Masashi obtained his PhD in microbial biotechnology at the University of Surrey. He then went back to Japan to work in Tokyo for six years for Hitachi Chemical Co. Ltd. During his time at Hitachi he worked as a researcher on carbon nanotubesbefore being posted to Shanghai for two years to manage the opening of a new Collaborative R&D Centre with one of the leading universities in China. On returning to Tokyo Masashi became business manager within Hitachi for the development of a new biological diagnostic technology for environmental applications.

In 2007 Masashi was appointed Business Development Manager for a major European Chemical Company in Kyoto. His work here focuses on the development of new applications for advanced polymer coatings in the environmental and energy sectors.

Masashi has considerable experience in the commercialisation of a wide range of chemical, nanotechnology and life science diagnostic technologies in both academic and large corporate settings. He has an active and large network of relationships within the large technology corporates across Japan.

Tim studied for a BSc in microbiology at the University of Nottingham and gained a PhD in environmental microbiology at the University of Surrey in 1997. He then pursued an academic career as a Research Fellow at the Universities of Portsmouth and Surrey.

By 2001 Tim had developed a more active interest in commercialising science and at this time spun-out his first company in environmental diagnostics. The company developed a patented field-based toxicity test for soil and went on to specialise in the provision of field analytical products and services for international environmental analysis markets. Tim led the company for seven years, taking it through several rounds of investment and towards trade sale in 2008.

Tim joined Isis Innovation Ltd at the University of Oxford in 2008 as a Consultant, focusing on assignments to support start-up teams in the commercialisation of a wide range of technologies from across the world. In July 2009, he secured investment from Hong Kong for Zyoxel Ltd. This business is developing a human tissue testing platform from the University of Oxford for applications in the development of drugs and regenerative cell therapies.

Tim has >18 years of experience in the commercialisation of early stage technologies. He supports a range of UK government science entrepreneurship initiatives in the UK and has provided editorial and oral presentations on the subject to a wide range of audiences across the world. He has been a business mentor for the Princes Trust and advised a diverse range of start-up businesses.