News
Aitua Chief Executive Catherine Beech named in Birthday Honours
13 June 2008
Aitua Limited (“Aitua”), the life science IP commercialisation company, is delighted to announce that its Chief Executive, Dr Catherine Beech has been awarded the OBE for services to innovation and technology in the Queen’s Birthday Honours 2008.
An active early stage venture investor for over ten years, Dr Beech has been directly involved in the development of a number of start-ups and university spin-outs focusing on human health, including Daniolabs Ltd, Cambridge Biotechnology Ltd and Virabiotech Ltd.
Since October 2006 Dr Beech has been Chief Executive of Aitua Limited, a Cambridge-based investment company which specialises in the creation and acceleration of young life science companies.
Dr Beech was invited to join the DTI’s Technology Strategy Board when it was established in 2004. She was subsequently appointed Chair of the BioIndustry Association’s Fledgling Company Committee, and regularly advises in regional and national knowledge transfer and business innovation competitions.
Commenting on the award, Aitua Chairman Sir Brian Richards CBE said: “The most difficult and most vulnerable phase for any new company is the start-up time. Catherine has amply demonstrated an almost unique capability to provide expertise, support and, with the Aitua model, resources, to ensure that each start-up company in the Aitua portfolio has a good chance to succeed during these early stages. Catherine's strategic capacities then ensure that each of her portfolio companies is able to move to an appropriate next stage, properly advised and resourced.
Catherine brings energy and enthusiasm to company development and technology commercialisation, and I am delighted that her contribution to UK innovation and technology strategy has been recognised in this way.”
Dr Beech said: “I am very honoured to have received this award. It really recognises the Government's support for and commitment to innovation and technology in the UK.”