Competition Helps Advance Early Career Research

Two teams of entrepreneurial researchers triumphed in a business plan competition for hypothetical biotechnology and environmental start-up companies held at the London Marriot County Hall in December.

The two annual competitions, Biotechnology Young Entrepreneurs Scheme (YES), now in its 18th year, and Environment YES, are co-organised by the Haydn Green Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at The University of Nottingham, the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC).

The winners of Biotechnology YES, receiving a £2,500 prize and the opportunity to present at the Rice Business Plan competition in the United States, were Nutec Ltd from the University of Liverpool, with a concept for a diet aid that acts to reduce the uptake of dietary sugar into the bloodstream.

Managing Director Kelly Ward said: "We're delighted to win, it hasn't really sunk in. We were aware that every team was going to step up for the finals.

"It's definitely made us think differently about possible career paths. We've met so many people along the way who could be invaluable to our future careers, but not only that we've had fun and really enjoyed it. We would definitely recommend it."

The winners of Environment YES, also receiving a £2,500 prize and the opportunity to attend an Indigo Business Solutions training programme, were PhageOff from the University of Newcastle, with their idea for using bacteriophages – viruses – to target and kill the bacteria responsible for causing build up and corrosion in oil and gas pipelines.

Managing Director Stephen Edwards said: "We entered Environment YES as we wanted to learn more about how our research could be used in business, and to learn things about business strategy, marketing, IP. All the things you get as part of Environment YES and the other YES competitions.

"We're relieved to have won! But it's great, we put in a lot of hard work and it's been really enjoyable. Environment YES may not be as well-known as Biotechnology YES but you get exactly the same training and experience. It was definitely worth it."