Umeå Biotech Incubator (UBI) specializes in developing life science business ideas. Now it is looking for more success beyond its borders with the launch of an international incubator program.
“If you strive to be one of the world’s best incubators you must have the whole world as your marketplace”, says Jennie Ekbeck, CEO of UBI.
Xerum will, on behalf of the Public Health Agency, measure the presence of antibodies in the population against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes covid-19 in Sweden.
“We’re delighted that our antibody test is proving useful”, says Julia Wigren Byström, CEO at Xerum.
Mucocort AB is a Swedish company that has developed a unique self-absorbing pain relief patch for people suffering from recurrent mouth ulcers – aphthous stomatitis. The company has now signed a production agreement with medical technology company Aurena Laboratories AB, which also becomes a stakeholder in Mucocort.
The drug could mean a global treatment revolution for wounds that never heal. Now, the Umeå-based biopharmaceutical company Omnio AB has received a capital injection of 1.5 million euros from its shareholders, which will be used for ongoing development work and to begin creating a blueprint for manufacturing.
Tomas Ruuth is the new Head of PR and Communications at Umeå Biotech Incubator.
Nordic Biomarker has been awarded as the Export Success of the Year in Sweden 2022. The prize was awarded today, August 31, by Minister of Foreign Trade Anna Hallberg in the presence of H.K.H. Prince Daniel.
I juni fick Nordic Biomarker motta Årets teknik- och industripris på Umeågalan. Nu kan företaget vinna en ny prestigefylld utmärkelse – som Årets Exportsuccé i Sverige 2022.
– Det är verkligen superhäftigt, säger Rikard Rodén, vd för Nordic Biomarker.
Umeå-based Lipum will reach an important milestone in its history this year as clinical trials begin on its antibody to treat inflammatory diseases. No less than 17 consultants are now involved in the drug’s development.
“Developing a new drug is complicated, and the process is governed by strict regulations. It is therefore important to build a competent team in and around the company. The number of employees a company has does not always tell the whole story. In reality there are often many more people needed to develop a drug”, says Pernilla Abrahamsson, Chief Operating Officer at Lipum.
Swedish biotech company Agrisera has nearly doubled its workforce in the past two years, having recently moved to new and larger premises.
“Demand for our products and services is increasing rapidly. We are in a growth phase and will seek additional talent in the future”, says Erika Gelfgren, CEO of Agrisera.
Den 3 maj arrangerade Umeå Biotech Incubator en arbetsmarknadsdag, där 18 företag deltog.
Över 250 besökare kom och stämningen var god.
– Vi är väldigt nöjda med life science-mässan. Det var väldigt roligt att se så många utställare och besökare som alla var intresserade av life science. Viktigt för branschen – och viktigt för Umeå! säger Malin Walfridsson på Nordic Biomarker.
Umeå Biotech Incubator (UBI) is arranging a recruitment day with life science companies this May – and already 19 companies have signed up to take part.
“We want students to get in touch with us. Recruitment opportunities are everything for life science companies”, says Jennie Ekbeck, CEO of Umeå Biotech Incubator.
The life science industry in the Umeå region is on track to triple its turnover and double the number of people it employs by 2030. To help it reach this target, the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth has awarded Umeå Biotech Incubator (UBI) a grant of SEK 9.5 million.
For the next 18 months, UBI will develop meeting places and create the conditions for the continued growth of the life science industry in northern Sweden.
“We are delighted that our application has been approved! This gives us the opportunity to continue to develop the industry and contribute to the appeal of northern Sweden”, says Jennie Ekbeck, CEO of UBI.
Umeå-based QureTech Bio AB receives support from the Swedish Research Council’s major investment ENABLE-2, which in collaboration with Vinnova gives small and medium-sized companies access to the ENABLE-2 platform to continue development of new antibiotics.
Companies and alumni from Umeå Biotech Incubator (UBI) raised SEK 301 million in capital investment and grants in 2021 – a huge increase of SEK 243 million compared to the previous year.
“It’s an absolutely fantastic amount. We work hard to help companies attract investment, so it is clear that our incubator process is working. Of the companies that raised money, 50 percent have a female CEO, which is extra gratifying”, says Jennie Ekbeck, CEO of UBI.
Umeå-based pharmaceutical company Vakona has signed an agreement with French company GTP Tech to initiate the first manufacturing steps of its acne medicine.
“Production is at a level of quality that enables the medicine to be used in human clinical trials. If all goes well the medicine should be on the market within five to seven years”, says Mats Strömqvist, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Vakona.
Umeå Biotech Incubator (UBI) has strengthened its team with the appointment of two new business coaches – Lisandro Bernardo and Tobias Tovedal.
“There’s significant demand right now for business support, both in the early and late phases of development. We are extremely happy to welcome these two stars to our team”, says Jennie Ekbeck, CEO of Umeå Biotech Incubator.
Ylva Elias has been appointed Business Development Manager at Swedish life science company UmanDiagnostics. She formerly took up her new position in January this year, and is responsible for selling and marketing UmanDiagnostics products throughout Europe.
“This is an incredibly important recruitment for our company. Ylva has the perfect background to be able to help us reach out to new customers in our European markets”, says Niklas Norgren, CEO of UmanDiagnostics.
Inficure Bio a life science company focused on preclinical development and validation of drugs that target chronic inflammatory and fibrotic conditions co-presented with CymaBay Therapeutics positive data at the American Association for the study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) using the company’s proprietary NIF mouse model.
The northern Sweden’s first networking pub for people working in the life science industry will open its doors in Umeå on November 23rd. Behind the initiative is Umeå Biotech Incubator, which has previously been named Europe’s most innovative life science incubator.
“In Umeå we think it is important to ‘pay it forward’. We want to help and support one another and create a strong sense of unity and community. In order to succeed, we need to get to know each other”, says Jennie Ekbeck, CEO of Umeå Biotech Incubator.
Three investors are backing Umeå-based pharmaceutical company Vakona with funding worth millions of SEK.
“We are absolutely delighted and proud to have attracted this investment. It’s a reward for many years of hard work and takes us one step closer to clinical human trials”, says Gabriella Persson, CEO of Vakona.
