Oxfordshire Bioscience Network branches out from Brookes sets sights on accelerating growth; £1M cost savings

02-Jul-2008

Oxfordshire Bioscience Network (OBN) announces its expansion, spinning-out from Oxford Brookes University, the network is building even stronger links between companies in the industry. OBN is the leading biotech network in the South East, an innovative not-for-profit association enabling Life Sciences industry executives to share knowledge, information and experiences, as well as save money on R&D spends.

OBN has been growing steadily both in reputation as well as financially, achieving a substantial turnover while within the School of Life Sciences at Brookes, and will now launch as a spin-out to tap the accelerated growth potential of its high quality biotech business networking services and its purchasing scheme.

Testament to OBN's continued growth and success, the recent BioTrinity 2008 - the largest Biopartnering Conference in the South East - attracted more than 400 delegates from companies such as GSK, AstraZeneca, Merck, Genzyme, Bristol-Myers Squib, Teva, Takeda, and Shire Pharmaceuticals, who took part in over 500 one-to-one meetings over two days. OBN also organises regular networking meetings "BioTuesdays", publishes business intelligence, and promotes the South East as the flagship region of bioscience innovation and research enterprise to local, national and international bodies.

OBN launched its Purchasing Scheme in June 2008, which has already achieved substantial discounts on lab supplies for member companies through collective purchasing power, with initial estimates suggesting member companies will save at least £1m in the first two years.

OBN's combined package of networking, partnering, meeting brokerage, purchasing and advocacy for the Oxford & South East region aims to catalyse accelerated growth which has already seen 30 biotech companies join the Oxford BioCluster since 2005.

Dr Jon Rees, OBN's Chief Executive Officer said: "Since OBN was established in 1999, it has evolved from a public-funded cluster association to the leading biotechnology network in the South East, supported by the private sector Member Companies and Sponsors. We're delighted to have spun out, particularly reaching critical mass in a tough financial environment. Our objective is to build on our membership services to catalyse the growth and development of biotech companies the region."

Professor Chris Hawes, Director of Research in Oxford Brookes School of Life Sciences is delighted that OBN has become self-sustainable. He added: "We are proud to have hosted OBN for the past seven years and hope to be able retain a close working relationship with the organisation and further develop our links with the Oxford Biotech Cluster."

https://www.bionity.com/en/news/84030/oxfordshire-bioscience-network-branches-out-from-brookes-sets-sights-on-accelerating-growth-1m-cost-savings.html