA) convention which tookplace in November in Atlanta.

For further information, pleasesee www.so2speakapp.comor visit the Apple App Storeto download.

If you are an employee of theUniversity and have an idea for an app, please contact: Dr Ed Maughfling:edward.maughfling@umip.com

EASY-CARE COTTON

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LATEST UMIP SPIN-OUT NEWS

We assisted Dr. Gill Green fromthe Institute of PopulationHealth to launch STORM® as a Community Interest Company (CIC).

STORM® (Skills-based Training onRisk Management) is a skills-based model of self-harmmitigation training. STORM®

began as a research project inthe mid 1990s to test theeffectiveness and feasibility of asuicide prevention trainingprogramme created by ProfessorLinda Gask and ProfessorRichard Morriss.

In 2003, Professor Gask and Dr. Green created the STORM®

Project, a not-for-profit venturewithin the University, which hassuccessfully disseminatedSTORM® training to providerorganisations in the UK and internationally.

The STORM® Project has alsocreated new IP from its research,creating a self-injury mitigationmodule to form a complete self-harm mitigation trainingpackage. As a result of thissuccess, STORM® Skills TrainingCIC has been incorporated.“From a solid foundation and awell-established brand we arenow moving on and are lookingforward to building the businessfurther with increasing revenuesto fund our social impact workin the community,” explains Dr.Gill Green.

STORM® Skills Training CIC offerstraining to frontline staff andvolunteers across all industrysectors, including healthcare,social care, education andcriminal justice services. Thetraining is also aimed at staffwith responsibility for themental health and wellbeing ofthe workforce, such as thoseworking in Human Resourcesand Occupational Health.

On Thursday 1st November,STORM® Skills Training CICcelebrated its launch at an eventhosted by UnLtd and DLA Piperat their Manchester office.

Dr. Green commented: "Settingup STORM® as a CommunityInterest Company in this way isquite unique, and it is thanks tocolleagues within the Universityand UMIP, and the incrediblesupport from UnLtd, DLA Piperand Ernst & Young that we havereached this milestone. As a not-for-profit Social Enterprise,STORM®'s mission is to challengethe fear of mental illness anddistress, and to encourage openand honest lines ofcommunication for people whoare in psychological pain toaccess help and support.”

Rich Ferrie, Director of IPCommercialisation and Head ofUMIP, commented: “UMIP hasworked closely with Dr Gill

Green leading up to this event,and we are confident thatconfiguring STORM® as a SocialEnterprise is the right model toprogress this activity. Gill andthe team will ensure STORM®

CIC is able to re-invest its surplusinto complementary areas suchas suicide postvention andemotional distress, to maximisethe impact of this trainingapproach. We now look forwardto helping other colleagues from the University who wish toapply their research outputs inthis way.”

www.stormskillstraining.co.uk

STORM® SKILLS TRAINING CIC - A SOCIAL ENTERPRISE

2-DTech Ltd moves into Innovation Centre

2-DTech, University spin-out andsupplier of fully- characterised,high quality graphene and other2D materials, has just movedinto high specificationlaboratories at the University’sInnovation Centre (UMIC).

Located at the centre of the hubwhere graphene was isolated in2004 by Professor Sir AndreGeim and Professor Sir KostyaNovoselov, 2-DTech is committedto helping customers make useof graphene’s extraordinaryproperties which have thepotential to revolutionise many technologies.

2-DTech can work withcustomers’ research teams on apartnership basis, exploringpossible uses of graphene or canact in a consultancy capacity,undertaking research anddevelopment on customer’sbehalf. 2-DTech are also happyto test and analyse customers’own research work as well assupplying fully characterisedgraphene and other 2D materialsfrom the product store on theirwebsite which will be launchedin January.

Graphene’s applications arevirtually limitless. Sectors towhich graphene is particularlysuited include electronics,aerospace, automotive, energy,

telecoms and defence. Further information about 2-DTech will be released in early 2013.

