The US Marine Biotechnology Analysis and Opportunities for UK Engagement

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The US Marine Biotechnology Analysis and
Opportunities for UK Engagement

• Cambridge University / UKTI Intern Project
• Artur Wilandt June 2007

This presentation and full report are available
free on the UKTI website to registered UK users
www.uktradeinvest.gov.uk
The report is not a comprehensive review of the
sector or opportunities and UKTI makes no claims
nor accepts any legal responsibility for the data
therein.
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Outline

• US marine biotechnology
• Status of marine biotechnology
• States with the highest activity
• Possibilities of UK engagement
• Current status of interaction between US and UK
• Barriers constraining engagement
• Different ways of UK engagement
• What can UK learn from US
• Summary

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The US marine biotechnology

• Fairly small but growing and attracting
  increasing attention
• US market size 1 billion
• US is a leader
• 100 randomly spread companies

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Research is mainly concentrated in five states
California, Florida, Hawaii, Maine and Maryland
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Status of US-UK marine biotechnology interactions
and barriers for engagement

• Close collaboration between UK and US is strongly
  needed
• BUT...
• Very little cross-Atlantic activity observed to
  date
• Barriers
• Lack of common funding (IP issues)
• Distance (additional expenses)
• Lack of knowledge and awareness
• Culture and time differences are NOT constraining
  factors

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Different ways for UK engagement

• Mutual collection exchange
• In- and out-licensing of marine derived compounds
  
• Partnerships between regions (especially
  biotechnology serving aquaculture e.g.
  Scotland-Maine or Wales-Florida)
• Expansion of UK companies producing omega-3 fatty
  acids
• Specialized one-to-one partnering events between
  UK and US companies

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What can UK learn from US
National level
Company level

• Raise money globally
• Management with longer business experience
• Business focus

Stronger interaction between research
organizations and industry
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Summary

• US is the world leader in marine biotechnology
• Several opportunities for UK engagement exists
• Little cross-Atlantic activity
• Lack of common funding
• Distance expenses
• Awareness
• UKTI support is essential and might have
  synergistic effect

www.uktradeinvest.gov.uk More infoIan.bunker_at_uktr
adeinvest.gov.uk