The Field of Entrepreneurial Dreams

The Field of Entrepreneurial Dreams

My wife is from Iowa, and although I lived and worked there, I have never visited the famous Field of Dreams. I’ve been told it is more a symbolic site than a bona fide tourist destination. Nevertheless, I find myself attracted to the site of the iconic movie that first posited the famous “if you build it, he will come” quote. I’ve met many people who, in business, have invested heavily in technologies where the business plan is hardly more that this: “Build it, and they will come.” Something in my own personality likes this idea and would love it to be real. Alas, my experience tells me otherwise.  Read more

Minimum Requirement for a Successful Bioscience Ecosystem

Minimum Requirement for a Successful Bioscience Ecosystem

I recently came across the book The New Players in Life Science Innovation by Tomasz Mroczkowski, in which he discusses the role of emerging economies in the global biosciences industry. Of course, in the topsy-turvy economic world we find ourselves in today, countries such as Brazil, China and India are taking leadership based, in part, on their growing economic strength.  Read more

And Algae Shall Inherit the Earth

And Algae Shall Inherit the Earth

In October, I touched on the promise of biofuels as part of a larger revolution in consumer biology. The recent emergence of biofuels on the political agenda is worthy of note. It is clear that the world’s dependence on fossil fuel is strained on two fronts: the projection that global supplies will eventually run out, and the need to reduce greenhouse emissions and alter the course of global warming.  Read more

Retail biology

Retail biology

The recent sad news about Steve Jobs got me thinking about the evolution of markets. In the early years of “information and communication technologies” (ICT) there was an obvious focus on the mainstays. People like Jobs and Bill Gates focused on the hardware and software that would ultimately drive the nascent industry. Biology is following a similar path, with a natural focus on the development of the main platforms that have gradually improved and been refined much in the same way as ITC. However, like ICT, many (myself included) expect that we are on the brink of an explosion of  … Read more

A Tale of Two Countries

A Tale of Two Countries

I have had reason of late to consider the nature of targeted economic development in two disparate countries on either side of the globe. Both are awash with excellent science, have free and highly regarded educational systems, and provide exceptional healthcare to their populations. One is the home of whisky and soccer, the other the home of rum and cricket. Scotland has experienced two decades of intensive public support via its economic development organisation Scottish Enterprise, which has initiated a plethora of programs, including early stage Proof of Concept schemes, educational fellowships to nurture and mentor budding entrepreneurs (the Royal  … Read more