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Dr Harmesh Aojula (School of Pharmacy)Novel Short Peptide Therapeutic against Small Cell Lung Cancer> Licensing PoP May 2012

Drs. Erin Baggaley, Lesley-Ann Turner (School of Materials) andProfs Paul Bishop (Institute of Human Development) and SandraDowns (School of Materials)Novel treatment for age-related macular degeneration> Licensing PoP July 2012

Prof Roy Goodacre (School of Chemistry) and Dr Mat Upton(Institute of Inflammation and Repair)Point of care infection diagnostics and treatment decision support> Venture PoP July 2012

Prof. Brian Derby (School of Materials) and Dr Chris Ward (Schoolof Dentistry)High Throughput Cryopreservation of Cells by Inkjet Printing(Cryoprinting Process)> Licence PoP Sept 2012

Dr Kimberly Mace (FLS) Behavioural changes in cell type using protein transduction> Licensing PoP May 2012

Drs Cath O’Neill and Andrew McBain (MHS)SkinBiotics> Licensing PoP May 2012

Dr. Adam McMahon Wolfson Medical Imaging Centre (MHS)A PET imaging agent to monitor beam-energy deposition.> Licensing PoP July 2012

Professor Brian Derby, School of Materials (EPS)Inkjet Printing Nanocarbon Structures for Display, Energy Storageand Electronics Applications> November 2012

Prof R Freer, Prof I Kinloch, Prof P Xiao, School of Materials (EPS)Nanostructured Composites for Thermoelectric Power Generation> November 2012

UMIP PROOF-OF-PRINCIPLE (PoP) AWARDS One of the significant added value aspects in technology transfer which attracts seed funders and licensees is Proof-of-Principle funding.

To add value, we manage, for the University, a ‘Proof-of-Principle’ account for projects with good potential. We encourage you to find outmore and make an application. Applications are reviewed throughout the year.

To find out more, please contact your UMIP Commercialisation Executive listed on the fifth page of this newsletter.

To illustrate the diversity of projects awarded since the last issue of our newsletter, please see below:

42 Expressions of Interest werereceived in response to the callfor proposals to the £1MGraphene/Advanced MaterialsProof-of-Principle (PoP) Fundwhich was launched toacademics here in the autumn ofthis year. Entries were submittedfrom a range of schools anddepartments ranging fromMaterials to Physics andAstronomy to Pharmacy.

The fund, launched by UMIP andThe UMIP Premier Fund (UPF),managed by MTI Partners, wasaimed towards all of ourresearchers or project teamswith an interest in theproduction and applications ofgraphene, as well as otherinnovative materials, whichmight ultimately result in

economic benefits and have reached the IPdevelopment stage.

Heather Thompson, UMIP’sDirector of Licensing,commented: “The interest in thisPoP call from our academiccommunity has been fantasticand demonstrates the breadthof ideas across the institution.Via UMIP’s thorough evaluationprocess, we have uncovered atleast ten exciting innovationswhich we are evaluating further, of which two have beenrecently funded.”

We shall provide an update onthe progress of these projects inthe next issue of the UMI3

newsletter in the summer.

GRAPHENE/ADVANCED MATERIALS PROOF-OF-PRINCIPLE CALL

A Guide to UMIP

Case Studiesof Licensing

Case Studiesof Spin-outs

IP & Confidentiality

Spin-out Companies

Licensing

IP Workbook

Academic Materialsand Publishing

Download thefollowingguides andbooklets fromwww.umip.com

Hard copies available from:sarah.harris@umi3.com

8 Years ofPositive Impact

PROOF OF PRINCIPLE FUNDING CASE STUDY:

AN INTERVIEW WITH DR MICHAEL INGLESON

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We met with Dr Michael Ingleson from theSchool of Chemistry to find out more abouthow UMIP Proof-of-Principle (PoP) fundinghas helped him to add value to thecommercial potential of the novelmethodology he has developed for thesynthesis of a wide range of industriallyimportant boronate esters.

Boronate esters are used extensively by thefine chemical, organic electronic,pharmaceutical and agrochemicals industries,predominantly in carbon-carbon bondforming reactions where they are thepreferred feedstock to ‘stick together’ twohalves of a molecule. Typical applicationswould include in the synthesis of fungicides,pharmaceutical compounds and organic LEDsfor use in displays. Despite the immenseimportance of boronate esters to theseindustries a simple, robust and inexpensivemethod of synthesizing the desired widerange of boronate ester starting materialsdoes not exist. The new Manchesterdeveloped methodology enables thesynthesis of a range of important boronateswhich are not readily accessible usingtraditional approaches, creating novelcompounds with improved properties.

