02 November 2006
Official opening of the National Biomanufacturing Centre
Ambitions to create Europe"s leading biopharmaceutical design centre took a major step forward today (Wednesday 1st November 2006) with the official opening of the National Biomanufacturing Centre in Speke, Liverpool.
The £34 million project has been made possible with funding from the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) as well as the European Objective One fund and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). Run by commercial operator Eden Biodesign, the NBC provides the expertise and facilities to support new and existing biotechnology companies, offering product development and manufacturing expertise to fill skills and resource gaps that exist in many companies operating in the biotechnology sector.
The NBC aims to establish England's Northwest as a key contributor to the UK's bioprocessing community and one of the foremost biomanufacturing regions in Europe. Currently around 2,000 people are employed within a 2 mile radius of the NBC in the multinational companies Lilly, Novartis and Medimmune, meaning more people go to work to produce biopharmaceuticals for a global marketplace here than anywhere else in the UK.
Now the new state of the art facility is poised to lead the next wave of biopharmaceutical development, offering the full range of services necessary to take a novel biopharmaceutical from proof of concept through to early stage clinical trials. An NBC Access Fund (of just under £3 million) is already assisting companies to purchase services from the Centre, ensuring that good ideas in the research lab move to commercial success, within the right regulatory framework.
Bryan Gray, NWDA Chairman, said:
"This flagship project will significantly boost the prosperity of the biotechnology industry, one of our region's major growth sectors. The cutting edge centre will provide high calibre professional support and facilities, ensuring that good ideas in the lab move to commercial success quickly and efficiently, making an important contribution to UK plc."
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For further information please contact Laura Hampson, Press Officer on 01925 400256 or 07980 713287 or Laura.Hampson@NWDA.co.uk
For further information and to view previous press releases visit us at www.nwda.co.uk