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The Boots Centre for Innovation is taking its hunt for new technologies for the health and beauty sector to Imperial College London on 25 November. This follows the success of the first roadshow at Oxford University in June. The second event will be held in partnership with the university’s technology transfer arm, Imperial Innovations.
The roadshow will provide university scientists and entrepreneurs with a chance to learn about opportunities in the sector, from applying for funding for developing and launching their own products, to understanding emerging global healthcare trends, and other new technologies.
The seminar will also outline the Boots Open Innovation model and the key areas of consumer need the company has identified. These include finding improved ways to diagnose, treat and monitor key aspects of health, beauty and well-being; supporting positive ageing through products and devices for mind and body, and minimising the complications of living with chronic conditions.
Boots Centre for Innovation is a not-for-profit organisation that identifies and facilitates the development of health and beauty products for sale by Boots, the UK’s leading retail chemist. It was set up in 2007 in a partnership between Boots, Longbow Capital and the Institute of Life Science, Swansea University.
A week after the first event there will then be a follow-up session where 10 to 15 of the attendees will be given the opportunity to pitch their product ideas to panel including senior product managers from Boots, as well as Ron Peterson, board director of Boots Centre for Innovation and founder of Longbow Capital LLP, the Centre’s venture capital partner.
“Our first roadshow in Oxford was very successful, and we are now looking to roll these events out across the country,” said managing director of Boots Centre for Innovation, Ged O’Shea. “There are some amazing technologies being developed in universities across the country, and these events allow us to stimulate the developers to introduce their ideas to the mainstream market.”
The New Product Innovation seminar takes place on Tuesday 25 November 2008 from 9am to 11am at Imperial Innovations, Imperial College, London.
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