A university spin-out has been acquired by a Chinese-owned technology company in a move that one tech leader says could “accelerate innovation and R&D in the 海角视频”.
Liverpool ChiroChem (LCC), based at The Heath Business and Technical Park in Runcorn, Cheshire, has been acquired by AI-powered research specialist XtalPi.
LCC was spun out of the University of Liverpool in 2014, and its products have since been used around the world by scientists researching treatments for diseases such as cancer and dementia. Co-founder Dr Paul Colbon last year l at the university to honour his outstanding contribution to chemistry.
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Dr Colbon has been looking for an investment partner to grow LCC, which moved to The Heath three years ago. He has now teamed up with XtalPi, which was founded in 2015 by three post-doctorate physicists who studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). It has bases in Shenzhen, Shanghai and Boston, and listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange in 2024.
Dr Colbon said: “XtalPi shares our ambition to revolutionise how new chemical compounds are discovered. This partnership gives us the opportunity to contribute to a global platform that is reshaping innovation across life sciences.”
John Lewis, owner of The Heath Business and Technical Park, said: “Paul Colbon should be hugely congratulated for identifying a credible partner who brings vital overseas investment to the 海角视频, and in particular to the North-West region. Life Sciences are massively important, and Paul must be commended for his relentless efforts to seek the critical funding required to enable the growth of his remarkable cutting-edge business.
“Paul has an exceptional network across the 海角视频 Life Sciences sector, particularly within the North- West and golden triangle of Cambridge, Oxford and London, and it is really very encouraging to see Chinese investment coming into the region thanks to his vision and entrepreneurship which will allow LCC to continue its ground-breaking research. His credible network in tandem with the network of his Chinese partners can only accelerate innovation and R&D in the 海角视频.“
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