A North Wales biotech firm has pioneered a new robotic dispensing
system for diagnostic devices that test for conditions such as
cancer, with Welsh Government support.
Biofortuna, in Deeside, secured £225k SMART Flexible Innovation
Support, to develop its BeadBot™ system, which is set to help the
company achieve international growth ambitions.
The project is one of 140 initiatives to receive SMART funding as
part of a £20 million programme launched in 2023 to invest in
cutting-edge research and innovation that will improve people's
lives.
So far £17.9m in innovation grants have been allocated to
companies such as Biofortuna, to design and deliver R&D
solutions to major challenges facing society.
BeadBot™ will enable Biofortuna to expand its customer base in
the growing Lyo bead market, driven in part by the increasing
shift towards point-of-care testing.
It will do this by improving productivity - automating a complex
packing process currently undertaken by qualified scientists and
resolving a bottle neck that limits output.
This will make the company a leader in developing and
manufacturing Lyo beads - building on £4.7m in export contracts
already secured with Welsh Government support.
Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, , said:
“We are committed to fostering a culture of innovation which will
improve the lives of people across Wales. This includes building
a Welsh economy based on the industries and services of the
future.
“This pioneering processing system from Biofortuna will boost
productivity significantly and positions the company to increase
its share of a rapidly growing global market, protecting skilled
jobs and creating the need for new ones.
“It also further strengthens Wales' reputation for excellence in
the dynamic life sciences and advanced manufacturing sectors.”
Chief Operating Officer at Biofortuna Limited, Dr Nick Leaves,
said:
“The Welsh Government's SFIS support will help us significantly
increase our manufacturing capacity, accelerating market
penetration in a rapidly growing and essential segment of the
diagnostics market. This is great example of what can be achieved
when Government and Industry work together.”
