CMT summit brings together diverse experts

Hertfordshire LEP sponsorship to create new business opportunities

Stevenage, UK, April 26 2013 – Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst (SBC), the UK’s first open innovation (OI) bioscience campus, believes that the convergence of multiple innovative technologies is one of the future's most important healthcare trends. Working across a range of areas - including drugs, devices, diagnostics, ICT, nanotechnology, regenerative medicine, e-health, robotics and biosensors - is expected to create many cutting-edge new products. How to catalyse innovation, promote development and access funding in this area are some of the topics to be discussed at SBC's Convergent Medical Technologies conference on May 21.

With an opening address from Sir William Castell, Chairman of the Wellcome Trust, on the key opportunities and challenges presented by convergent medical technologies, the interactive day consists of panels and workshops focused on driving this area forward. Representatives of Imperial Innovations, J&J, the Medical Research Council, Syncona Partners, GE Healthcare, Aston Group and Desktop Genetics are among the other speakers.

Dr Martino Picardo, CEO of Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst, said, 'Many thanks are due to the Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership for its generous sponsorship of this event, which will enable us to map out the way ahead for convergent medical technologies. This promises to be a thought-provoking event for entrepreneurs, funders, academics and companies from large to small.'

John Gourd, Chairman of Hertfordshire LEP, said, 'Part of our remit is to support the development of the life sciences cluster in and around Hertfordshire, creating an open innovation climate in which companies can maximise their potential. Our sponsorship of this exciting conference reflects our desire to develop networks which bring diverse businesses together, in order to stimulate commercial opportunities which would otherwise not occur.'