BioCity Scotland, the newly-opened life sciences cluster in Newhouse, Lanarkshire, has announced its first BioEntrepreneur Boot Camp, a three-day intensive business development programme designed to prepare scientists to be their own boss.

Running from Wednesday 25th to Friday 27^th April, and sponsored by North Lanarkshire Council, the programme is designed for anyone thinking of starting a life sciences company or in the early stage of company development. It is suited to recent graduates, post-docs and academic researchers - or simply those with experience within a larger organisation who feel the urge to break out on their own. The Boot Camp is ideal for anyone looking to commercialise a particular science or a great idea.

The three-day programme is delivered by business professionals, many of whom have run their own firms or advise small companies. Delegates will work on practical exercises and case studies; enjoy lively discussion and networking, and will benefit from one-to-one mentoring. Topics to be covered include market research, financial planning, business law, intellectual property, leadership and promotion. The individual sessions build towards a friendly ‘Dragons Den' style competitive pitch to a panel of industry experts on the final day.

Dr Glenn Crocker, CEO of the BioCity group will lead the 2012 Boot Camp: "We have been running BioEntrepreneur programmes in Nottingham since 2007, and recently in Bangalore, so will build this Boot Camp on a firm foundation of expert Scottish speakers and facilitators. The number of places is limited to allow workshop leaders enough time to address individual's questions and specific needs, and we know competition for these places will be tough."

Lending their support to the Boot Camp are solicitors Pinsent Masons and patent attorney Harrison Goddard Foote. Their staff will help deliver some of the more technical aspects of the schedule, and will also join fellow guests and an invited audience for a lively debate on the evening of 26^th April around the subject of entrepreneurship.

North Lanarkshire District Council is the main event sponsor. Leader of the Council Jim McCabe says: "We have been very supportive of BioCity Scotland since it launched in January, and are delighted to see such positive, lively activity on site so soon after opening. BioCity is not just a landlord of great laboratory and office facilities, but a provider of advice, training and facilities which we know every new owner-manager needs. We are keen to sponsor this work so that the Boot Camp is available to as many scientists as possible."

The Council's support is making available some sponsored places in a competitive application process. Partially-funded places will go to priority applications whilst life scientists from larger companies or the Universities can book on a fee-paying basis.

Dr Julia Adam, a former employee of MSD at the Newhouse site and now an independent consultant, has been accepted onto the Boot Camp: "After a number of years of valuable experience working within large pharma, I'm excited by the challenge of entrepreneurship and the possibility of transforming a novel idea into a successful new Life Sciences company. Biocity Scotland in Newhouse provides a supportive environment for these ambitions and the announcement of the Boot Camp presents a fantastic opportunity to participate in a top class course in entrepreneurship, tailored to the life sciences."

Further details can be found at http://bootcamp.biocity.co.uk.

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