§ 35. Dr. GibsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many new spin-out companies have emerged from British biotechnology in the last year. [144563]
§ Mrs. LiddellIt is estimated that at least 90 new biotechnology businesses were formed in the UK during 2000. This number includes both companies developing products (e.g. new drugs, diagnostics) and service companies (e.g. bioinformatics).
Of these new companies over 40 per cent. received help from DTI support schemes specifically designed for the biotechnology sector.
There is no national database containing information on biotechnology business formation and the above information was obtained from the regional biotechnology networks and Government support programmes.