Welcome to the fourth edition of Inside Cambridge! Since launching a year ago, we've explored and shared some of the incredible stories of innovation, growth, and community that make Cambridge such a special and inspiring place. In this edition, we continue to celebrate the pioneering spirit of Cambridge, bringing you the latest insights from this vibrant hub of creativity and collaboration, and reflect on developments in Mishcon de Reya's two other UK locations, London and Oxford.
We spotlight Mishcon's support for the Accelerate Cambridge programme at the Cambridge Judge Business School. Becki Quick and Chris Keen discuss their involvement in this initiative, designed to nurture entrepreneurship by providing aspiring business leaders with the tools, mentorship, and education needed to turn innovative ideas into successful ventures.
We examine Cambridge's contributions to innovative biotechnology, particularly in the development of biological drugs. From the early days of insulin to groundbreaking work on monoclonal antibodies, Cambridge scientists have been at the forefront of transforming medical treatments for diseases like cancer and Alzheimer's. David Rainford observes how their innovations have not only led to life-changing therapies but have also garnered global recognition, including multiple Nobel Prizes.
Mishcon de Reya operates in all three of the main commercial life sciences hubs in the UK: Cambridge, London and Oxford; it is to Oxford we now turn. We feature a recent Oxford+ podcast focusing on Dame Professor Molly Stevens' work on the interface between nanoscience and healthcare. Her multidisciplinary team is conducting pioneering research into novel materials and techniques covering regenerative medicine, drug delivery and analytical devices, including the first device capable of trapping and analysing nanoparticles.
Molly Stevens is at the top of her game, but only around 10% of Britain's and America's biggest companies have women CEOs. What's stopping women from rising to the top of companies and how can more women get there? The latest Now & Next video by The Economist examines possible causes and ways of redressing the imbalance.
It is not only our clients who are innovators; we as a firm are at the forefront of applying cutting-edge innovation, in particular AI technologies, to our own business. In that vein, we have formed a strategic partnership with Legora to integrate generative AI solutions into our legal workflows, aiming to enhance efficiency and client service. Read more about this exciting collaboration in our publication.
Rounding off, we look back at the historic development of the forfeiture rule, and forward to the future of design protection in the UK. We hope you enjoy this first anniversary edition of Inside Cambridge. Join us next quarter for further insights!
By Alexandra Gooden, Senior Counsel