Get into business

Born out of the success of the College of Medicine at Swansea University, the Institute of Life Science (ILS) is both a concept and a physical space. Its aim is the application of interdisciplinary science to health and medicine and the coupling of medical advance with economic development.

The purpose-built facility provides an environment that draws research expertise from the Colleges of Science and Engineering and the School of Business at Swansea University, enabling us to push forward the frontiers of knowledge with integrated support. Underpinning this innovative environment is a specialist business team, focused on building commercial-academic links in support of the ILS’s research and taking the advances from the laboratory into hospitals, surgeries and homes.

Life science is recognised as one of the most fertile sources of technology transfer in the world, giving the ILS the potential to create significant economic wealth. Opportunities are arising from areas such as research collaboration, intellectual property licensing, spinout companies and inward investment. Business Incubator Suites, integrated in the building’s design, are maximising such opportunities.

Becoming a Client Organisation within the ILS Business Incubation Suite can open doors to your business that you may not be able to access elsewhere.

As a Client Organisation, not only will you be surrounded by experts in the field of medicine, but also experts in other fields across Swansea University from Health Science to Engineering, Economics to Law. It will also earn you a place in the ever-strengthening life science cluster that has begun to take shape across the region.

Businesses best suited to the ILS will often fall into one of the following groups:

• University spin-outs
• Welsh start-up businesses
• Inward investors (global, SME, micro companies)
• Government research organisations

Affiliate Membership

Institute of Life Science (ILS) Affiliate Membership provides early stage businesses with one of the swiftest and most effective ways of developing a relationship with ILS. As an Affiliate Member of ILS you will be able to access many of the benefits of being part of the Life Science cluster. This is a useful pre-cursor to becoming a Client Organisation of the ILS.

The scheme is also available to more established Life Science businesses interested in collaborating with ILS and networking with others already based at ILS as well as ILS graduates.  The Annual Affiliate Scheme allows you to have access to the services provided to Client Organisations, plus occasional use of a hot-desk.

Benefits

• Use of meeting and conference rooms, specialist facilities and equipment in the ILS
• Access to seminars and workshops organised by the ILS
• Invitation to networking events providing the opportunity to collaborate and share best practice with other Affiliates and Client Organisations
• Included on the College of Medicine Bulletin distribution list
• Access to Business Support staff
• Access to a serviced desk in a shared suite, which includes telephone and IT links and reception support. Any direct costs incurred will be recharged to the Affiliate

 (Access to services and facilities are subject to availability and reasonable use.)

Membership Package

The membership package is based on an initial 12 month period and membership runs from the 1st of the month in which the agreement is undertaken. The annual membership fee is £250 (plus VAT).

Development

We expect that you will wish to participate fully in the networking opportunities available through being an ILS Affiliate and would encourage you to actively seek collaborative relationships with College of Medicine staff, ILS and other Client Organisations.

Interested?

If you are interested in becoming an Affiliate Member of the ILS, please complete and email back the  ILS Affiliate application form or contact the Business Development team directly.