Government steps up support for UK life sciences

The UK Life Science Marketing Strategy Implementation Board, set up by UK Trade & Investment, will demonstrate the UK's success in the life sciences and help attract investors to the sector.

Noting that the UK is Europe's "top R&D location", Trade and Investment Minister Lord Digby Jones said: "The UK has a great story to tell with world-class expertise and the firm backing of the government, which is committed to making the UK the best global destination for life science investment.

The UK has a great story to tell with world-class expertise and the firm backing of the government

Lord Digby Jones

Trade and investment minister

UK Trade & Investment

The board will be chaired by Chris Brinsmead, president of pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca UK.

Board members will include representatives from government departments, members of private companies and biotech entrepreneurs such as Dr Andrew Richards.

Mr Brinsmead commented that the board provides an "excellent opportunity" for the UK to show its strengths to the global life sciences sector and said it would aim to preserve Britain's place at the centre of research and development innovation.

Latest figures show that the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors are the largest investors in UK research and development, showing a 10.5 per cent increase in 2006, contributing to the overall figure of £21 billion.

Meanwhile, the 2007 R&D Scoreboard highlights that pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies have become the largest investors in research across the globe, overtaking technology firms.