INTRO:
In London, biotech start-ups are breaking from tradition and finding a new home in a complex of shipping containers.
The Open Cell bio-village is backed by the local council and Imperial College University. And for those taking up workspaces within the shipping containers, it provides a community environment for those with more unconventional backgrounds
IN: An unassuming entrance
OUT: SOC
DUR: 3'15
AIR: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0924biotech-containers-pkg-np-air.mp3
ARN: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0924biotech-containers-pkg-np-arn.mp3
FM4: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0924biotech-containers-pkg-np-fm4.mp3
GENERIC: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0924biotech-containers-pkg-np-generic.mp3
ICRT: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0924biotech-containers-pkg-np-icrt.mp3
NIGERIA: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0924biotech-containers-pkg-np-von.mp3
938LIVE: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0924biotech-containers-pkg-np-938.mp3
RNZ: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0924biotech-containers-pkg-np-rnz.mp3
SRN: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0924biotech-containers-pkg-np-srn.mp3
VATICAN: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0924biotech-containers-pkg-np-vatican.mp3
ZIZ: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0924biotech-containers-pkg-np-ziz.mp3
SCRIPT
An unassuming entrance next to a busy marketplace in the West of the English capital London, is where you'll find the Open Cell bio-village.
An unusual location, for an unusual set of workspaces.
Because each bio-tech company based here is renting out a shipping container.
The bio-village was set up by two entrepreneurs, who are not from a traditional biotechnology background - one is a physicist, the other a designer. And, as co-founder Thomas Meany explains, they wanted a space to suit people just like them.
THOMAS MEANY, OPEN CELL CO-FOUNDER
"My co-founder and me were trying to run a biotechnology company, we really struggled to find somewhere that had all of the infrastructure we needed but was outside the traditional tech-transfer university environment"
And although the co-founders believe the UK already has good facilities for bio-tech start ups, they say that Open Cell offers something slightly different, here's its other co-founder Helene Steiner
HELENE STEINER, OPEN CELL CO-FOUNDER
"Everybody here in open cell is a little bit non traditional, so it makes us this background and there's much more of a focus on sustainability and consumer products So I guess we fill a quite unique gap or niche within it but we have a fantastic ecosystem within the UK"
The shipping containers can be transformed into any kind of space the company renting one wants - currently there are laboratories used to make materials out of industrial potato waste, office spaces, and studios for fashion designers using bioplastics to create their clothing range.
In total, there around 50 containers which make up this bio-village.
And co-founder Thomas Meany explains that there are plenty of advantages to renting a shipping container, as opposed to finding a more traditional space.
THOMAS MEANY, OPEN CELL CO-FOUNDER
"Some people see it as a blank canvas. You've got this space 150 square foot, it's a lot cheaper than at a university and it's also a co-working space sense of community."
And that sense of community is said to be key to Open Cell, here's Helene Steiner again.
HELENE STEINER, OPEN CELL CO-FOUNDER
"Everyone is roughly at the same stage, a year old or a year out of university, so you have to figure out how do finances work, how do you build design or even from the physical challenges, so it's very nice if you can knock on your neighbours door and ask for help. So it's a little bit of the cup of sugar idea as well what is happening."
It's certainly something that has attracted Tasha Tucker to this space, she's the CEO of Olumbria, a biotech company providing an alternative pollination solution for bees - where flies supplement bee pollination thanks to a chemical device.
TASHA TUCKER, CEO, OLUMBRIA
"We wanted to have a space where we were surrounded by a community of other scientists and designers.. this base really allows us to play and be fun and have a network we didn't have before."
Working out of a shipping container may not be for everyone.
But this space is providing a working environment to biotech companies who are breaking the mould and wanting something different to traditional workspaces.
It also allows them to be part of a community and collaborate with other companies on site. SOC