Dr Martino Picardo, Managing Director of the University of Manchester Incubator Company has been appointed to the non-executive Board of Directors for UKBI, the UK’s business incubation agency. Martino’s appointment is for three years during which time he’ll advise UKBI and its members on benchmarking practices, policy change and showcasing UK entrepreneurial success.
Martino is looking forward to working with UKBI. He says: “I’m very pleased to have been nominated, and I hope to contribute a great deal to the development of business incubation infrastructure in the UK. In tandem with Manchester’s urban renaissance, the university’s incubator and world-leading science park have helped many spinouts and young firms to grow and mature, resulting in a very healthy pipeline of regional innovation and commercial deals. The UK has a wealth of knowledge around business incubation and science parks. High-value industries such as biotechnology have flourished as a result of incubation processes and we’re keen that this trend continues in spite of current economic conditions. We see UMIC’s mission and vision relating to regeneration and regional wealth creation through business incubation as being totally complementary. “
Graham Ross Russell UKBI’s Chairman said: “Martino’s appointment to the UKBI Board strengthens it considerably, especially given UMIC’s dedication to business incubation. I’m sure that his experience will bolster UKBI’s knowledge of the community, as well as to underpin business incubation’s role in developing ideas and people, especially in times of economic crisis. UKBI is at the forefront of development of sustainable business incubation environments and I look forward to working with Martino and the Board to ensure that our community continues to deliver proven results when the country needs it most.”
Martino was nominated by Dr Linda Magee, head of BioNow the cluster support group for the northwest’s biotechnology, pharmaceutical and healthcare industry, by Mark Pedley, CEO of Smartlife Technology Ltd a spinout company from the University of Manchester, and by Professor David Auckland, outgoing CEO of One Central Park.
