Anglia Ruskin University's Honorary Graduate Site

Search for an Honorary

Anglia Ruskin News and Events

Students enjoy clean sweep at Macmillan awards
Artists from Anglia Ruskin University have swept the board at the prestigi... more

Tom wins award for impressive body of work
Talented Tom Hiscocks has won the 2013 Dr Supanee Gazeley Fine Art Prize -... more

Around the World in 80 Books with Kate Mosse
Bestselling novelist Kate Mosse will take part in a literary event with a ... more

Honorary Doctor of Business Administration, 2011
Bio | Citation

Dr Jonathan Milner is the principal founder and Chief Executive Officer of Abcam, a hugely successful e-commerce company specialising in life sciences. Abcam is located on the Cambridge Science Park and has a worldwide presence via offices on the east and west coasts of the US, in Hong Kong and in Tokyo.

Jonathan floated Abcam on AIM (London Stock Exchange's international market for smaller growing companies) in 2005, since which time the company's shares have increased around 10-fold, making it one of the most successful companies in the history of AIM. It had sales revenues in the year to June 2010 in excess of £70 million and operating profits of £26 million - compared with sales of just £12 million in 2005.

Abcam is engaged in research, development, marketing and sales of antibodies and a wide range of related products, including antigens, peptides, lysates, immunoassays and test kits. The products in its portfolio can be applied to many research areas including Cancer, Cardiovascular, Cell Biology, Immunology, Microbiology, and Neuroscience.

Jonathan had no previous business training or relevant commercial experience but had always had a healthy interest in companies performing well in the life sciences arena. The idea for Abcam came early in 1988 when Jonathan was working in a laboratory at the University of Cambridge. He was originally a researcher in genetics and molecular biology, completing a PhD in genetics at Leicester University. Later he joined the Cambridge University Wellcome Trust and the Cancer Research Institute to work on breast cancer genes. The project slowed because of problems finding quality antibody reagents and this gave Jonathan the idea of setting up an online service. Traditionally, laboratory reagents had been sold via paper catalogues, which could only carry a limited amount of information and were soon out of date. By using the internet, it would be possible to provide a near limitless amount of continually updated information to create an invaluable resource for researchers from around the globe.

As a result Abcam was founded by Jonathan and two other partners, a Cambridge academic and a telecoms entrepreneur. There were times when the new web-based antibody company looked like it might not make it and it was then that Jonathan took some popular antibodies around to laboratories in an ice-bucket in order to get colleagues to try them, which thankfully they did. Abcam is now the largest supplier of research antibodies and reagents in the world and ships antibodies to over 70 countries, which is testament to its ongoing and outstanding global success. With its mission to build the largest online catalogue of the best antibodies in the world, it is fast becoming the 'Amazon' of antibodies.

Jonathan has undergone a transformation from scientist to entrepreneur and although he misses the prospect of 'discovery' he is happy to manage the business that he created. He maintains that entrepreneurs must be visionary, motivated and, above all, have enough confidence in their own ability to win through. He modestly attributes some of his success to the entrepreneurial atmosphere he found in Cambridge, something he said he had not previously found in other areas of the UK.

The story of Abcam's success is a perfect fusion of education, research and entrepreneurship coming together at its best, something we have been championing through our own entrepreneurship research here at Anglia Ruskin. It illustrates the cycle from business idea to capital raising, operational organisation to market flotation and global presence. Jonathan's story of the pursuit of scientific advance through one simple concept sets the perfect example for researchers, students and business start-ups throughout the world.

Areas Of Interest: Business, Science
Faculty: Lord Ashcroft International Business School
Citation:

"Vice Chancellor, it is my pleasure to read the citation for Dr Jonathan Milner for the award of Doctor of Business Administration.

Dr Jonathan Milner is the principal founder and Chief Executive Officer of Abcam, a hugely successful e-commerce company specialising in life sciences. Abcam is located on the Cambridge Science Park and has a worldwide presence via offices on the east and west coasts of the US, in Hong Kong and in Tokyo.

Jonathan floated Abcam on AIM (London Stock Exchange's international market for smaller growing companies) in 2005, since which time the company's shares have increased around 10-fold, making it one of the most successful companies in the history of AIM. It had sales revenues in the year to June 2010 in excess of £70 million and operating profits of £26 million - compared with sales of just £12 million in 2005.

Abcam is engaged in research, development, marketing and sales of antibodies and a wide range of related products, including antigens, peptides, lysates, immunoassays and test kits. The products in its portfolio can be applied to many research areas including Cancer, Cardiovascular, Cell Biology, Immunology, Microbiology, and Neuroscience.

Jonathan had no previous business training or relevant commercial experience but had always had a healthy interest in companies performing well in the life sciences arena. The idea for Abcam came early in 1988 when Jonathan was working in a laboratory at the University of Cambridge. He was originally a researcher in genetics and molecular biology, completing a PhD in genetics at Leicester University. Later he joined the Cambridge University Wellcome Trust and the Cancer Research Institute to work on breast cancer genes. The project slowed because of problems finding quality antibody reagents and this gave Jonathan the idea of setting up an online service. Traditionally, laboratory reagents had been sold via paper catalogues, which could only carry a limited amount of information and were soon out of date. By using the internet, it would be possible to provide a near limitless amount of continually updated information to create an invaluable resource for researchers from around the globe.

As a result Abcam was founded by Jonathan and two other partners, a Cambridge academic and a telecoms entrepreneur. There were times when the new web-based antibody company looked like it might not make it and it was then that Jonathan took some popular antibodies around to laboratories in an ice-bucket in order to get colleagues to try them, which thankfully they did. Abcam is now the largest supplier of research antibodies and reagents in the world and ships antibodies to over 70 countries, which is testament to its ongoing and outstanding global success. With its mission to build the largest online catalogue of the best antibodies in the world, it is fast becoming the 'Amazon' of antibodies.

Jonathan has undergone a transformation from scientist to entrepreneur and although he misses the prospect of 'discovery' he is happy to manage the business that he created. He maintains that entrepreneurs must be visionary, motivated and, above all, have enough confidence in their own ability to win through. He modestly attributes some of his success to the entrepreneurial atmosphere he found in Cambridge, something he said he had not previously found in other areas of the UK.

Abcam has won a number of industry awards including 'Company of the Year' at the 2009 AIM Awards and 'Business of the Year' at the Business Weekly East of England Awards. Jonathan was also named 'CEO of the Year' at the Quoted Company Awards 2010 and 'Entrepreneur of the Year Award' in the 2010 AIM Awards for his achievements.

The story of Abcam's success is a perfect fusion of education, research and entrepreneurship coming together at its best, something we have been championing through our own entrepreneurship research here at Anglia Ruskin. It illustrates the cycle from business idea to capital raising, operational organisation to market flotation and global presence. Jonathan's story of the pursuit of scientific advance through one simple concept sets the perfect example for researchers, students and business start-ups throughout the world.

Vice Chancellor, it is my pleasure to present Dr Jonathan Milner for the award of Doctor of Business Administration, honoris causa."

Beth Chatto OBE is the queen of gardening. The now world-famous Beth Chatto Gardens at Colchester garden began in 1960, on wasteland at the back of her late husband, Andrew Chatto's fruit farm, where many problem areas have been transformed into...

Read this feature

Jerome Booth is head of research for the Ashmore Group plc, a world leading emerging markets investments company. He is the second largest shareholder, a member of the Investment Committee and the 'public face' of the company, regularly contributing..

Read this feature

The 2013 Graduation Ceremony dates can be found here

2013 ceremony dates