Business Development and Interaction
There are a number of organisations on the NRP that are well placed to provide a range of assistance and expertise to enable businesses to develop and expand.
PBL-Ventures is the business start-up and mentoring arm of NRP-based Plant Bioscience Ltd. PBL-V work with scientists through the complete business incubation process, from helping to formulate the initial business concept to IP protection, investor search and selection, and helping compile an experienced management team.
IFR Innovation manage technology transfer opportunities, contract research agreements and spin-out company formation based on the IFR’s fundamental research and technical expertise.
The Food and Health Network provides a forum for the food industry to work with IFR researchers to identify issues of importance to the industry and find ways of addressing these issues. There are also specific "cluster" groups, focussing on topics such as predictive microbiology, nutrition and waste upgrade.
The University of East Anglia’s Research Enterprise and Engagement Office aims to develop commercial enterprises and knowledge intensive businesses based on the university’s skills and technologies.
The NRP Professional Advisors Panel is a collaboration between Lees Accountants, NatWest Bank, solicitors Kester Cunningham John, IT consultants Breakwater IT, intellectual property specialists IP21, InCrops, Finance East, Roche Chartered Surveyors, Reed Recruitment and marketing, advertising and PR consultants FOUR to provide expert assistance and advice in a range of disciplines to science and technology businesses wishing to establish themselves or already established in the park.
The Iceni Fund was established in 2002 and is a seed-corn investment fund of £4 million. The fund provides investment in spin-out companies resulting from research carried out by the consortium members, University of East Anglia, John Innes Centre, Institute of Food Research, Sainsbury Laboratory, Plant BioScience Ltd and the University of Essex.