Bridging the gap

The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) and CERN has announced the start of a major new joint initiative that will enable small high-tech businesses to bridge the gap between basic science and industry, as they translate innovative technologies developed at CERN into viable and profitable companies in the UK. The CERN-STFC Business Incubation Center (CERN BIC), which will be located at STFC's Daresbury Laboratory in Cheshire, will nurture small businesses with innovative ideas and develop these ideas into marketable services and products. Under the new scheme, five companies per year, over a period of two years, will benefit from a support package that includes up to £40k funding, 40 hours of free access to technical expertise and facilities across STFC, as well direct access to CERN's technologies, expertise and intellectual property. STFC also has an active innovation program, which includes identifying IP within STFC and looking for licensees or spinning out into companies.