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eGoli Bio
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About
eGoli BIO is a not-for-profit agency that was created to supplement and complement all initiatives aimed at building the South African bioeconomy, in particular those of the National Biotechnology Strategy (NBS). eGoli BIO’s contribution to these efforts is
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intended to be delivered specifically through incubation-related activities, including:
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Promoting the creation of new bio-based commercial. |
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Helping the founders of such ventures to manage the innovation process. |
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Helping young bio-based companies to establish sound business management practices. |
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| Since its launch in February 2003, eGoli BIO has contributed substantially to promoting the development of the South African biotechnology sector. Numerous entrepreneurs have received various forms of support, including: |
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Guidance on technology commercialization strategies. |
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Business case development and concept viability analysis. |
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IP management strategies. |
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Preparation of business plans. |
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Legal guidance. |
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Project management. |
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Raising capital. |
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Financial management. |
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Access to service providers and potential partners. |
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Networking opportunities. |
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Office facilities and infrastructure. |
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| At the heart of eGoli BIO’s offering is a commitment to providing “customized”, management-level support to entrepreneurs engaged in building new bio-based businesses. The incubator thus strives to become integrally involved in assisting its clients with their business development and management challenges. This usually entails meeting with the entrepreneurs on a regular basis and helping them with practical, day-to-day issues - in short, providing the kind of hands-on guidance and support that keeps them focused and moving forward. The nature of the input provided and the frequency of engagement is “customized” according to the stage of venture development and the capabilities of the respective entrepreneurs. In this way, the Incubator serves to temporarily fill the team gaps which are perhaps the greatest weakness of start-up companies, especially those created by technologically-biased entrepreneurs. |
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| From the perspective of both public and private-sector funding agencies, eGoli BIO represents an important investment-protection partner. By staying close to the management of the new ventures that it supports, the Incubator not only helps to enhance the overall chances that these ventures will succeed, but can also detect possible threats to success before they become excessively damaging. At a broader level, eGoli BIO believes that it can help to accelerate the development of the South African biotechnology sector by focusing on three complementary strategies: |
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Supporting the work of the Biotechnology Innovation Centres (BICs) and other instruments of the national system of innovation (NSI). |
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Supporting life science start-ups that fall outside the reach of the BICs and other NSI instruments. |
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Facilitating the creation of new ventures based on inward technology transfer. |
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Although eGoli BIO does, in most instances, require some form of financial return from the ventures that it supports, this is typically structured on a deferred basis (i.e. subject to the success of the venture) and is never onerous. The emphasis of the Incubator’s work is on promoting the establishment of viable, sustainable bioscience businesses, as a public-good endeavour, rather than on making money from them.
In a directly related vein, eGoliBIO places the principles of promoting equity for and economic development of previously disadvantaged individuals at the core of its value system.
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©Bio2Biz 2008. All Rights Reserved.
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Bio2Biz is proudly sponsored by:
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Bio2Biz is proudly sponsored by:
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