About us

OBN is a not-for-profit business network which provides comprehensive support for biotech and medtech companies in the Oxford and South-East England biocluster and beyond. Our activities can be summarised as networking, partnering, group purchasing, advice and information dissemination.  Through its delivery of Europe's fastest growing biopartnering and investment conference, BioTrinity, OBN generates more R&D-company-to-investor interactions than anyone else in Europe.  OBN is sponsored by Shire, as Corporate Patron, and Corporate Sponsors MEPC, Manches, James Cowper, Focus, De Facto Communications as well as by its extensive membership of R&D companies and other companies across the entire life sciences industry ecosystem.

Networking is achieved through a regular series of BioTuesdays, OBN's evening networking events which typically feature 3 expert speakers talking on a topic of business, finance or scientific interest, they are typically attended by 60-100 delegates from across the South-East, and take place on the last or 2nd to last Tuesday of the month, about 8-10 BioTuesdays take place annually - you can find them listed in the events section of our website or download our A4 events flyer (useful in your workplace cafe). 

Partnering is achieved through the annual two-day BioTrinity  biopartnering meeting and company showcase, which is attended by over 500 delegates from 16 countries who took part in over 750 one-to-one partnerings and watched over 30 company showcases, attend workshops, an exhibition and networking receptions. BioTrinity has its own website - see www.biotrinity.com

Group Purchasing is achieved through OBN's Purchasing Scheme, which is managed by a specialist purchasing manager, and which saves Full Member companies substantial savings on lab supplies, dry ice, gases, employee screening and other commodity areas and services.

Advice is given through our BioEntrepreneurs Advice Bureau which brokers free 1-to-1 meetings with seasoned professionals to guide start-ups and emerging companies to help entrepreneurs succeed

Information is disseminated sharing knowledge on the cluster through website news, BioCluster Report and BioCluster Map, showcasing Oxford and South East companies and technologies, providing a portal on the cluster.

You may also be interested in reading our Terms of Reference document, "OBN Frontiers" which you will find below, and when you are ready your company can Join OBN

OBN Frontiers

The core focus of OBN is to:

• Maintain an open and effective business network that brings the BioCluster together, facilitating communication among members, including one-to-one partnering opportunities
  

• To showcase Oxford and South-East companies, technologies and licensing opportunities to investors, licensing and alliance managers and the wider biotech and healthcare community
  

• Provide communication channels to champion the Oxford and South-East's BioCluster through listings of the companies, institutions, investors and professional service members of the Network, vital statistics, news and events about the success of the BioCluster on the OBN web site and within the OBN Cluster Report and OBN BioCluster Map.
  

• To disseminate information from partner organisations such as SEEDA, SEHTA, TVLSN, ERBI, LBN, Department of Trade & Industry, UK Trade & Investment, ABPI and the UK BioIndustry Association that may be of benefit to the BioCluster

• Provide opportunities to bring OBN’s Members together with other BioClusters in the UK and internationally, and also to achieve economies of scale with suppliers to the industry

   

  Delivered through:

• BioTuesdays: Monthly networking meetings attracting typically 80 delegates with 3 expert speakers, each with a theme of relevance to our members, with a regional or more local focus.

   

• BioTrinity - OBN's annual Biotech Partnering and Investment Conference incorporating a Company Showcase attracting 500+ delegates from around the UK and internationally to an intense partnering meeting, with analysis of key deals, key notes from industry leaders, showcasing the region's most promising emerging companies, showcasing technology and licensing opportunity showcase and excellent one-to-one Partnering facilities, exhibition and workshops. Attracts more investment sector firms than any other UK conference. Find out more.

   

• OBN and the Oxford and South East Biotech Cluster Download our new document about OBN and the Oxford and South-East biotech & healthcare cluster: The Definitive Guide ".