Two new laboratory lettings at Liverpool Science Park have further boosted the city region’s thriving £1.7bn life sciences sector and added to the diverse mix of technology tenants.

Lab space at Liverpool Science Park’s new £8m wing of Innovation Centre 1 (ic1) is now more than 70 per cent full following the addition of two new bioscience businesses – Nano Biosols and Gemini Biosciences.

With close links to the University of Liverpool, both companies are developing products and services to support biomedical and life sciences research.

The double move means that eight out of eleven of the laboratories in Liverpool Science Park’s new wing on Mount Pleasant are now taken. The take up of labs is not just in the life sciences sector and spans knowledge rich technology businesses, advanced manufacturing and chemistry.

Chris Musson, chief executive of Liverpool Science Park, which celebrates its tenth anniversary this year, said:

“The extension to the ic1 building was built speculatively in response to the growing demand for lab space in the city from a variety of technologies – basically any business needing to operate out of a clean, sterile environment. We’re therefore delighted to see such as positive take up for the lab space and to see such a unique mix of businesses enjoying the facilities.

“These two new businesses are young, bright and incredibly knowledgeable in their fields of life sciences research and so it’s a pleasure to welcome them to the diverse mix of tenants here at the park.”

Nano Biosols was founded by Adrian Walsh after he received £100,000 investment through The North West Fund for Biomedical, administered by fellow science park tenant, SPARK Impact. Adrian had previously worked at the University of Liverpool for a number of years to develop the gold nanoparticle technology for use in medicines before deciding to pursue his own commercial business.

Speaking about the firm’s new base at Liverpool Science Park, Adrian said:

“Nanomedicine is a growing sector and I’m really pleased with how successful the transition from an academic setting to a business environment has gone so far. Liverpool Science Park made this transition easy because we still feel we have the excellent research links and access to academics as well as being part of a thriving business community and the wider knowledge economy.”

Gemini Biosciences launched this month and plans to develop and commercialise life sciences and biomedical research products and technologies to scientists working at universities, research institutes biotech and pharmaceutical companies.

After gaining his PhD degree at the University of Liverpool, founder and managing director of Gemini Biosciences, Dr Paul Ajuh moved to Scotland where he worked as a research scientist at the University of Dundee (College of Life Sciences) for several years before moving into industry to set up Dundee Cell Products as a spinout company from the university. After leaving Dundee Cell Products, he returned to Liverpool to establish Gemini Biosciences. His choice of Liverpool for the new company is due to interactions with colleagues at the Universities of Liverpool and Manchester and the opportunities for biotech in the city.

Speaking about this, Dr Ajuh said:

“I’ve always loved Liverpool since my days as a student in the city and with the opportunity to work with the research teams at the University of Liverpool, it seemed like a natural fit to launch Gemini Biosciences here. The lab facilities and support available to young high technology companies at Liverpool Science Park are excellent and it is in such a great location, being so close to the two universities, research centres and other exciting projects in the city.”

For more information about the park, visit www.liverpoolsciencepark.co.uk or call 0151 705 3400.