Ploughshare, the company that finds new and inspiring uses for government inventions, is pleased to announce the appointment of Raj Parekh as a new Non-Executive Director.
Raj brings a wealth of technical knowledge and more than 20 years of experience as an entrepreneur, investor and biomedical research specialist to the Ploughshare board. He will provide insight and strategic input in support of Ploughshare’s mission to commercialise government research for the good of society.
Simon Devonshire OBE, Chairman of the Ploughshare board, said:
“Ploughshare is pioneering the breakthrough of game-changing technology. Raj brings to the innovators that Ploughshare represents a fellow scientist that has first-hand experience of taking technologies to market at scale.”
Raj pursued a successful academic career in molecular medicine before co-founding Oxford GlycoSciences. Following the company’s sale for more than £100m he pursued a number of successful entrepreneurial ventures and is now a General Partner at biotech investment company Advent Life Sciences, involved primarily with companies engaged in the discovery of new medicines. He also serves on the Board of several portfolio companies including Arrakis, Aura Biosciences and Levicept.
Upon his appointment to the Ploughshare board, Raj said:
“Ploughshare is in an exciting and unique position, holding the key to unlock the societal benefits of an incredible range of government innovations and taxpayer-funded research.
“I am pleased to be asked to play my part in the strategic direction of the organisation as it moves into an exciting new phase of its development, with a focus on delivering continued growth, commercial success and positive impact.”
Hetti Barkworth-Nanton, Ploughshare CEO, said:
“We warmly Raj, whose experience at the forefront of scientific research, combined with his commercial expertise as an entrepreneur and investor, align perfectly with our vision.
“He will bring valuable strategic insight to the board as we deliver our ambitious plans to draw from the vast pool of government innovation, creating hundreds of exciting new ventures to support the UK economy and society as a whole.”
Ploughshare, wholly owned by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, has access to a wide range of technologies developed by leading scientists and engineers at the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and wider government. Since it was founded in 2005 it has licensed more than 140 innovative technologies and created more than 400 jobs.
For more information, and to view Ploughshare’s recent Impact Report, visit www.ploughshare.co.uk.
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