Welsh biotech launches new partnership, awarded government funding to advance innovation in 3D bioprinting

Jellagen, an innovative biotech company developing a proprietary next-generation biomaterial, Collagen Type 0, announce partnership with Copner Biotech, a pioneer in 3D bioprinting, after securing innovation funding of £123,724 from SMART Cymru.

This partnership has the potential to transform the 3D bioprinting market, which is projected to reach £1.4 billion by 20281. Clinical applications for 3D bioprinted materials are broad and range from skin, bone, cartilage and blood vessel printing. Jellyfish-derived Collagen Type 0 has proven to promote an anti-inflammatory driven tissue response that produces fewer side effects than traditional collagens derived from mammals2, producing a high-quality, compatible and reproducible bio-ink. Copner Biotech brings to the partnership advanced algorithm software, enabling heightened precision of 3D bioprinting. Together, the collaboration has the potential to create a paradigm shift in 3D bioprinting, at a time of high market growth.

Professor Andrew Mearns Spragg, Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Jellagen comments,

“We are absolutely delighted to partner with Jordan Copner and his team at Copner Biotech. SMART Cymru has enabled the creation of an exciting collaboration between two high-growth Welsh businesses at the forefront of exciting technological innovation in 3D software design capability and medical tissue engineering.”

Jordan Copner, Founder and CEO of Copner Biotech further added,

“This is an enormously exciting scientific collaboration between Copner Biotech and Jellagen, and a reflection of the increasing significance of 3D bioprinting in the Global medical research landscape. Our partnership aims to push the boundaries to advance innovation in biomedical engineering.”

This project is partly funded by European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)