BT5508: Advanced Bio-Business And The Commercialisation Of Bioscience Research

BT5508: ADVANCED BIO-BUSINESS AND THE COMMERCIALISATION OF BIOSCIENCE RESEARCH (2025-2026)

Last modified: 01 Jul 2025 11:16

Course Overview

This advanced course builds on the basics provided in Introduction to Bio-business and the Commercialisation of Bioscience Research (BT5012). It provides more detail on financing and setting up a Bio-business.

The course deals in depth with finance, corporate governance and business models. The major assessment involves the students working together in teams to set up a virtual bio-business and to pitch this business to a group of experts in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sector. The team will adopt the roles of senior management team and present to the experts their part of the business.

Course Details

Study Type	Postgraduate	Level	5
Term	Second Term	Credit Points	15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits)
Campus	Aberdeen	Sustained Study	No
Co-ordinators	Professor Iain R. Gibson

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

Either BT5015 Intro to Bio-Business and the Commercialisation of Bioscience Research (Studied) or BT5016 Introduction to Commercialisation and Bio-Business (Studied)
One of Master Of Science In Biomedical Engineering or MSc Drug Discovery and Development or Master Of Science In Biotechnology And Bioinformatics or Master Of Science In Industrial Biotechnology

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

None.

Are there a limited number of places available?

Course Description

This course will challenge students to think about the nature of research when driven by commercial outcomes. Many of the future recruitment opportunities for students with biotechnology skills may involve roles in bio-business development rather than exclusively research at the bench. This course hopes to put our students to be at a competitive advantage when seeking such career opportunities (particularly when compared to those students that only have a traditional scientific background). The course assumes a basic understanding of the terminology and drivers of bio-business. In a series of "virtual" business settings the students will begin to apply this basic understanding and start appreciating in more detail the process, goals, commercial and scientific milestones that govern a successful biotechnology enterprise.

Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers

Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 21st September 2026 for Term 1 and Full Year courses and 8th January 2027 for Term 2 courses.

Summative Assessments

Infographic

Assessment Type	Summative	Weighting	25
Assessment Weeks		Feedback Weeks		Look up Week Numbers
Feedback

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge Level	Thinking Skill	Outcome
Conceptual	Analyse	Discuss the protection of IPR.
Conceptual	Understand	Describe what success looks like for a young biotech company.
Conceptual	Understand	Explain the requirements for setting up a biotechnology-based business.
Conceptual	Understand	Describe the finances required for setting up a business.
Procedural	Understand	Discuss the roles of the Board of Management and the C-suite team.

Executive Summary

Assessment Type	Summative	Weighting	35
Assessment Weeks		Feedback Weeks		Look up Week Numbers
Feedback

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge Level	Thinking Skill	Outcome
Conceptual	Analyse	Discuss the protection of IPR.
Conceptual	Understand	Explain the requirements for setting up a biotechnology-based business.
Conceptual	Understand	Describe the finances required for setting up a business.
Conceptual	Understand	Describe what success looks like for a young biotech company.
Procedural	Understand	Discuss the roles of the Board of Management and the C-suite team.

Oral Presentation: Group

Assessment Type	Summative	Weighting	40
Assessment Weeks		Feedback Weeks		Look up Week Numbers
Feedback	Duration: 30 minutes

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge Level	Thinking Skill	Outcome
Conceptual	Analyse	Discuss the protection of IPR.
Conceptual	Understand	Describe the finances required for setting up a business.
Conceptual	Understand	Describe what success looks like for a young biotech company.
Conceptual	Understand	Explain the requirements for setting up a biotechnology-based business.
Procedural	Understand	Discuss the roles of the Board of Management and the C-suite team.

Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge Level	Thinking Skill	Outcome
Procedural	Understand	Discuss the roles of the Board of Management and the C-suite team.
Conceptual	Understand	Explain the requirements for setting up a biotechnology-based business.
Conceptual	Understand	Describe the finances required for setting up a business.
Conceptual	Analyse	Discuss the protection of IPR.
Conceptual	Understand	Describe what success looks like for a young biotech company.

51cg