Collaboration to Accelerate Growth in Thames Valley Cluster

Life science incubator and business collective BioCity in partnership with Oxford Academic Health Science Network (AHSN) have announced an Accelerator Programme in Berkshire and South Oxfordshire to catalyse growth in Thames Valley’s world-class health and life sciences cluster, by supporting the development of start-ups, spin-outs and growth companies across the region’s research, clinical and commercial base.

Using contemporary concepts and Lean Start-up methods BioCity run entrepreneur coaching across their UK locations and have delivered accelerators on behalf of industry partners, including Opportunity North East (ONE) in Aberdeen and The Biosphere, Newcastle.

To date, over one hundred science entrepreneurs are said to have graduated from the coaching programme before successfully launching life science businesses, securing investment, both via and independent of the BioCity investment fund and attracting industry recognition.

Colin Roberts, BioCity venture development director, said, “This is a new geographic area for BioCity, we’re excited to discover some of the new ideas and work with new ventures on our first Accelerator in Oxfordshire and Berkshire. The strategic goals of Oxford AHSN are closely aligned with ours; together, we’ll be able to achieve our shared goal of supporting life science innovation at a regional level.”

At the completion of taster workshops focused on commercialisation with a cohort of twelve entrepreneurs and start-ups, Paul Durrands, the Chief Operating Officer of the Oxford AHSN said, ‘‘In our pursuit to build a business case for change, our collaboration with delivery partners such as BioCity is already making a good impact.”

Highly sought after, entrepreneurs will be awarded a place on the Accelerator after first taking part in a pre-accelerator, held 02–04 September 2019.