PM to open state-of-the art biotechnology facilities

Prime Minister to open state-of-the art biotechnology facilities

State-of-the art facilities housing New Zealand’s first biotechnology incubator, the Institute for Innovation in Biotechnology, will be opened by Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. John Key in Auckland on Tuesday 19 April.

The Institute for Innovation in Biotechnology, hosted by the School of Biological Sciences at The University of Auckland, brings academics and industry together in a single location to share infrastructure, facilities, and expertise.

“The Institute is at the cutting edge of an international trend toward academia and industry working more closely together, to increase opportunities for innovation and accelerate scientific discovery to market,” says Director Professor Joerg Kistler.

“Research and development is becoming more and more expensive. By providing businesses with access to the research infrastructure, high-tech equipment, and scientific expertise available within academia, we are lowering the barriers to business-led innovation. We are also building a critical mass of scientists who can accelerate discovery and innovation timelines.”

As well as providing facilities for industry the Institute creates opportunities for graduate research and employment, and bioscience enterprise training through new postgraduate degrees. It also hosts specialist workshops and networking events for industry.

The Institute has been operating from temporary facilities since June 2006. The opening event marks the completion of a purpose-designed building that provides a permanent home and increases its research space to more than 10,000m2. Designed by Stephenson & Turner, it is a fully integrated research complex that can accommodate up to 500 scientists, industry staff and graduate students.

In contrast to many older biotechnology incubators, the Institute offers services to both mature businesses and start-up companies to enhance innovation across the sector. It also houses its industry partners and scientists in the same physical space to maximise interaction between staff.

Nine biotechnology companies are currently co-located in the Institute, and six organisations with an interest in science and innovation are involved as partners. Many of the parties are involved in the agricultural sector and aim to add value to New Zealand primary products through research.

“As a Fonterra research company seeking game-changing improvements for the next generation of dairying, it makes a lot of sense for us to be part of the active biosciences hub offered within the Institute for Innovation in Biotechnology,” says Sanne Melles, General Manager of co-located company ViaLactia BioSciences Ltd.

“Our selective breeding research programmes for more productive grasses and value-added milks greatly benefit from the opportunity to be part of this dynamic community that is setting the agenda for New Zealand’s next generation of bio-scientific research.”

“The Institute offers access to specialist resources without the requirement for companies to acquire them, and also affords the flexibility to rapidly increase or reduce the number of staff working on individual projects,” says Brent Ogilvie, Chief Executive Officer of Androgenix Limited.

A start-up biotechnology company using genomic technology to develop products for the livestock industry, Androgenix was the Institute’s first “spin-in” company. “We have been here since the beginning,” says Mr Ogilvie. “We chose to join the Institute because it was very successfully able to match the aspirations of our company with the resources found within academia.”

Chief Technical Officer for Comvita New Zealand Limited, Dr Ralf Schlothauer, says that co-location has worked brilliantly for the natural health company, which moved its research division to the Institute in 2009. “We have one scientific paper already published and two in submission with data for two more,” he says. The company has also run a successful science symposium and student challenge each year with support from the Institute.

The Institute was established with support from the Government’s Partnerships for Excellence scheme to increase collaboration between universities and industry. Auckland Council has recognised the bio-incubator as an important component in its strategy to grow bio-industry.

Notes

Opening event: School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland, 4:25pm-6:00pm Tuesday 19 April. To attend please contact Pauline Curtis on 09 373 7599 ext 83258 or 021 970 089

For more information about the Institute for Innovation in Biotechnology and its co-located companies and partner organisations, visit: www.biotech.co.nz