Dr Ingleson met with one of UMIP’sCommercialisation Executives who assessedthe patentability and commercial potentialof the methodology for use in the OrganicLED (OLED) market and UMIP Proof-ofPrinciple (PoP) Funding enabled furtherstrengthening of the patent and theinvestigation and development of possiblecommercial routes into that market. This ledto a collaborative project with a leadingglobal organic electronics company.

In addition to this, UMI3 project manager, DrLaura Etchells, assisted in identifying thecommercial potential within the finechemical company sector and in November,Clare Wood, UMIP Licensing Manager,secured a non-exclusive licence with aspecialist contract manufacturer based in theUK. The company will synthesize two specificcompounds under a short term licence foronward sale to a leading chemical supplierselling a wide variety of research reagentsand materials.

Dr Ingleson comments: “Without UMIP PoPfunding these industrial collaborationswould simply not have happened.Furthermore, research funded by the PoPassisted in developing our understanding ofthis methodology to a level where a secondgeneration process could be developed. Thisimproved process is both more economicaland has wider scope.”

Please see our IP Awareness Resource atwww.manchester.ac.uk/ipresource for avaluable insight into the types of IP whichcan be used to protect novel ideas/inventionsalong with a series of guides and bookletswhich you may find useful.

We would like to acknowledgethe dedication of researchersinvolved in technologycommercialisation activitiesthrough the introduction ofawards and prizes forcommercial success.

At the Faculty of Life SciencesResearch Symposium inSeptember, we sponsored the"Most Promising NewInnovation" award and co-sponsored the award for The "Best New Industrial Collaboration."

The “Most Promising NewInnovation" award was won byDr David Brough for his UMIPProof-of-Principle funded project which focused on a newapproach to inhibition of

IL1-‚ release in the centralnervous system.

The “Best New IndustrialCollaboration” award was wonby Dr Kathy Hentges Gurney forher industrial collaboration withSyngenta on studyingdevelopmental toxicity pathwaysto inform their productdevelopment process.

UMIP CommercialisationExecutive, Dr Arnaud Garçon,presented the prize of iPads toboth winners.

UMIP AWARDS AT THE FLSRESEARCH SYMPOSIUM

AWARDS

A Manchester team has secureda place in the final of a nationalcompetition to find theentrepreneurial bioscientists ofthe future.

Enzomax beat off stiffcompetition from 15 otherteams from universities andinstitutes around the UK in theBiotechnology YoungEntrepreneurs Scheme(Biotechnology YES) 2012competition. They will fly theflag for Manchester later in themonth in London at the UKfinals where the winning teamwill collect £1,000, an invitationto attend the BIA Gala Dinner

and the opportunity to attendthe premier regional US BusinessPlan Competition at RiceUniversity in Houston, Texas.

Enzomax (Matthew Styles, Anna-Winona Struck; Sarah Shepherd;Brian Law; James Leigh) have aproprietary platform technology,known as Enzomax SHIELD™,which they use to deliver cost-effective solutions formaximising the performance of enzymes in industrial biotechnology.

Enzomax will be joined byCosmoClear (University CollegeLondon) who also secured a

place in the December final.CosmoClear’s product provides aunique alternative to thetreatment of oily complexions asit is safe, natural and effective

The competition, hosted byUMIC on day one and organisedjointly by the Biotechnology andBiological Sciences ResearchCouncil (BBSRC) and theUniversity of NottinghamInstitute for Enterprise andInnovation (UNIEI), is open tobioscience researchers and aimsto help them commercialise their ideas.

The North West heat was heldover three days at UMIC’s CoreTechnology Facility andManchester United FootballClub. Regional professionals,including representatives fromUMIP and our network ofadvisors and professionalassociates offered mentoringsessions to the researchersduring the competition. Teamsalso attended workshops andseminars to hear advice andreceived tips on how to developtheir ideas into commercially-viable opportunities.

Each team was required topresent an idea that is based ona hypothetical biotech idea.

On the final day of the eventthey presented their concept to ajudging panel of biotechnologyand business experts.

