On April 5, 2001 Cancer Research Ventures Ltd (CRV), the National Cancer Centre of Singapore (NCC) and Double Helix, a subsidiary of Singapore Technologies Pte Ltd, reported formation of Biotech Research Ventures Pte. Ltd. (BRV), Singapore’s first dedicated Technology Transfer company in the biotechnology field was announced and was officially launched on 29th March at a ceremony attended by Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister Dr Tony Tan (Press release, Cancer Research Technology, APR 5, 2001, View Source [SID1234523476]).
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Technology Transfer involves the protection of new discoveries from academic research institutes and their continued development by commercialising these discoveries. If successful, this commercial development results in financial rewards being returned to the research institute for further research in the development of new treatments. This process involves establishing collaborations between academic and commercial organisation, licensing of academic technologies to companies and the spinning out of new biotechnology companies from academic research institutes.
CRV has over 14 years experience in carrying out these technology transfer activities in the UK, including the establishment of a portfolio of quality spin-out biotechnology companies. More recently CRV has expanded its business to work with a number of research institutes throughout Europe and is seeking to expand further into Asia.
NCC is the pre-eminent cancer research institute in Singapore, combining both excellent pre-clinical research with a top class clinical programme. To ensure that these programmes are given the best opportunity to develop new diagnostics and treatments for cancer, NCC is keen to develop and provide a Technology Transfer service to its researchers.
In order to establish a Technology Transfer service at NCC, CRV and NCC have agreed to collaborate to form BRV. BRV will also form the base from which CRV will provide Technology Transfer Services not only to other research institutes in Singapore, but also where required in surrounding countries in Asia.
Singapore Technologies, through its subsidiary Double Helix, have recognised the quality and potential of the research being undertaken at NCC and also the need for such a specialised Technology Transfer company in Singapore. This has led to Singapore Technologies, through Double Helix becoming a partner in this new venture.
It is anticipated that BRV will be heavily involved in establishing and managing collaborations between academic and commercial organisations, initially from NCC. However it is likely that this relationship will extend to other research institutes in the Singapore area. BRV will be able to transfer the experience and expertise that CRV has gained over the past 14 years in the biotechnology area to accelerate the development of this specialist Technology Transfer Company in Singapore.