1st April 2020

Life Sciences Hub Bringing Businesses Together To Tackle Virus

Life Sciences Hub Wales is starting a nationwide drive to bring companies together and combat Covid-19.

Having already received interest from hundreds of businesses and professionals, the group is hoping to accelerate the development of urgently needed products and treatments including ventilators, hand sanitisers and protective equipment.

The organisation, which facilitates collaborations between NHS Wales, industry and academia, has identified four key areas to be improved: Medical devices, infection control, digital solutions and social isolation.

As Covid-19 cases continue to rise, and increasing numbers of patients require hospitalisation, the group says ramping up the manufacturing and availability of medical devices is a key priority.

Businesses are already partnering to tackle the crisis: Distilleries are switching their activities to create hand sanitiser, and manufacturers are committing their production lines to assemble equipment.

Last week, Life Sciences Hub Wales hosted a major industry-wide virtual conference which saw over 200 participants across 150 organisations come together to discuss possible ways of working together.

Leading industry names joined in, including GE Healthcare, Amazon Web Services and Siemens Healthineers.

Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales, Ken Skates said: “Being innovative is going to be absolutely vital in coming up with new ways of dealing with coronavirus.

“Life Sciences Hub Wales is playing a key role in this by bringing industry together with the NHS and social care to accelerate developing solutions which can save lives. I encourage all businesses and individuals who think they can make a real difference to get in touch.”

Cari-Anne Quinn, chief executive at Life Sciences Hub Wales said: “We are here to help unite industry and get much needed products, services and supplies where they are needed to help protect people and safe lives.

“If you’re a business or individual and think you can help in the fight against Covid-19, we want to hear from you. Get in touch with the team at Life Sciences Hub Wales and we can help you help us all by linking you up with people and businesses who can assist you to make a real difference to lives in Wales and beyond.”