Dr Rich Ferrie, Director of IPcommercialisation and Head ofUMIP, commented: “Thiscompetition is a key part of theannual schedule of events atManchester. It gives young bioscientists an opportunity to learnabout business creation from arange of seasoned professionals,all of whom give their valuabletime for free. This year’scompetition attracted teams fromright across the North of England,and even from London, and itwas a pleasure to Chair one ofthe panels of judges and witnessfor myself how much the teamshad learned in such a shortperiod. We now wish the winningteams the best of luck for the UKFinals where they have everychance of overall success.”

www.biotechnologyyes.co.uk

MANCHESTER TEAM TRIUMPHS INCOMPETITION TO BE BIOTECHNOLOGYSTARS OF THE FUTURE

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,to

Over 280 people from theNorthwest’s biomedical sectorgathered on 29th November atthe 11th Northwest BiomedicalAwards at Mere Golf andCountry Club, Cheshire. Thisprestigious awards dinnercelebrates key achievementsfrom companies and individualswho have made a significantcontribution to the biomedicalsector during 2012.

The University of Manchesterwinners were:

Healthcare Project of the Year

University spin-out, Phagenesis Ltd, PhagenyxTM

> Phagenyx™ system deliverscalibrated electrical stimulusto the throat to patients whosuffer from dysphagia – theinability to swallow safely - adebilitating condition thataffects stroke patients.

Biomedical Project of the Year

University of Manchester,Microsensor (Drs Curtis Dobson,Gordon Barker, Jane Bramhill,and the University of ManchesterMicrosensor consortium)

> The development of a medicaldevice to detect infection thatis dangerous to human healthmore quickly and costeffectively than conventionallaboratory based methods.

Service Company of the Year

Euprotec Ltd

> Euprotec is a specialist CROdedicated to the provision ofinfectious disease, respiratoryand allergy biology services.

MANCHESTER WINS THREE AWARDS AT THE2012 NORTHWEST BIONOW AWARDS

AWARDS

Spin-out, Arago Technology Ltdwas presented with the Power &Energy Award at the IETInnovation awards ceremony,which was held in November atThe Brewery, London. Arago wasalso ‘Highly Commended’ in theEmerging Technologies category.

The company was awarded theprize by the judges inrecognition of its work indeveloping the Insulating Cross-arm (ICA), which has thepotential to enable electricitynetwork operators to increasetransmission capacity of existinglines. The ICA, which has beendeveloped over the last 4 years,can be retro-fitted onto existingelectricity pylons allowingvoltage and / or current upgradeand may reduce the height ofnew build electricity pylons.

Arago’s revolutionary insulatorwas developed by engineershere in a joint venture with EPLComposite Solutions Ltd. TheInsulating Cross-arms have beeninstalled for over 2 years onpylons in some of the most starkand remote areas of the UK totest their resistance to extremeweather and since May ’12 theyhave also been continuouslyenergised and monitored atvoltages required for the400,000 volt transmissionnetwork at a coastal site innorthern Scotland.

Tests have also been carried outat the University’s High VoltageLaboratory which has subjectedthem to lightning strikes ofmore than 1.4 million volts.

Arago is currently seekingfurther investment to complete

final development of thistechnology with deployment ofthe ICA orders already securedon the transmission system,commencing in 2014.

David Gardner, Director ofTransmission for Scottish HydroElectric Transmission plc said:"This innovative technology hasthe potential to deliver a costeffective way of increasing thepower carried on ourtransmission network. We haveworked closely with Arago tohelp develop the technology tothe stage it has reached todayand we are delighted to see thatArago have received thisrecognition for this work."

Robin MacLaren, designatechairman for Arago said:“Winning the IET Awardconfirms that our innovativetechnology is world class andhas the potential to deliver realsolutions for society. We are veryproud to have won this awardand look forward to supportingthe development ofTransmission networksthroughout the world tosupport the connection of newlow carbon generation, andupgrade existing infrastructure.”

Ian Welch, innovation managerfor National Grid, said:“Innovation will be vital forenergy network companies aswe meet the challenges fromthe huge changes underway inhow we generate our electricity.

We have supported this projectright from the early laboratoryconcept, so we are delighted tosee it win the award.”

Project funding to-date byNational Grid, Scottish HydroElectric Transmission plc, andUMIP’s Proof-of-Principle fund,managed by MTI Partners, totals £2.5m.

ARAGO CROSS-ARM TECHNOLOGY WINSNATIONAL INNOVATION PRIZE

Cross-arm

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We have had a successful yearseeing several new tenants moveinto our Incubator Building andCore Technology Facility with thehelp of Marie, UMIC’s Contractsand Customer Liaison Executive.

Recently we welcomed 2-DTech Ltd into a laboratorywithin the Incubator Building.2-DTech is a spin-out from theCondensed Matter ResearchGroup led by Professor Sir Andre Geim and Professor SirKostya Novoselov.

