Minister meets Medicentre innovators
15 February 2018
Cutting-edge medical technology and research have been on show during a tour of Cardiff Medicentre by a UK Government minister.
Lord Henley, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), toured Medicentre facilities and met company leaders during a visit to the Welsh capital.
The Business Minister, who leads on UK Government Industrial Strategy in the House of Lords, said: “I’m really impressed with the breadth of innovations being developed at the Cardiff Medicentre. The work being conducted at the facility reflects the government’s modern, ambitious Industrial Strategy, bringing together academic expertise and industry know-how to grow the UK economy, making it fit for the future.”
Jointly run by Cardiff University and Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, Cardiff Medicentre nurtures fledgling biotech and medtech companies. Some have been acquired by larger concerns for multi-million pound sums. Others continue to raise venture capital as they grow.
Professor Ian Weeks, Acting Head of Cardiff University School of Medicine and Medicentre Board member said “The Medicentre is a key feature in the Clinical Innovation Partnership forged by the University and Cardiff and Vale UHB. We are committed to working together with the wider NHS and industry to deliver patient benefit, health economic benefit and economic growth”.
Peter Welsh, Director of Corporate Governance for Cardiff and Vale UHB and fellow Medicentre Board member, said: “Lord Henley’s visit gave the anchor companies a great opportunity to explain how their work aligns with the Government’s industrial strategy, translating research into business ideas that drive a range of medtech start-ups, from the ultrasound expertise of MedaPhor to the work of Alesi, which develops technologies that improve advanced surgical procedures.”
Situated in the grounds of the University Hospital of Wales, close to Cardiff University’s School of Medicine, the Medicentre offers 32 units of serviced offices and wet lab facilities in close proximity to leading academic research and clinical practise.
