SCIENTIST and entrepreneur Richard Davies has been appointed chairman of the University of Southampton spin-out company Capsant Neurotechnologies Ltd.

Mr Davies, who is currently a non-executive director of Southampton Innovations Ltd and Southampton Asset Management Ltd, the holding companies for the university's intellectual property and spin-out company shareholdings, has considerable experience in helping technological companies to flourish in executive and non-executive roles.

"Capsant is an innovative company which will help drug companies develop new treatments," he said.

"I hope to bring my knowledge of running businesses both large and small to help them grow."

Lars Sundstrom, chief executive of Capsant, said: "I am delighted that Richard is joining the Capsant team. His experience in growing businesses will be invaluable to us."

After graduating with a physics degree from the University of Liverpool, Mr Davies took a further diploma in electronics at the University of Southampton and worked in research and consultancy at Southampton's Institute of Sound and Vibration Research (ISVR).

He then led one of the university's first spin-outs, Acoustic Technology Ltd, which was acquired by Sarasota in 1984. As executive chairman, he also took KBC Advanced Technologies to a full stock market listing in 1997.

He has contributed expertise to other technology companies in a non-executive capacity. Mr Davies is a keen sailor with experience of crossing the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.