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Working with business:

Enterprise fellowships

The call is closed to applications.

Next application deadline: TBC

Funded by BBSRC and delivered by the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Enterprise Fellowships are designed to encourage the development of a new business, building on previously funded BBSRC research, around a technological idea developed by the Fellow (either individually or with others) and within which the Fellow would be expected to play a leading (though not necessarily the leading) role. This award is of particular relevance to individuals and ideas who previously received BBSRC Follow-on Funding (although not exclusively).

They provide:

• A year’s salary to provide time to develop a full business plan and seek investment
• Access to mentors, business experts and professional advisors
• Business training to help develop the required skills

Eligibility

Academic and research staff and postgraduates with relevant experience are eligible to apply if employed by a:

• UK Higher Education Institution (HEI), or
• Institutes of BBSRC

Applicants wishing to discuss their eligibility or the suitability of their technology for this award should contact us directly (see contact details below).

How to apply

The call is closed to applications.

Fellowships are awarded competitively.

The application process and the administration of the scheme are managed by the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Enquiries regarding the application process itself should be directed to the external contact.

Application forms and regulations are available from:

• External contact (below)
• The Royal Society of Edinburgh website (see external links)

Assessment criteria

The primary criteria for assessing an application are:

• The effectiveness of the technology
• The commercial potential
• The strength of the proposed route to commercialisation, and
• The entrepreneurial potential of the applicant

Case study

Dr Andrew Almond - Conformetrix

Dr Almond's unique technology, to determine the dynamic 3D shapes of drug molecules, is the culmination of a large body of work produced during a BBSRC David Phillips Fellowship. Within the space of 3 years, Dr Almond's research has gone from laboratory concept to the edge of commercial reality, which promises to have a substantial contribution to drug discovery and, ultimately, patient health.

His research group's discovery of the flexible 3D molecular shape of hyaluronan quickly led to a UK patent and the all-important 'proof of concept' that their new methodology could be generalised to any small flexible molecules, such as antibiotics and hormones With the support of two Follow on Fund awards and a BBSRC/RSE Enterprise Fellowship, Dr Almond has made rapid progress towards commercialisation and, with his colleague Dr Charles Blundell, formed the spin out company Conformetrix to exploit the technology. They went on to raise seed funding from Aquarius Equity Partners.

For more information about Conformetrix visit their website (see external links section above).

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