European Commission visit; Commissioner Danuta Hubner, DG Regio

Friday 25th February, 2005

Visit of European Commissioner Hubner (DG Regio) to the Manchester Incubator Building and Core Technology Facility ; February 1st, 2005

European Commission visit; Commissioner Danuta Hubner, DG Regio

The University of Manchester, its subsidiary company, The University of Manchester Incubator Company (UMIC) and its distinguished guests, received a visit from the DG Regio Commissioner Regional Policy, Danuta Hubner and her colleagues including Manfred Beschel (Head of Unit, DG Regio, European Commission) with Neil Clatworthy (North West Universities Association) and Jo Lappin (Director Europe Government Office for the North West). The Commissioner specifically requested a visit to key ERDF funded regional projects, including the Incubator and the soon to be completed Core Technology Facility, CTF, both ERDF funded. The CTF is also funded by the North West Development Agency and Tim Sheward (Head of Cluster Development, North West Development Agency) was also present to greet the visitors.

Peter Fell (Associate Director Strategic Corporate Affairs, University of Manchester) and his colleague Sally Sagar (Associate Director Strategic Corporate Affairs, University of Manchester) greeted the Commissioner and her colleagues and introduced the various representatives of Manchester regional partnerships, including Mr. Sheward, Mr Wayne Shand (Manchester City Council) Dr Cathy Garner (MD, Manchester Knowledge Capital), Mr. Ian Jackson (Director of Finance, University of Manchester Intellectual property, UMIP), Allan Prits (Marketing Manager, UMIP) and Mr. Tony Walker (Incubation Manager, North Campus Incubator, UMIC).

Martino Picardo (General Manager, UMIC) then guided the visiting party and partners on a tour of the Incubator. This included a visit to the facilities of both Epistem Ltd. and DXS Ltd., where the Commissioner was greeted by representatives of each company (Dr. Catherine Booth, Associate Scientific Director, Epistem and Mr. Andrew Webb, Commercial Director, DXS Ltd.). The Commissioner and guests were given an explanation of each company’s activities and their status in terms of business development and growth. Both Companies were keen to state their satisfaction of being associated with the Incubator and their excitement at the prospect of the CTF being available for tenancy in January 2006. Both Companies gave a brief explanation of how they had grown during their tenure in the current Incubator and the perceived benefits of being housed in the Incubator. Picardo explained how the CTF would add significant value to the whole Incubation process by providing grow-on space in an ideal location between the University and the clinics. The Commissioner was keen to explore these benefits and in particular, the entry and exit criteria employed by the Incubator. She could see the importance of the location to the sustainability of Biotechnology Companies.

The Commissioner was shown on the tour precisely how the new CTF will be physically linked to the current Incubator facility and its importance to the growth of the Biotechnology cluster in the region. This point was reinforced by the partners who also explained how other projects including NOWGEN, North West Genetic Knowledge Park and the re-development of the Manchester Royal Infirmary, along with the current Wellcome Clinical Research Facility, play an important part in the development of the Manchester Health and Science Corridor.

At the end of her visit, Commissioner Hubner thanked the hosts for an interesting visit and made three interesting observations: –

• The importance of linking community and economic development activity
• The importance of Universities in the European regeneration programmes
• The role of the UK in providing best practise in terms of EU projects

The University of Manchester and the staff of UMIC would like to thank Mr. Sheward, Dr Cathy Garner and Mr. Shand in particular for their assistance in displaying a true partnership approach to economic development using European and regional funding in cluster development of Biotechnology in Manchester.

Further details can be obtained from

Martino Picardo

General Manager

University of Manchester Incubator Company Ltd.

Back to News