UPDATE: TSB Makes Cell Therapy Technology and Innovation Centre Announcement
21 Nov 2011
When the Technology Strategy Board invited interested parties to express its interests in establishing a Technology and Innovation Centre in Cell Therapy, it clearly stated that finding the right leadership and vision for the operation of the Centre was critically important.
Equally important was for industry to play the biggest possible role in defining, scoping and prioritising the initial establishment of the Centre and the ability for any organisation that was going to deliver the Centre to build and maintain strong bridges with the community.
These principles underpin the approach the TSB takes for all areas in which it explores the possibility of establishing a Technology and Innovation Centre and forms a core part of the assessment process.
The Cell Therapy Centre assessment process and the Governing Board review of the process indicated that while the bids demonstrated strengths in particular areas, no one bid was seen as having all necessary components to deliver the Centre. The Governing Board felt that the industry needed to play a bigger role than was seen. It also recognised that the Centre would not be a success unless all the teams and the broader cell therapy community engage with it.
The TSB still believes that cell therapy is an ideal candidate for a Technology and Innovation Centre and it is fully committed to establishing a Centre that can achieve success in this area for the UK.
However, the process so far has not delivered the expected progress towards the delivery of a Centre and the TSB has come to the conclusion that a new approach is needed.
To this end the TSB will establish an interim steering group, comprising of selected members of the Technology Strategy Board Governing Board members and industry partners, initially starting with members of the assessment panel.
In consultation with the Governing Board and assessment panel members, the TSB is taking active steps to appoint an independent leadership team. Furthermore the TSB will work with the interim steering group and nominate the location for the centre as well as help shape the direction and vision for the operation of the Centre moving forward.
We recognise that the bid teams of Edinburgh, Cambridge and Newcastle, and UCL and Loughborough Universities have invested a huge amount of effort in the process to date and very much appreciate the contribution they have made in developing the thinking around the Centre. We look forward to continuing to work with them as we shape the Centre.
We are keen to work with the community to help us establish a Centre by April 2012 and hope that we can count on your continuing support and input.
Visit the TSB _connect website for further information.
