Biotechnology YES - 2010

Biotechnology YES is an innovative programme and competition aimed at raising awareness of commercialisation of bioscience research. It is co-organised by the Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the University of Nottingham Institute for Enterprise & Innovation (UNIEI). YES entrants form imaginary companies and bid for funding to commercialise their hypothetical ideas. Through 3-day workshops taking place across the UK this autumn, participants receive training from entrepreneurs, patent lawyers and industry representatives in the business skills necessary to recognise, protect and harness the commercial potential of scientific research outputs.

The culmination of the competition is the preparation and presentation, by each team, of a hypothetical business plan for a new start-up company. The competition is therefore fully in line with the government’s objective of encouraging economic impact and the competition is endorsed by a number of bio-based industries through their sponsorship. In addition, the winning team of the national Biotechnology YES competition will receive a prize of £1000.

Since its launch fifteen years ago, Biotechnology YES has provided entrepreneurial business training for around 3000 researchers from across the UK. A recent independent review of the scheme has highlighted that many former participants found YES to be very influential in developing their careers, with several starting their own companies and many more becoming business professionals within the bioscience sector.

More information can be found at the website. The closing date for entries is June 18th.

This is a really great opportunity for anyone working in the biosciences who is interested in finding out about commercialisation of biotechnology. While I was a PhD students at Leeds I took part in the 2002 (or 2003 maybe) competition. My team attended a local workshop in Edinburgh, where we spent a hectic but amazing few days attending presentations from business and biotech experts, and staying up until all hours putting together our business plan and presentation. We didn't make it through to the final unfortunately, but I learned so much from those few days, both about commercialisation of biotechnology research and about myself and what I am capable of. All in all it was an amazing experience, and one of the most memorable parts of my PhD.