Scientists get £4m to put ideas to work
SCIENTISTS in Midlothian have been awarded over £4 million to turn their theoretical ideas into business opportunities.
Moredun Research Institute led two successful bids to the Government’s public sector research exploitation initiative – worth £4.17m.
The cash will help it and partner organisations take their work out of the laboratory and into the business world.
The Genomia Fund is to receive £3m while the remaining £1.17m has been awarded to Genecom Limited, a company based at Moredun’s Pentlands Science Park.
The Genomia Fund seeks to provide money to support emerging technologies and to help kickstart the process of bringing new, emerging technologies to market.
Genecom is a conglomeration of the Moredun Research Institute, The Roslin Institute in Edinburgh and the Institute for Animal Health involved in developing earlystage research.
The cash will enable the scientists to establish spinout companies to convert research and diagnostic techniques into treatment against disease for humans and animals.
Last year, two Moredun scientists formed a company focusing on the cryptosporidium parasite, which can contaminate drinking water.
Moredun’s deputy director, Professor Willie Donachie, said: "We are delighted to have won this funding to bring together the worldclass scientific expertise in agriculture and biosciences within the partner research institutes.
"This will undoubtedly lead to some exciting new commercial opportunities."
Original source : The Scotsman
