United initiative to strengthen UK economy

LifeSciencesUK, a new initiative representing the human healthcare industry, was launched on January 10 by the UK’s four key healthcare trade associations to build on the government’s commitment to transform the life sciences environment in the UK. The founder members are the Association of British Healthcare Industries (ABHI), the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), the BioIndustry Association (BIA) and the British In Vitro Diagnostics Association (BIVDA), all of whom will continue to represent their individual sector interests. Key objectives include a drive to continuously improve the investment environment for UK companies, to improve access to new medicines, devices, technologies and diagnostics, and demonstrate the importance of UK life sciences to the UK economy.

As recently highlighted in the Government report, ‘Strength and opportunity’, employment in both the medical technology, including in vitro diagnostics, and medical biotechnology sectors grew in 2010 and turnover in both sectors also increased. Additionally, the government’s R&D Scoreboard showed that the pharmaceuticals and biotechnology sector continued to be the largest contributor to R&D in the UK in 2009, accounting for more than 35 percent of all R&D investment in the 1,000 top-performing companies in the UK. Minister for Universities and Science, David Willetts, said: “I am pleased that these bodies have come together to form LifeSciencesUK and to help promote the UK as a location of choice for life sciences. I am looking forward to LifeSciencesUK working closely with Chris Brinsmead, the Government’s Life Sciences Business Adviser, to support Lord Howe and myself so the industry can realise the UK’s potential in this area.” Bio-Industry Association.