Nexxus Scotland

Link Technologies Ltd

Link Technologies was established in the West of Scotland fifteen years ago and has since built an enviable global reputation as a boutique supplier of complex molecules used in the synthesis of DNA and RNA.

Initially set up by graduates of the University of Glasgow, the company began life within the University's business incubator facilities. As it has grown however, it has chosen to retain its Scottish base. Now with fifteen employees and exporting to twenty countries worldwide, the company works from purpose-built facilities within Strathclyde Medi-Park.

Link Technologies is perhaps best known as a provider of solid supports for DNA and RNA synthesis and prides itself on innovation and creativity, as well as on maintaining first class customer relationships.

During 2005, the company signed a licensing agreement with Merck KGaA to launch OligoPrep^TM, a nucleoside-loaded polyvinylacetate (PVA) solid support designed for cost-effective large-scale oligonucleotide synthesis using standard phosphoramidite chemistry.

Prior to 2000, Link Technologies operated primarily as a contract supplier, manufacturing and developing compounds for major reagent suppliers such as Glen Research and Amersham in the US.      

Since then, however, they have also been supplying products direct to end users, either from in-house development or through licensed marketing agreements. Their main markets are now university research departments and companies using synthetic DNA and RNA for research purposes. A growing part of their business also lies in serving larger pharmaceutical companies and biotech research teams. The company has also forged successful R&D links to academia; several co-projects with the University of Strathclyde being a good example.

The company has weathered the recent challenges faced by the life science sector better than most and Business Development Director Dr John Bremner puts this down to both Link Technologies' niche status and the importance it gives to customer service.

"We have no ambitions to become a supermarket for scientists and prefer to stay focussed and able to respond quickly to customers' specific needs. We have a large catalogue of products, many of which are unique to us, but I see us always remaining at the delicatessen end of the market.

"Our location in the West of Scotland is also significant as we have access to excellent science graduates from the local universities and a high quality labour pool in scientific manufacturing. The enterprise environment in Scotland has also been very supportive in helping us to develop a truly globally-focussed business from Glasgow.

"For many customers, we are the only company in the world able to manufacture to their unique specifications, and on the back of this we have excellent commercial relationships with some of the most innovative research teams in the life sciences sector."  

One of those relationships is with Merck KGaA in Germany. A major company with around 30,000 employees, Merck sought a partner agile enough to sell into its target marketplace. During 2005 Link Technologies therefore signed a licence agreement that allows them to manufacture and market OligoPrep^TM, a solid support designed for cost-effective large-scale oligonucleotide synthesis.

John says, "There's huge symbiosis in this relationship as Link Technologies' size gives us an agility that a big company like Merck cannot have but Merck in turn represents a valuable endorsement of our ability to deliver to exacting standards.

"Link Technologies is fortunate to have some extremely creative people and this has been a major factor in winning valuable partnering agreements with other market leaders such as Biosearch Technologies in California, Exiqon in Denmark and the Medical Research Council in the UK."

Link Technologies sell around 15% of their products in the UK; the rest in countries as far apart as the US and Thailand.

In the future, and building on existing strong customer relationships, John says the company is confident of achieving further expansion in its manufacture of important products such as solid supports. Link Technologies seems set to play a key international role in the increased efficiency of DNA synthesis. 

Working at the cutting edge of scientific research, Link Technologies strives to be constantly innovative and benefits from the many advantages it derives from its location in the West of Scotland; particularly in terms of availability of skilled labour, good communication and transport links and a supportive enterprise environment.