A power-packed delegation of Cambridge life science innovators forms part of an East of England show of force in the US biotechnology capital of Boston in early June.

But this Cambridge2Cambridge business venture is more a case of hands across the water than an arm wrestling match-up between the UK’s biotech stronghold and Boston’s finest.

Twenty enterprises from the region fly the flag for the UK at the annual BIO 2018 International Convention and Tony Jones (pictured above), CEO of One Nucleus, believes the time is right to forge more and bigger collaborations between the transatlantic Cambridge cousins.

Cambridge UK life science trailblazers attending BIO 2018 from June 4-7 are Abzena, Arecor, Astex Pharmaceuticals, Avacta, Bactevo, Bicycle Therapeutics, Global Regulatory Services, Iontas, Kymab, Lonza Biologics and TwistDx.

They are joined by One Nucleus, BioMed Realty, James Palmer (the Mayor of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority), Invest Essex, TM and patent attorneys JA Kemp and Mathys & Squire, the Bedford operations of Swiss Precision Diagnostics (SPD Development Company), LifeArc (Stevenage) and CN Bio Innovations (Welwyn).

Business Weekly is simultaneously flying the flag in Boston as guest of London Stansted Airport and Primera Air which has just launched direct flights there from the Essex hub.

Tony Jones said: “Both the similarities and differences between the Life Science clusters surrounding Cambridge UK and Cambridge Massachusetts have been well documented and discussed for the past decades.

“Their world-leading research universities and hospitals, a thriving start-up ecosystem, quality of life, major industry player presence along with regional Government policy that places Life Sciences as a key sector has helped each location deliver a track record of impact and success.

“These two locations are forecast by many to continue leading the growth of their national Life Sciences industry going forward – witness the recent AstraZeneca cluster report suggesting that our region could add £1 billion to the UK economy by 2032, for example.

“The recent launch of the direct Stansted–Boston flights by Primera Air is an example of how the two clusters are increasingly connected, not just at an R & D level, but also logistically.

“The total cohort demonstrates the strengths our cluster offers potential investors and partners right across the R & D spectrum.

“The synergies between the two Cambridge clusters creates exciting opportunities to foster transatlantic growth for the companies located in either location – along with the opportunity to learn from each other’s experiences and the common challenges they face. 

“At One Nucleus we are keen to support our members in maximising these potential benefits by enabling the two-way connectivity. Two specific examples are the above trip, followed by a focus at our July 10–11 ON Helix conference at the Babraham Research Campus where BioMed Realty will lead a session entitled ‘Cambridge vs Cambridge’.

“For June, we have been working with partners such as BioMed Realty, DIT East of England, Santander, the British Consulate in Boston, BDO, Stansted Airport and Primera Air to enable our members to maximise their return on investment on their trip to BIO.

“Our members will be attending a tour of the Cambridge Massachusetts Life Science cluster and breakfast reception by BioMed Realty – a chance to hear how the cluster has and is planned to continue to develop.

“Guided by long-term One Nucleus collaborator and ex-CEO of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, Susan Windham-Bannister, the group will be fully updated on the Cambridge and Boston clusters in order to identify forthcoming opportunities.

“Consul General, Harriet Cross will be hosting an East of England reception for our members and key US contacts at the British Residence in Boston whilst AstraZeneca with DIT and BIA will be hosting a reception – also during BIO – to bring our UK companies together with US counterparts.
 
“Whilst punting on the River Cam may be quintessentially Cambridge UK, some of our members will be attending a quintessentially Boston experience during Bio by attending the Red Sox MLB game – also courtesy of Biomed Realty. What better way to demonstrate that both these world-leading clusters offer the balance of work, rest and play?

“At ON Helix in July, some of the observations from the BIO trip will be reflected and discussed with attendees in a session entitled ‘Cambridge vs Cambridge’ moderated by Doug Cuff, senior director of development at BioMed.

Derek Jones, CEO of Babraham and One Nucleus Board member, will join Colleen O’Connor, director of leasing in Boston for BioMed, to discuss how our two clusters compare and contrast when it comes to sources of finance, lab space development, incubation models and what ancillary benefits each cluster brings to its constituent parts.

“BioMed is ideally placed to craft such a discussion given its impressive growth in provision of facilities in both the Cambridges, exemplified here by its investment in new labs at Babraham which delegates will see under construction as they arrive at the conference.

“Babraham has also just launched its Accelerator@Babraham competition, providing an opportunity for young companies to win a period of occupancy and mentoring at Babraham this year.

“Perhaps as we continue to profile the opportunities each location offers, innovators from other emerging teams in Cambridge Massachusetts will see the value of entering to win such a golden opportunity.”