Technology Transfer
Promote effective transfer of knowledge to improve UK innovation performance and accelerate business exploitation of science and new and existing technologies
The Bioscience Unit contributes to this objective by:
- Working with bioscience stakeholders within and outside Government at regional, national, European and international levels to shape policy and influence science and technology strategy, and to ensure that bioscience strategies across Government are joined up.
- Working with the new Technology Strategy Board (TSB) to ensure that the Technology Programme offers ‘products’ and ‘themes’ that match the sectors needs. The major category of support offered is grants for companies to undertake collaborative R&D with other companies or with the science base. The programme also runs three distinct Knowledge Transfer Networks (Bioprocess UK, Bioscience for Business and Healthcare Technologies),serving the bioscience community. These free-to-join national networks are web-based but present many opportunities for face-to-face networking and therefore potential access to useful knowledge and technologies. The KTN’s also undertake work to respond to issues such as skills shortages and run a number of special interest groups in areas where the UK has the opportunity to take the lead e.g. regenerative medicine and in marine biotechnology. We are particularly keen to hear your views on how the TSB is serving your needs. Please contact us on bioscience@berr.gsi.gov.uk
- Working with the new Translational Medicines Board (TMB) which is bringing together the science base (Medical Research Council) with those responsible for research in the NHS. Close alignment of the TMB with the new TSB should present real opportunities for the sector in particular to improve the flow of technologies through discovery, pre-clinical and clinical development, approval and product launch.
- Ensuring UK lead position in stem cell research is translated into commercial success. We work with Patent Office and Department of Health to develop better understanding of intellectual property (IP) issue for stem cell commercialisation