Entrepreneurship resources

The THYME Project has delivered a series of workshops for university staff from Teesside, Hull and York to encourage entrepreneurship and innovation best practice. Details of these workshops and downloadable presentations are below:

January 2019 – Organised by the University of York – ‘So you want to be an entrepreneur in the bioeconomy?’

An introduction to the world of business start-ups, spin-outs and commercialisation in the bioeconomy. The workshop helped participants learn how to recognise and capitalise on an entrepreneurial opportunity, and to understand the first steps to building a successful start-up in the bioeconomy. The sessions included:

  • how to generate your first business idea, start your own company and pitch it to investors,
  • first-hand inspiration from the latest biobased start-ups (Chrysalix Technologies, Cambridge Glycoscience, UFraction8 and Cosy Cottage Soap),
  • mentoring sessions with successful business leaders and investors
  • it culminated in a live business pitch to a panel of specialists in the sector.

May 2019 – organised by Teesside University – ‘Connecting with industry in the bioeconomy.’

Attendees were from a range of academic disciplines with a common interest of working with industrial partners within the bioeconomy. The workshop included presentations from:

  • industrial professionals (Rob Johnson, Quorn Foods, Christine Parry, AB Agri),
  • academics with a track record of successful collaborations within the sector (Professor Chris Lowe, Director Cambridge Academy for Therapeutics Science, Ian Archer, Technical Director IBioIC)
  • business development and professional staff from Hull, York and Teesside Universities.

Each delegate was encouraged to generate their own value proposition; practice how to communicate research in a non-academic environment; and how to network to establish useful partners.

June 2019 – organised by Hull University – ‘Financing your bio-enterprise in a low-carbon economy future’.

This workshop aimed to equip academic staff with the skills and understanding needed to find finance for their bio-based business idea. The workshop included an introduction to the fundamentals of finance and investment and practical training in how to deliver an effective pitch to potential investors. Speakers included Nadia Gopichandran, Ostara Biomedical, Rachel Simpson, Head of Commercialisation at the University of Hull and Professor Andy Beavis, Vertual Ltd. Attendees also visited the ERGO Centre, a hub for renewables and environmental technologies, where colleagues from Aura talked about the opportunities and support available in a wider low carbon economy context.

October 2019 – organised by the University of York  – ‘So you want to be an entrepreneur in the bioeconomy?’

A repeat of the successful January workshop. Speakers at this workshop included Tina Crombie, TCR Solutions, Ben Dolman, Holiferm and Huw Jenkins from Secerna.

January 2020 – organised by Teesside University – ‘Connecting with industry in the bioeconomy’.

A repeat of the successful May workshop. Speakers at this workshop included Basil Omar, Senior Lecturer in Strategy and Enterprise, Bristol Business School and Co-Founder of CHAIN Biotechnology Ltd, Christine Parry, AB Agri and Olusola Idowu, Hexislab.

Other events supporting entrepreneurship as part of the THYME Project:

February 2020 – ‘Understanding Innovate UK funding and the role of the KTN’.

This workshop, which was delivered by Chris Danks from the KTN and co-organised by BioVale covered the following topics:

  • general principles of Innovate UK funding and standard calls,
  • Industrial Strategy Challenge Funds and relevant calls,
  • the role of KTN,
  • hints and tips for applying for Innovate UK funding,
  • Knowledge Transfer Partnerships,
  • Agri-Tech Investment programme
  • how best to engage with the KTN and introducing key contacts there.

The THYME project partners are

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