The competition was open to UK SMEs in the life science sector with innovative technological ideas and four winners were selected, including Abcodia. The prize includes receiving up to £1,500 towards flights and accommodation for the conference on 22 – 25 April and one year’s free membership of the BioIndustry Association.
Mike Fisher, Abcodia’s Director of Strategic Alliances, said winning this competition demonstrates that its cutting edge work is at the forefront of today’s most innovative life science technology. He said:
“We are delighted to have been selected for this award. International collaboration is critically important for Abcodia and we believe that this opportunity will enable us to showcase our capability in biomarker validation for the early detection and screening of cancer to an international audience. We are honoured to be representing the best of UK innovation.”
Nick Baird, Chief Executive of the UKTI, said: "The Innovation Competition has demonstrated the excellence of the UK life sciences sector. We are a global leader in this field and I am looking forward to the best of British innovation being showcased at the forthcoming BIO 2013 Convention."
Steve Bates, Chief Executive Officer of the BIA, said: “This new UKTI Innovation Competition has presented an opportunity for some of the UK’s most innovative life science SMEs to grow their business and showcase internationally what our biotech sector has to offer.
“With a track-record of ground-breaking research, and support from schemes, including the Patent Box, R&D tax credits and the Biomedical Catalyst, the UK is increasingly attractive as a location for bioscience business. I’m really looking forward to attending BIO 2013 and promoting UK biotech on a global stage.”
The BIO conference is recognised as the largest biotechnology event in the world and in 2012 the event drew over 15,000 industry leaders from 65 countries, attracting top companies and government representatives from around the globe.
Abcodia is a specialist company engaged in the discovery and verification of biomarkers for cancer screening. The prospective biobank that Abcodia has an exclusive licence to has over 5,000,000 serum samples derived from more than 200,000 initially healthy volunteers, 50,000 of whom have provided samples annually, making this an ideal resource for identifying biomarkers for cancer screening. www.abcodia.com
UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) is the government Department that helps UK-based companies succeed in the global economy. We also help overseas companies bring their high quality investment to the UK's economy -acknowledged as Europe's best place from which to succeed in global business. UKTI offers expertise and contacts through its extensive network of specialists in the UK, and in British embassies and other diplomatic offices around the world. We provide companies with the tools they require to be competitive on the world stage. For more information on UKTI, visit http://www.ukti.gov.uk/ or visit the online newsroom at www.ukti.gov.uk/media
The BioIndustry Association was founded over 20 years ago at the infancy of biotechnology, the BioIndustry Association (BIA) is the trade association for innovative enterprises involved in UK bioscience. Members include emerging and more established bioscience companies; pharmaceutical companies; academic, research and philanthropic organisations; and service providers to the bioscience sector. The BIA represents the interests of its members to a broad section of stakeholders, from government and regulators to patient groups and the media. Our goal is to secure the UK's position as a global hub and as the best location for innovative research and commercialisation, enabling our world-leading research base to deliver healthcare solutions that can truly make a difference to people's lives. For further information, please go to www.bioindustry.org
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