25th June 2015
BIA calls for continued political commitment to UK bioscience as it publishes new document celebrating sector excellence
Today the UK BioIndustry Association (BIA) hosts its fifteenth annual Parliament Day and publishes a new report, Celebrating UK bioscience: unravelling the stories behind UK bioscience success.
The report highlights six case studies of UK bioscience excellence, where UK science and its commercial exploitation have been fundamental to fantastic scientific innovation.
Launching the report at a reception in the Houses of Parliament hosted by the new MP for Cambridge Daniel Zeichner and addressed by the Minister for Life Sciences George Freeman MP, Steve Bates BIA CEO said:
“In UK bioscience it can seem that we hide our success under a bushel, due to the nature of the business. Developing medicines and technologies takes over a decade. Multiple parties – universities and companies, small and large – are often involved. You can’t touch, drive, download or fly the output of biotech. The science is complicated and each product has several confusing names along the way. The net effect is that there is a lack of awareness of how successful UK bioscience is in delivering astonishing new innovations and therapies that benefit patients and the public.”
“Today we publish Celebrating UK bioscience: unravelling the stories behind UK bioscience success which explains how our sector develops therapies and products that are changing lives for the better. I hope we raise awareness and understanding of, and pride in, the pivotal role of UK companies and the ecosystem they thrive in.”
At the event, attended by a cross-party group of Parliamentarians and a delegation of BIA members comprising CEOs from start-ups, mid and large-sized firms in the bioscience sector, Steve Bates added:
“To build on the strength of the UK bioscience sector and secure the benefits it provides to society and the economy, a supportive policy environment is essential. The BIA looks forward to working with the new government and parliament to ensure an optimal environment for a key developing sector of the UK economy for the 21st century that delivers to both the health and wealth of the UK.”
“For the BIA and its members this includes a policy and funding environment that continues to support our world-leading universities and research funders; continued focus on the government’s strategically important technologies; a supportive tax and finance environment; and developing flexible routes to evaluation, uptake and reimbursement so that patients can access the latest medical advances.”
Celebrating UK bioscience: unravelling the stories behind UK bioscience success can be downloaded here