Following a recent meeting at No10 between the government and the pharma sciences industry, it was agreed that a new Government Office for Life Sciences would be set up – to implement a strategic plan of action to ensure the UK fully realizes its leadership position in this area in the economic downturn. This will tasked to find answers to problems over finance, IP and procurement, which will not be easy.
The scope of this office has been broadened from pharma to biotech, medical devices and diagnostics. The office will be staffed by secondees from all the major Government departments including DH and Treasury with a lead by Lord Drayson, Minister for Science and Innovation at the Dept. for Innovation, Skill & Universities (DIUS).
BIVDA is being represented by Doris-Ann Williams and Mark Samuels from Roche but there will undoubtedly be need for support from other members, and particularly from SME’s & Start-ups as the joint industry & government working group will be meeting weekly to rapidly implement responses to issues facing the sector. An immediate pressure is to ensure funding is secured for SME’s. |