Queen’s University researchers compete for share of £1m funding
Eight teams have reached the competition semi-final; winner to be announced in June
A team from Queen’s University, Belfast is hoping to conquer the growing problem of resistance to conventional antibiotics as part of an international £1m competition to win research funding.
The contest, now in its third year, is part of the China Tomorrow scheme launched by UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, which encourages links between China and the UK and is open to new business ventures.
The Queen’s University team, led by PhD student Min Wang from the University’s School of Pharmacy, will be pitching a novel process to produce AntiMicrobial Peptides (AMPs). These molecules exist throughout the plant and animal kingdoms and could be advertised as new antibiotics with low cost but high yield that could conquer the problem of resistance to conventional antibiotics.
The competition winners will secure start-up funds from early stage investors and venture capitalists.
Dr Yu Xiong, director of the competition’s organising committee, said: ‘This is the only event of its kind that is supported by universities and authorities from China and the UK. Doing business overseas can be daunting for many entrepreneurs but this exciting programme aims to promote opportunities that exist and highlight potential business leaders of the future. Those taking part learn a great deal through the process and their ideas can translate to real business opportunities.’
Eight teams have reached the semi-final and their business ideas also include a purifying additive aimed at solving the problem of indoor pollution.
Professor Richard Harrison, director of Queen’s University Management School, said: ‘The judges will assess each business plan on criteria including market and competitor analysis, their project development and financial plans, risks and proposed mitigating factors, management of intellectual property and promotion of UK-China business links.’
The overall winner will be announced at the national finals at University College, London in June.