North West Biomedical Cluster

The biomedical Cluster in the North West has a major global pharmaceutical presence, a rapidly

expanding biotechnology community, many healthcare companies and internationally renowned academic and clinical research strengths. The region has some 280 biomedical companies including seven multinational pharmaceutical companies, employing 22,000 people and it is one of the highest exporters of pharmaceuticals in the UK (4.3 billion in 2009) with the UKs leading balance of trade in this respect. BioNow, the regional Cluster organisation, works with other partners
within the region to ensure the success of the Cluster.

What makes it successful?

Well-functioning networks and partnerships - The region benefits from a close alignment between two outstanding Universities with complementary skills and expertise across the life and biomedical sciences, and a close alignment between academic science, the healthcare industry and the NHS. There are several other organisations within the Cluster, such as Medilink NW and NHS TrusTECH that facilitate its development which as a whole cover the full translational process from development through to production.. Bionow is the key organisation within the Cluster that ensures all these organisations work in a coordinated way to the benefit of the region. Another part of Bionows remit is to encourage and facilitate partnerships and relationships between cluster companies in order to move the cluster forward. Activities include:

The Bionow printed directory which provides an overview of companies operating in the region within pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices and healthcare together with key companies in the supply chain. This is updated on an annual basis and is circulated to the companies to keep up to date with progress in the region. A comprehensive website which acts as a portal for access to all the cluster information and is regularly updated so members can use it as a reference source. One of the main methods the cluster uses to facilitate mutually beneficial relationships is through face-to-face networking. The cluster holds quarterly events in both Liverpool and Manchester. The website, members newsletter and linked in groups are also used to promote partnership opportunities, funding opportunities, jobs and regional and national events of interest to the cluster.

The Cluster also collaborates with other RDAs such as Yorkshire Forward and One North East to benefit companies operating cross-regionally. Engaged in innovation - there is a significant amount of infrastructure in place to ensure this is a highly innovative Cluster. This includes:

The Cluster is home to AstraZeneca's largest global R&D facility; the UK's largest University (Manchester) with 50% of its research effort dedicated to life science and medicine; UK Biobank, the largest of its kind in the world; Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine National Biomanufacturing Centre (NBC)

Manchester Bio-incubator and Core Technology Facility (CTF) Manchester Biomedical Research Centre Liverpool Biomedical Research Centre Centre of Excellence in Biopharmaceuticals

(University of Liverpool) MerseyBio Incubator Facility Northwest Institute for BioHealth Informatics (NIBHI) Northwest embryonic Stem Cell Centre (NWESCC) UK Centre for Tissue Regeneration (UKCTR) Wolfson Molecular Imaging Centre (WMIC) Consortium for Post-Genomic Sciences Nowgen

Bionow also ensures that the cluster is aware of opportunities to seek funding to innovate within the region, these include running events in conjunction with the Technology Strategy Board (TSB) to highlight future calls for funding. Another example is a project currently running which is to fund a Bioprocess collaboration manager whose role is to encourage and setup R&D projects between industry and academia in conjunction with the Healthtech and Medicines Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN). Access to a skilled workforce - The region benefits from a close alignment between two outstanding Universities with complementary skills and expertise across the life and biomedical sciences, and a close alignment between academic science, the healthcare industry and the NHS. These unrivalled assets driven by a dedicated and committed Steering Group will ensure that all opportunities for productive collaborations resulting in increased productivity by the healthcare industry, and ultimately patient benefit, will be exploited fully and quickly. The region as a whole produces 22,000 graduates in the science, technology and engineering fields per annum with over 70% remaining in region following graduation. Entrepreneurial dynamism and expansion England's Northwest is one of the UK's top three biomedical clusters, which includes the biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical device and healthcare industries and is one of the highest exporters of pharmaceuticals in the UK (4.3 billion in 2009) with the UKs leading balance of trade in this respect. Core biomedical companies have raised over 312 million of investor finance in the period 2002-2008 showing the confidence that investors have in companies operating in this arena. There has been a 61% increase in the number of businesses established in the region. Employment has naturally increased too, with approximately 4000 new jobs in the area. There are almost 19,000 with work in the core biomedical companies, compared to 14,000 in 2002. The calculated gross GVA for the cluster was 1.59 billion. This represents substantial growth of 285 million over the period 2002-2008. Adaptability - Examples of adapting to change are the response to the current unfavourable economic conditions in 2009 included:

Inclusion of a partnering section on the cluster website which provides a forum for sharing business opportunities. Talent recycling facilitation. To ensure that key talent remains in the cluster region Bionow facilitated a workshop during a recent Astra Zeneca restructuring where business advisors from both the public and private sectors gave advice on creating start-up companies after redundancy. The end result of this activity was the creation of two companies Qualoria and Imagen Biotech.

Technical assistance for companies applying for R&D funding through the GRAND scheme and assistance for companies to attend conferences and events which will benefit them in terms of business leads or networking opportunities. Further initiatives include an extension of the Bionow key account program to smaller, high growth companies in order to provide maximum direct assistance to the next set of rising stars within the cluster If you would like more information on the North West Biomedical Cluster please contact Geoff Davison