Bio-entrepreneurship as a bridge between science and business in a regional cluster: South Africa's first attempts

Abstract

Biotechnology is a young, but important industry in South Africa. As elsewhere, entrepreneurship is considered crucial to unlocking the growth potential of biotechnology. This paper is novel in that it assesses the first structured attempts in South Africa to equip scientists to build a bridge between the science of biotechnology and the commercialisation of knowledge in this field. Employing case study methods, the bio-entrepreneurship training programme at Cape Biotech is evaluated. The main objective of the programme is to support and facilitate the development of business skills necessary for sustainable biotechnology ventures, and the development of bio-entrepreneurs and future business managers. The programme is evaluated against its objectives from the perspectives of the participants and against the backdrop of their understanding of bio-entrepreneurship, their views on the prospects for South Africa’s biotechnology industry, and their assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of this industry in the Western Cape region.