UK-USA biotechnology and medical research collaboration receives funding boost

Brussels, 17 June 2002

New collaborations between the UK and the USA in the fields of biotechnology and medical research are to receive a boost in the form of five million GBP (approximately 7.8 million euro) of UK government funding over five years.

The money will be geared towards helping UK scientists find world class partners, and promoting links with the science consortium's base in Texas, led by RICE university in Houston. The initiative aims to see joint scientific projects evolve into start-ups and joint business ventures. The UK will also set up training programmes in the commercialisation of research.

'This and other collaborations reflect the UK government's commitment to working together with our global partners on the key scientific and technical challenges we face,' said UK Science Minister Lord Sainsbury. 'Scientific advances in areas such as genetics, heart research and drug development are crucial to our future quality of life,' he said.

The funds will be channelled towards the promotion and monitoring of collaborative research, improving access to infrastructure such as imaging and computational facilities, and the presentations, travel and events required to encourage cross discipline contact between scientists.

For further information, please telephone the UK's Department of trade and industry: Tel: +44 20 7215 5000

CORDIS RTD-NEWS/© European Communities, 2001