BioCity Scotland, the newly-opened life sciences cluster in Newhouse, Lanarkshire, has signed a three-year agreement with leading patent attorneys HGF making them the first corporate partner to join the BioCity team.  The two organisations share a desire to build the Scottish life sciences sector by providing the environment and innovation expertise growing companies need.

Corporate partner status will enable HGF to offer intellectual property (IP) advice to all BioCity companies through clinics, workshops, seminars and presentations. HGF will also be involved in regular BioCity corporate events, such as the BioEntrepreneur BootCamp in April and the Annual Lecture later in the year.

Delivery of the HGF support will be managed from the Glasgow head office by Patent Director Douglas Drysdale and Patent Attorney Dr Fiona Edwards.  They will be available to meet new tenants with questions concerning IP including patents, design rights, trademarks and copyright.  They will provide guidance and assistance to the new tenants to help them build up a robust IP portfolio. Douglas and Fiona are experienced specialists in life sciences and pharmaceuticals with wide-ranging experience in both private practice and industry.

HGF launched in Scotland in 2007 under the direction of Partner and Head of Scotland Dr Gary Wilson, and has acquired an excellent reputation in the Scottish IP market for its work with research organisations and universities, as well as with spin out companies. With Scottish offices in Glasgow and Aberdeen, in addition to a strong presence south of the border, HGF is well-positioned to join forces with BioCity Scotland.

Commenting on the agreement, Dr Gary Wilson said: "We were delighted when BioCity Scotland launched in January and were keen to become involved at the earliest opportunity. Corporate Partnership status means we can work with the new management from the start, and help to shape the support environment needed as tenants settle in. I believe there is a real synergy between the culture and ethos of BioCity and that of HGF."

Douglas Drysdale, Patent Director, is looking forward to meeting the new tenants: "Anyone starting and growing a life sciences or med tech business needs to have advisers they can trust and rely on for accurate, up-to-date advice. Fiona and I will visit the site on a regular basis to get to know the companies and their particular needs."

BioCity Scotland managing director Ian Webster welcomed the deal with HGF: "BioCity Corporate Partnership is the perfect way for professional services firms to become part of the support infrastructure we are creating here at Newhouse. Having such a respected firm as our first partner so soon after our launch is very important to our development plans."

The HGF Corporate Partnership clinics will begin in April.

From April 25^th - 27^th, BioCity will run the first BioEntrepreneur Boot Camp Scotland, a three-day intensive business development programme for pre-start and early-stage life sciences firms. This will provide a further opportunity for delegates to meet the HGF team. Details can be found at http://bootcamp.biocity.co.uk.

Potential tenants, university representatives and organisations interested in becoming involved with BioCity Scotland should make contact via the website www.biocity-scotland.co.uk