Bioscientists and biotechnology developers are advised to act quickly to apply for a place on the fully-funded Bio-Entrepreneur school taking place at Biocity Nottingham.
The three-day intensive programme takes place from 10-12 March 2009 and is delivered by QED Consulting.
It is designed to help delegates explore their entrepreneurial potential, develop essential enterprise skills and overcome confidence barriers to commercialisation and starting in business in this very specialist sector.
Nottingham University molecular biologist Dr Des Powe attended the 2008 school with his colleagues, Andy Green and Dr Jon Garibaldi.
They have been developing a more personalised and targeted drug delivery process for breast cancer patients.
'The Bio-Entrepreneur School was the perfect opportunity for the three of us to take time away from the lab to focus on our idea,' said Powe.
'It's easy to get carried away with a business idea, but until it is tested through rigorous market research and taken through the defined pathway into start up it may as well remain as just another idea.' Tapping into the expertise of the school, as well as bouncing ideas around the other delegates, gave Powe and his colleagues a sense that they were on the right track.
The school also confirmed that they were probably more entrepreneurial than they gave themselves credit for.
'The fact that we recognised a business opportunity and are excited about its potential gives us confidence.
'As a result of the school we have made several really valuable contacts and now know where to go for further help.
'We are likely to progress carefully in a measured way and will try to maintain a good sense of realism,' added Powe.
The 2009 Bio-Entrepreneur school will draw on the expertise of its sponsors throughout the programme.
These include Nottingham City Council and patent experts Adamson Jones, together with UK Trade and Investment, Nelsons Solicitors, Connect Midlands, the business insurance experts La Playa and accountants Pricewaterhousecoopers.
'Each cohort of bio-entrepreneurs attending the school finds the experience rewarding,' said Dr Glenn Crocker chief executive of Biocity Nottingham.
'The QED Bio-Entrepreneur school is all about providing the tools to build a successful business, not to mention the benefit that comes from mixing with executives from some of Biocity's current fast-growing star companies.' Martijn Mugge, director of enterprise at QED Consulting, said: 'We work with people who are finding out what it means to be truly enterprising and so finding their way forward in the business world.
'Bioscientists have a head start in their ability to discover new applications for science.
'We then help them to realise their commercial potential.'
