Ian D. Robertson Inc. | Business Management Consulting

Our experience goes back over 15 years to a very early time for BC Biotech. At that time, Mr Robertson was called upon by a group of academic researchers at UBC to assist in drafting a plan for taking some their contract work off campus in some sort of a commercial venture. A wholly owned subsidiary of a US public company emerged and operated for 3 three years. While that venture was then closed down, elements of it can be found in a Canadian public company and in a thriving private firm, both based in Vancouver.

Since then we have helped many other biotech enterprises to get underway. Central to most efforts has been finding a suitable lab and office facility. Because the industry is so young, there is a shortage of available space for lease. Invariably either the starting point is steel, glass and concrete, or extensive and complicated renovations. Using our project management experience and skills, we have helped to design and equip many labs, and have worked with designers, engineers, contractors, suppliers and technical experts to bring about the finished product as a functioning lab and office facility. Our experience in negotiating leases for biotech in BC is unmatched. We have been able to deliver to the client a lease which takes into account the special needs and concerns of a biotech facility whether as a sole tenant, or as one of many tenants within a facility.

In one situation, we coordinated the dismantling of a lab in the USA and its move to Vancouver where the components were re-assembled into a new first class lab. This saved the client over 50% of the cost of using new materials. Once a lab is settled in a facility the cost of relocation can be enormous. Because of our expertise in lease negotiation we have been able to negotiate special terms and conditions permitting maximum flexibility for the client, such that expansions can made without disruption or relocation.

Human Resource Strategy is becoming acknowledged as one of the major factors in the growth of the Biotech sector in BC. We have advised and worked with clients to ensure that the HR strategy will accelerate the growth of the firms and its technology.

Negotiating intellectual property agreements is a major issue to Biotechs, particularly when first establishing the platform on which the IP will be developed. We have assisted firms in negotiating their IP agreements, particularly with UBC, and are both well known and respected by the university.

Our role in a number of Biotechs has been to manage the support services over a long period, spanning several years of the early stage growth from infant to medium sized firm. We have consequently developed a detailed understanding of biotech generally, and extensive knowledge and skill with smaller firms.

	To find out how we can help you, call us now at (604) 943-3715, or email us at idr@robertsoninc.ca.