With the rise of graphene andother two dimensionalmaterials, 2-DTech has beenestablished via the University’sHEFCE innovation fund, todeliver high quality, fullycharacterised graphene andother two dimensional materialsas well as graphene consultancy.

The last 12 months have seenmany new tenants in bothbuildings as well as expansionfrom existing tenants:

Long-standing virtual tenant andspin-out, Ai2 Ltd now have alaboratory within the IncubatorBuilding and an office within theCore Technology Facility.

Ai2 develops innovativetechnology to prevent infectionon a wide range of commonlyused medical devices like urinarycatheters, stents and wounddressings. Their products areproprietary human protein-likesubstances which safely andcost-effectively inhibit bacteria,fungi and viruses.

www.a-i-2.com

Additionally, the Faculty ofMedical and Human Sciences,the School of Medicine andMAHSC (Manchester AcademicHealth Science Centre) have also taken some office space onthe first floor of the CoreTechnology Facility.

MAHSC - is a partnershipbetween The University ofManchester, Central ManchesterUniversity Hospitals NHSFoundation Trust, The ChristieHospital NHS Foundation Trust,Manchester Mental Health andSocial Care Trust, NHS Salford(Salford Primary Care Trust),Salford Royal NHS FoundationTrust and University Hospital ofSouth Manchester NHSFoundation Trust. The seven

founding partners of MAHSCcombine excellence in academia,clinical service delivery, researchmanagement and education toserve a population that hassome of the poorest health inthe country.

www.mahsc.ac.uk

Finally, long-standing tenantand spin-out, Nanoco Plc haveexpanded and have taken spaceon the first floor of the CoreTechnology Facility.

Nanoco Plc is a world-leader inthe development andmanufacture of cadmium-freequantum dots and othernanomaterials with applicationsin electronics, solar energy, bio-imaging and counterfeitprotection. Nanoco has becomethe first company in the world toship production-level quantitiesof Quantum Dots and can easilyconfigure them to meet customperformance specifications.

www.nanocotechnologies.com

INNOVATION CENTRE DIVISION

www.umic.co.uk

NEW ARRIVALS…

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CONFERENCING AND EVENTS UPDATE…

Our Conferencing and Eventsfacilities are in the heart ofManchester’s vibrant academicand business community withinthe Core Technology Facility (CTF), an environment in which

ideas spark and innovation andenterprise meet.

There has been plenty to keepthe our Events team busyrecently. Over the last year, we

have hosted over 500 meetingsand events and have welcomeda wide range of clients to theCTF including: BP, ShellInternational, Microsoft, theBiotechnology & BiologicalSciences Research Council, SigmaAldrich and The Royal College ofPathologists to name but a few.

To celebrate our focus oninnovation and entrepreneurship,we've renamed all of ourmeeting rooms in the CoreTechnology Facility to honourinnovators and entrepreneurswith close links to Manchesterand the University.

As well as serving the externalbusiness community, the CTF is

also growing in popularity as avenue for Universitydepartmental away-days andworkshops, with organisershighlighting the location asideal for their events andoffering all the benefits of beingaway from the workplace whilestill being within easy reach ofthe University campus.

To find out more about UMICConferencing and Events, pleasevisit the website:

www.umic.co.uk/conferencing/core-technology-facility/ oremail conferencing@umic.co.uk

Meet Marie…Marie Sutton is UMIC’sContracts and CustomerLiaison Executive. Marie’s roleinvolves managing theinduction of new tenants,client liaison services and sub-contractor contracts andperformance across UMIC’s facilities.

Marie explains: “TheInnovation Centre allows meto work with a variety oftenant companies across our3 facilities from Web Designsat North Campus Incubator toStem Cell Research at theIncubator Building. Workingas a contracts manager is avery diverse and enjoyablerole which has given me the opportunity to workacross many different exciting sectors.”

