This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Helping life sciences, improving practices
16/06/2006
Measures to help Scotland's life science industry get a foothold in the domestic market were today outlined by Deputy First Minister Nicol Stephen.
In a speech to the Biodundee conference, which also hailed the importance of the life sciences to Scotland's economy, the Minister pledged closer working between the sector and NHSScotland.
Mr Stephen said:
"The strength of Scotland's life science sector is recognised worldwide, and is a crucial piece of Scotland's science jigsaw.
"Dundee is at the hub of much of the innovative work being done, a position reinforced by the opening next week of the 20 million pound Centre for Inter-Disciplinary Research.
"But I am conscious of an increasing frustration within the sector to get their products taken up by the public sector.
"It is particularly frustrating for them if they find that they can easily do business overseas but can't get a foothold in their home market.
"This is a particular issue for life science companies, who have made clear to me the opportunities they could deliver both for better health care and saving money were made clear.
"It's now time for change. I have agreed with the life sciences industry in Scotland that they will give me proposals on how we could adopt more of their products in the NHS.
"In autumn, the Health Minister and I will meet with them to discuss how we can implement this.
"We have already made changes in government procurement to help the wider business in Scotland and it has been welcomed.
"I am determined that we work closely with the life sciences industry to deal with their particular problems.
"I hope that by the time of next year's Biodundee, we will have good progress to report - good news for business, good news for Scotland."
Background
There are currently almost 30,000 people working in Scotland's life science sector.
The science expenditure of Scottish Executive Departments and Agencies in 2005-06 is estimated at 408 million pounds in cash terms (source: Office of National Statistics, Scottish Funding Council)
Expenditure on Science in Scotland in 2005-06 (including UK Government spend) is estimated at 623.2 million pounds in cash terms (source: ONS, Scottish Funding Council; Office of Science and Innovation).
Figures show that in biological sciences Scotland attracts an average of 20 per cent of the research income attracted to the UK (source: Research Performance in Scotland - Report to the Scottish Executive (by Evidence Ltd), June 2004). This is the highest percentage of any of the UK's regions or countries and is our main area of research strength.
Some other key facts are:
- Scotland produces 30 per cent of the UK's microbiology PhD's and 31 per cent of the country's post graduates in genetics;
- Scotland's Life Sciences Industry is growing at an average rate of 28 per cent per year, compared with a 15 per cent growth rate for the rest of Europe;
- Scotland's powerful life sciences research and technology base includes over 470 organisations and more than 25 000 employees. Scotland is now home to 20 per cent of the UK's life science companies;
- Scotland has led the UK in terms of developing new measures to support commercialisation, including proof of concept funding and the 10-year, 450 million pounds investment in three Intermediary Technology Institutes to support new market-driven R&D opportunities in life sciences, energy and communications technology/digital media;
- Scotland's research base continues to provide a lead for the UK in several areas of life science, including:
- the work at the Roslin Institute on cloning;
- the Wellcome Trust Biocentre at Dundee University; and
- the Beatson Cancer Research Institute;
The planned 200 million pounds biomedical research centre in Edinburgh will create the UK's largest research site in this field.?Edinburgh is home to Europe's largest and most highly-regarded stem cell research community
A recently announced 50 million pounds investment will create a Scottish Translational Medicine Research Collaboration with Wyeth Pharmaceuticals. The Collaboration will comprise four of Scotland's leading universities (Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow), Wyeth Pharmaceutical Co, Scottish Enterprise and NHS Scotland Grampian, Greater Glasgow, Lothian and Tayside, and will provide new impetus for Scotland to lead the world in the development of personalised medicine, bringing new treatments to patients suffering from a range of serious illnesses.
BioDundee has organised a 2 day international programme including a technology partnering event and a Conference which together have attracted over 300 delegates, almost 30 per cent of which are coming from overseas.
Over 140 organisations (almost 200 delegates) from across Scotland the UK and Europe are involved in over 800 individual face to face meetings today (Thursday) with the aim of licensing technologies and forming new collaborations.
The Conference has also attracted over 150 delegates.
Scottish companies involved include Scottish Biomedical, EiRx Therapeutics, Cyclacel, Ardana, Prostrakan, Controlled Therapeutics, IDMoS, as well as each of the Universities.
International attendees include large pharmaceutical companies such as Pfizer, Mitsui and Co Europe, Merck Sharp and Dohme, Johnson and Johnson, Serologicals and Wyeth.
International investors are represented by companies such as Sofinnova Partners (based in France) who are speaking during the morning session of the Conference