CALIN

Network launched to assist Irish, Welsh life science businesses

Life
Image: CALIN

9 November 2016

A €12 million life science network to assist Irish and Welsh businesses to innovate has been launched. CALIN (Celtic Advanced Life Science Innovation Network), led by Swansea University’s Medical School, is funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Ireland Wales Cooperation programme with the aim of to driving sustainable growth in advanced life sciences.

The network aims to engage and assist over 240 SMEs throughout Ireland and Wales by offering access to a partnership of six higher educational institutions and global healthcare leaders Unilever and GE Healthcare.

The six higher educational institutions are; University College Dublin, National University of Ireland Galway, Tyndall National Institute, University College Cork in Ireland and Bangor University, Cardiff University and Swansea University in Wales.

The network will offer R&D, technological development and innovation support to SMEs, which will drive the international competitiveness of both regions. Together the internationally recognised centres of excellence will foster long-term cross-border research and industrial partnerships.

“This programme will allow University College Dublin to use our scientific knowledge and expertise in a practical way to support SMEs. This includes supporting new life science start-ups, many of whom currently experience the ‘valley of death’, as they try to progress from proof-of-concept to market,” said Prof Ken Dawson, Director, Centre for BioNano Interactions, UCD School of Chemistry and Irish CALIN co-ordinator.

“This funding will play a part in strengthening indigenous Irish and Welsh SMEs and their capacity to produce advanced products, with strong market potential, and increase the number of high quality jobs.”

Prof Shareen Doak, Swansea University and CALIN director said, “This initiative will strengthen our combined research base and create strong commercial foundations for life sciences both regionally and globally.  A key focus will be to support partnerships that will last beyond the term of the programme and create a legacy for the future wealth generation of network-linked SMEs.”

TechCentral Reporters

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