F2G LTD COMPLETES $30 MILLION FINANCING ROUND TOFUND PRE-CLINICAL AND CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT OFNOVEL ANTI-FUNGAL COMPOUNDS

Spin-out, F2G Limited, anantifungal drug discovery anddevelopment company,announced in September thecompletion of a $30 millionequity financing round in whichtwo new investors (Advent LifeSciences and NovartisBioventures) joined the existingsyndicate (Sunstone Capital,Merifin Capital, K Nominees,and Astellas Venture Fund).These funds will be used toselect a clinical candidate fromthe F3 series of advancedpreclinical analogs and proceedto first in man studies. The F3series represents a proprietarygroup of compounds withhighly potent and selective

activity against Aspergillusspecies and other moulds, whichact via a totally novelmechanism. Aspergillusinfections are a serious threat inimmune-compromised patientpopulations and result in a highrate of mortality even with themost effective treatmentcurrently available. Dr RichardWhite, chairman of F2G,commented, "We are delightedto welcome two top tierinvestors into F2G. We nowhave a first class internationalsyndicate, including the venturearms of two majorpharmaceutical companies."

Dr Raj Parekh of Advent and DrAnja König of Novartis VentureFunds will both be joining theBoard of F2G.

Raj Parekh, General Partner atAdvent said, "The F2Gmolecules show a compellingand novel profile and have thegenuine potential to be firstand best-in-class agents for thetreatment of invasiveaspergillosis, which remains aserious unmet medical need. Welook forward to working withRichard and the team to bringthese molecules to an earlyclinical evaluation."

www.f2g.com

TB PARTNERSHIP WITH BECTON DICKINSON FORTHE SUPPLY AND DISTRIBUTION OF GENEDRIVE™MOLECULAR POINT OF CARE PLATFORM

Spin-out, Epistem (AIM: EHP),the biotechnology andpersonalised medicine company,has announced that it hasreached agreement with BectonDickinson (BD) for the supplyand distribution of itsMycobacterium tuberculosis (TB)test on a global basis (excludingIndia and the Indian SubContinent) using its Genedrive™

platform. The TB supply anddistribution agreement includesan upfront payment of $1mwith further milestone paymentsof up to $3m, alongsideescalating supply volumes overthe next 5 years.

Genedrive™ provides a majoradvance in next generationmolecular diagnostic testing byproviding a rapid, low cost,simple to use ‘Point of Care’device with high sensitivity andspecificity. Genedrive™ aims to

provide a ‘gold standard’identification of TB andantibiotic resistance testing. TheWorld Health Organisation(WHO) has publiclyrecommended that nationsincorporate new rapid moleculartests for tuberculosis into theirdisease testing programs. TheGenedrive™ platform and TBtest have recently received CE-IVD registration andregulatory submissions are now in preparation for theIndian market.

Globally, nearly 10 million casesof TB are reported annually andover $1bn dollars is spentannually on diagnostic testing,with India and China having thelargest numbers of TB sufferers.Epistem’s Genedrive™ platformhas applications across a widerange of bacterial, viral andfungal and somatic mutationdiseases for which the Companyis developing a menu ofdiagnostic tests.

www.epistem.co.uk

FOLLOW-ON LIGHTING AGREEMENTNanoco Group plc (AIM: NANO),a world-leader in thedevelopment and manufactureof cadmium-free quantum dotsand other nanomaterials,announced in October that ithad signed a follow-on jointdevelopment agreement withone of the world’s largestlighting companies. Thisagreement follows the successfulcompletion of a jointdevelopment agreement withthe same lighting company,announced in August last year.

The objective of this follow-onagreement is to finalise the

design and manufacture of alight emitting diode (LED) lightincorporating Nanoco quantumdots for retro-fitting incommercial, residential andother settings. LED lighting has manyadvantages over traditionallighting including long servicelife, reduced powerconsumption, compact size andshock resistance – but its colourperformance is one factor thathas limited its adoption. Currentmethods for producing whitelight from a blue LED tend to beweak in red wavelengths,creating the two problems that

the light lacks warmth and failsto show true colours.

Nanoco’s quantum dots cantransform blue LEDs so that theyproduce white light with a highcolour rendering index (CRI),thereby showing true colours indomestic and officeenvironments. In addition, asNanoco quantum dots aretunable, any warmth of lightcan be produced.

Michael Edelman, Nanoco’sChief Executive Officer, said:“We’re delighted to have signedthis product development

agreement and to be workingwith one of world’s largest andmost innovative lightingcompanies. Our quantum dotshave the potential to unlock themany advantages of LEDs,creating a major commercialopportunity for Nanoco.”

www.nanocotechnologies.com

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Core Technology Facility46 Grafton Street

Manchester M13 9NTT: 0161 603 7751info@umi3.comwww.umi3.com

© The University of Manchester I3 Limited (UMI3), 2012UMIP and UMIC are divisions of UMI3