New CEO for biotech incubator

Johannesburg, 10 Jun 2004

Life Sciences incubator eGoli BIO has appointed a new CEO, Dr Charles Dettman, to succeed Dr Paul Abrahams. Abrahams has been appointed CEO of Mbuyu Biotech, a start-up company within the eGoli BIO Incubator.

eGoli BIO is the result of a joint initiative between CSIR Bio/Chemtek, the Innovation Hub and AfricaBio, and aims to create a critical mass of biotechnologists and biotechnology organisations to stimulate the economic development of the industry in SA.

Dettman has extensive experience in the biotech industry, having completed a BSc Honours degree in Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Natal. He spent the first phase of his career as a medical scientist with the Medical Research Council in Durban.

During this time he completed a PhD degree on aspects of cross-species immunity in bilharzia.

"Dr Dettman has had experience in developing and selling diagnostic products and will thus be able to identify, quickly evaluate and assist in the development of potential tenants for the incubator," says Rodney Blower, chairman of the board of trustees.

"He has had considerable management experience and given his academic achievements and research experience, he is well placed to focus on populating eGoli BIO with ambitious, vibrant and viable tenants."

'Biotech for national priorities`

According to Dettman, the application of modern biotechnology will play a vital role in addressing a number of key national priorities in SA, in areas such as health, food security, environment and scientific capacity building.

"The potential benefits of biotechnology in terms of wealth creation must also not be underestimated, as it is widely acknowledged that biotechnology will become a major driver of the global economy," he says.

"However, in developing countries such as SA, the creation of a healthy commercial biotechnology sector is only likely to happen if deliberate steps are taken to foster an environment that actively promotes the successful establishment of biotechnology businesses."

He acknowledges that SA`s track record of achievement in the life sciences is excellent, and that the international standing of many of our academic and research institutions is widely recognised.

The problem, he believes, is that very little of the research conducted by these institutions has been aimed directly at commercial objectives, and that researchers have generally failed to recognise their potential to act as both scientists and entrepreneurs.

"While the growth phase of the coming global bioeconomy is admittedly still at an early stage, the reality is that if we are to catch and ride the wave, we must act vigorously now to convert the existing resources of scientific knowledge and expertise into innovative commercial enterprises, and to stimulate those involved in the development and application of new biotechnologies in SA.

"eGoli BIO was created to bridge the traditional gap between academia and commerce and to identify new biotech SMME opportunities, promote a spirit of entrepreneurship, and provide facilities and services intended to nurture young firms through the start-up period," says Dettman.

"In this way eGoli BIO will help them to survive and grow during the period when they are most vulnerable, thereby facilitating the establishment of a biotechnology SMME sector that is healthy and sustainable, and contributes meaningfully to SA`s economic growth."