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Welcome to the Web site of the DTI's Biotechnology Mentoring and Incubator (BMI) Challenge. Scroll through the pages to discover more about the Challenge, how to obtain further information details of current BMI projects and other contacts, and future activities.

The BMI Challenge provides support to organisations with relevant skills or premises (or both) to provide mentoring services and develop specialist bioincubators for biotechnology start-up companies. The overall aim of the BMI is to stimulate the creation and growth of high quality biotechnology companies in the UK.

The Challenge is supported by a fund of up to £4.9 million. It supports 13 projects around the UK, which have assisted over 100 biotechnology start-up companies, creating in the region of 750 jobs and have raised in excess of £250M. Details about the longest established of these projects are given in the BMI Brochure. The Contacts page lists all current projects and other relevant organisations. The fourth call for proposals closed on 30 November 1999. There are currently no plans for any further calls. Details of the BMI Challenge Guidelines are given below.

Introduction Menu

BUSINESS MENTORING | INCUBATOR | THE INCENTIVE

OTHER FEATURES | JUDGING CRITERIA | WHO CAN ENTER

Biotechnology start-up companies face a number of barriers to growth - through limited access to affordable specialist business and commercial advice, difficulties in building management teams and attracting sufficient finance, and in finding suitable, affordable laboratory premises.

The BMI Challenge encourages organisations with relevant skills and expertise to provide:

BUSINESS MENTORING

Covering the provision of a suite of targeted business services (such as commercial appraisal of technology, financial, commercial and management advice and hands-on support) to a number of embryonic and new biotechnology companies.The service would advise and 'mentor' the start-up biotechnology companies during their formative period.

INCUBATOR

Offering a range of on-site specialist and targeted business services linked to laboratory and office premises for biotechnology start-ups. The incubator will provide a nurturing 'hot house' environment accommodating a number of start-up companies while in their very early stages, to accelerate development from an initial proposal to confirmation of market potential.

THE INCENTIVE

Awards of up to £500,000 to a maximum of 50% of project costs are offered to winning projects to provide mentoring services and/or bioincubator facilities. Proposals are judged on a competitive basis.

OTHER FEATURES

Winning projects will :

Tell others about their experiences and disseminate best practice developed through mentoring and incubation of biotechnology start-ups to a wider audience, to ensure the UK gains maximum benefit
Expect to become self-funding from year 4

Both mentors and incubators will form an on-going relationship with the start-up biotechnology companies and will normally be expected to share the risks particularly during the biotech companies early years - for example by taking a stake in the business in lieu of fees or rent.

JUDGING CRITERIA

Proposals are assessed by an ad hoc Advisory Panel which includes experts in relevant fields. The ad hoc Advisory Panel makes recommendations to the DTI whose decision will be final. The DTI retains the right not to make an award if no suitable proposals are received. In judging the entries, the key factors for success include:

Contribution to the growth of the British biotechnology sector, and the extent to which the award would stimulate new activity
Extent to which Government support adds value and gears in private sector funding
Degree of innovation
Calibre of entrants
Viability of proposal
Links to sources of general and business advice
Wider benefits and dissemination

WHO CAN ENTER

The Challenge is now closed. It was open to organisations operating in Great Britain, including:

Companies, universities, other academic institutions, research and technology organisations, TECs, charities, trade associations, Business Links, Business Connect, LECs, and other intermediaries with relevant skills and expertise

Proposals were made by single organisations or by consortia of organisations

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