New Zealand Business Forum 2009: New Zealand & Singapore Strengthen Ties Through Scientific ResearchNew Zealand Business Forum 2009: New Zealand & Singapore Strengthen Ties Through Scientific Research Singapore, April 22 - Some of New Zealand’s most noted biotechnology companies today presented their views on some of the thriving partnerships already in existence with Singapore and future opportunities for collaboration during a panel discussion at this year’s New Zealand Business Forum at the Matrix building in Biopolis. Illustrating the theme of collaboration for this year’s forum, the panel featured Mark Stuart, CEO of WaikatoLink Ltd, which today signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Singapore’s Exploit Technologies, thus becoming one of the first partners for the newly launched International Incubation Initiative or Icube. The initiative will serve to enhance and accelerate the opportunities for biotechnology startups that need international business linkages between New Zealand and Singapore. The panel discussion also featured Dr. Peter Gluckman, founding director of New Zealand’s Liggins Institute and Dr. Paul Benjes, General Manager of Glycosyn, the drug development arm of the Industrial Research Limited, one of the New Zealand Government’s research Institutes. “Singapore and New Zealand share a common interest in the world of biotechnology and this was shown today,” High Commissioner Martin Harvey said. “The field of biotechnology plays an important role in New Zealand, contributing NZ$300-400 million per year to our country’s economy. Singapore has displayed equal commitment to this exciting area, as exemplified by such projects as Biopolis and the newly launched Icube Initiative. The basis for scientific research is collaboration and we are proud to have such a strong partnership with Singapore and look forward to the results this will liberate in the future.” Adding to the High Commissioner’s comments today on the strengthened partnership between New Zealand and Singapore’s private biotechnology sector, Mr Benny Goodman, Investment manager SSEA, said, “Investment New Zealand was very pleased to have the opportunity to host A*STAR, Exploit Technologies, on a recent visit to New Zealand. The trip allowed numerous New Zealand companies to demonstrate the excellence they have achieved in their respective field of science and technology while helping to advance opportunities for collaboration in the process of commercialising this technology into the global marketplace. We look forward to a strong relationship with the A*STAR Group, which we believe will provide significant opportunities to New Zealand companies in developing this important industry sector.” About WaikatoLink LimitedWaikatoLink Limited is a world class technology development and investment company, with a strong track record in translating research outcomes into commercial technologies. As a wholly-owned subsidiary of the University of Waikato, it achieves this by identifying, managing and commercialising the University’s intellectual property. WaikatoLink works closely with industry, investors and researchers to identify and develop market opportunities for new technologies, and plays a key role in University knowledge transfer for economic transformation. WaikatoLink’s impressive performance is reflected in its top 3% rating when benchmarked against US university technology transfer offices (AUTM survey data). WaikatoLink's technology development and commercialisation expertise is available to industry through the WaikatoLink Hothouse and to entrepreneurs through the WaikatoLink Venture Incubator. About GlycoSynGlycoSyn was established in 2003 to complement an existing and successful drug discovery platform with downstream process development, non-GMP and GMP manufacture of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). GlycoSyn has successfully delivered development and manufacturing services to international clients involving API’s ranging in nature from flat earth small molecules to dendrimers and complex oligosaccharides. GlycoSyn provides synthetic route evaluation and development, process development, kilogram scale non-GMP production and GMP manufacture of a variety of investigational new drugs under contract to global pharmaceutical companies. GlycoSyn has unmatched expertise in carbohydrate chemistry and multi-step chemical synthesis. Together with our partner Mimotopes we also offer custom synthesized peptide therapeutic candidates. GlycoSyn recognises the value and confidentiality of intellectual property. This allows us to offer services under contract without claim to any discovery, improvement or gain in efficiency, realised during that contract. In short, as our client, you own and retain 100% of your valued intellectual property at all times. About The Liggins InstituteThe Liggins Institute was the first large-scale research institute established by The University of Auckland. It is committed to world-class biomedical and clinical research in areas of major health importance. It is one of the world’s leading centres for research on fetal and child health, growth and development, breast cancer, epigenetics and evolutionary medicine. The research approaches problems of children’s and women’s health from a number of angles designed to rapidly translate discoveries in basic science into clinical applications, strategies to improve public health and knowledge-based enterprises in the biotechnology sector. Liggins research has shown that early life events leading to a poor start to life have far reaching consequences for the health and life prospects of the individuals who are affected and for the communities they live in. Internationally recognised scientists, clinicians and research staff work at the Institute. The Institute has cutting edge research facilities including clinical research space and specialist laboratories with state-of-the-art equipment. The Institute has important national and international collaborations. It is host partner of the National Research Centre for Growth and Development, one of New Zealand’s Centres of Research Excellence. It has research partnerships with the Universities of Cambridge and Southampton in the United Kingdom, the National University of Singapore and leading universities and research centres in Europe and USA. The Liggins Institute’s world class postgraduate research programme is based on multidisciplinary approaches, drawing on Institute expertise in molecular biology, epigenetics, physiology, endocrinology, clinical, evolutionary and public health medicine. The Liggins promotes community awareness and understanding of science through public seminars and events and outreach to schools through the Liggins Education Network for Science. For more information, please visit http://www.liggins.auckland.ac.nz/ About New Zealand Trade & EnterpriseNew Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) is the New Zealand government’s primary agency for stimulating economic and export related growth. The New Zealand Health IT Cluster engages directly with NZTE who has a representative on the Cluster’s Executive Management Board. NZTE assisted the Cluster with infrastructure funding through its Growth Services – Technology Collaboration Fund. NZTE has contributed funding towards The Microsoft Collaborative Health Showcase Cluster project, which has showcased New Zealand Health IT talent around the world. Contact:Claire Benson |
PRESS CONTACT
Claire Benson 
Download Spokesperson Profiles Social Media |
 |
newzealand.com |