Ireland: Integrated Formula for Biotech Growth

Two years ago Nature's Spotlight on Ireland was entitled 'A National Commitment to Biotechnology'. This commitment has been reflected by the progress made in Ireland's biotechnology sector during that time and also in the level of funding, activity and interest in the sector. The following is an overview of how the environment is being created to grow the biotech sector in Ireland.

Positive government policy towards the industry: National Development Plan 2000-2006

The Irish Government has allocated €2.5 billion (US$2.3b) for Research, Technology and Innovation activities in the National Development Plan 2000-2006. Biotechnology is a priority for this investment.

Building a Strong Academic Base: Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions (PRTLI) Since it began in 1999 the PRTLI, which is administered by the Higher Education Authority, has invested over €600 million in the third level sector. Cycle 3 of the programme announced in December 2001 allocated €178 million for buildings and equipment, and €142 million to support research personnel. The strategic areas of biotechnology and health sciences received over 50% of this funding. Many of the proposals funded are collaborations involving more than one institution. Projects that received major funding were: a human genomic partnership (€44.8 million); a proposal to establish a national intitute for cellular biotechnology, (€34.3million); an Institute of Neuroscience and a National Neuroscience Network(€28 million) and a Centre for Synthesis and Chemical Biology (€34.5million)

World Class R&D Output: Science Foundation Ireland

Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), the National Foundation for Excellence in Scientific Research was launched by the Government in July 2000. SFI's aim is to establish Ireland as a centre of research excellence in strategic areas of Biotechnology and ICT. Through its Principal Investigator(PI) Awards and Fellow Awards SFI is supporting a small number of outstanding researchers and their teams. SFI has a budget of €711 million, half of which will be allocated to biotechnology.

The PIs, who have been appointed following a world-wide competition, recruit and lead teams carrying out ambitious and far-reaching programmes of research in Irish institutions. The awards, of up to IR£745 million (€7 million) each, provide a major stimulus to basic research in Ireland. Apart from giving Irish-based research scientists the opportunity to conduct a major expansion of research activity they also bring to Ireland a number of scientists who are recognized internationally as being at the leading international edge of research in their disciplines.

Environment for translation of research output to innovation to company to product to market:

Enterprise Ireland / BioResearch Ireland During 2001 Enterprise Ireland (EI), Ireland's enterprise development agency, established a Biotechnology Team dedicated to the development of commercially-focused biotechnology companies in Ireland. The Bio-Team integrates the expertise and resources of BioResearch Ireland, the Campus Companies initiative , the High-Potential Start-Up Unit, the Established Industry Support activities and EI's international network.

BioResearch Ireland (BRI) is Enterprise Ireland's Programme in Advanced Technology for Biotechnology. Set up jointly by the Government and Universities in 1987, BRI facilitates the commercialisation of opportunities arising from Irish biotechnology research in association with Irish third level institutions and other technology developers through its campus-based commercialisation/technology transfer management teams. The activities of these teams, supported by a central management group ,include administration and technology monitoring of research projects and programmes, management of intellectual property from funded research projects, management of technology transfer to industry, support and promotion of biotechnology-based start-up companies and training and education in biotechnology. BRI's activities have led to collaborations with major national and international companies and to the establishment of a number of spin-out companies.

In February 2002 Enterprise Ireland launched a strategy for 'Building Biotech Business'. The strategy aims to to grow existing companies and to increase the number of companies to 60 by 2006. EI is actively supporting applied research projects in the biotech area, providing business development advice and support, facilitating technology transfer, funding early-stage business development activities, contributing to first round funding for companies in partnership with the venture capital industry, and facilitating strategic international partnerships. EI is also identifying international-origin early-stage companies with the potential to establish corporately in Ireland. In partnership with the private sector and third level institutions, EI is also facilitating the provision of laboratory standard incubation units in line with market needs.

Availability of equity and finance: Seroba BioVentures

EI has also invested in the first venture capital fund dedicated solely to the Irish biotechnology sector. Seroba BioVentures will invest in seed and early stage projects in the areas of therapeutics, medical devices and diagnostics. The establishment of this fund is an important step in the development of the sector and will be instrumental in attracting additional funding from other local and overseas sources.

Labour and knowledge pool: Young Educated Workforce

Four out of every ten people in Ireland (pop. 3.7 million) are under 25 years of age, a much higher proportion than in any other European country. The number of students in tertiary education has increased by 80% and the number in technical and technological institutions has doubled in the last 10 years. The proportion of Irish people aged 25-34 with scientific qualifications is the highest in the OECD countries.

Base of those who can service and supply the sector The Industrial Development Agency (IDA Ireland) has attracted nine of the world's top ten pharmaceutical companies to Ireland. More than 80 overseas companies employ 13,000 people and export US$18 billion annually, representing over 20% of the Ireland's total exports. The service sector has developed in line with the pharmaceutical industry.

Overseas Investment

An attractive tax regime, pro-business environment and supply of suitably qualified people are cited by hi-tech companies as reasons why they come to Ireland and expand their operations here. Biopharmaceutical companies are now seeing the advantages of locating in Ireland. The Wyeth Medica arm of American Home Products, is building a $1billion, one million square foot biotechnology campus at Clondalkin(Dublin) which will come on stream in 2004 and will employ 1300 people.

Genzyme Corporation (USA) is locating it's new Irish subsidiary in Waterford (south-east) and will employ 480 people by 2006. Genemedix(UK) is establishing its European manufacturing Centre, incorporating development and technical support, in Tullamore (midlands). These investments have the potential to produce spin-off effects similar to those that led to the creation of a successful indigenous software industry in the 90's.

Industry Infrastructure: Irish BioIndustry Association

The Irish Bio-Industries Association, (IBIA) was established by the Irish Business and Employers Confederation, (IBEC) in November 1997 to represent the needs of those industries involved in biotechnology. The primary aim of IBIA is to enhance the environment in Ireland for the development of a successful biotechnology sector.

BioConnect Ireland

The Irish Biotech strategy: view full image: 55k

BioConnect Ireland (BCI) was established in January 2001 to foster communications within the biotech field among industry, academic researchers, related services firms and financiers. The importance of connecting people in the sector has been demonstrated in clusters like San Diego and Boston. BCI meets on a quarterly basis to discuss areas of interest to the sector such as commercialisation of research, intellectual property and funding issues and bioincubators.

Biotechnology Portal:

www.biotechnologyireland.com

An interactive web portal has been established for the Irish Biotechnology Sector. It provides a one-stop shop for news, information and contacts in Irish Biotech sector. The portal allows organizations and individuals to add their own profiles, news, events, job vacancies, CV etc. to the directories.

Visit the Ireland Stand at BIO 2002 in Toronto June 9-12, 2002. (Stand No. 528)