PRESS RELEASE

SOUTH WEST BIOTECHNOLOGY AND MEDICAL

TECHNOLOGY EVENT REVEALS GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCAL ORGANISATIONS

Over 50 key biotechnology and medical technology organisations throughout the South West of England came together to share best practice and industry knowledge at Torquay’s Grand Hotel.  The theme of the evening was “Globalisation and its impact on the South West biotechnology and medical technology industry” and local businesses are encouraged to view the film footage from the unique event online at www.bioapproaches.co.uk.

The event was organised by BioApproaches South West in conjunction with the Innovation Relay Centre South West, NHS Innovations South West, the South West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA) and UK Trade & Investment.

The evening was a unique opportunity for participating companies and researchers to debate the globalisation theme, as well as the links between the NHS, academia and the biotechnology and medical technology industry. Maria Hassard, CEO of NHS Innovations SW said: “The inclusion of the NHS at such a forum, highlighted the start of a new and enterprising cross-sector focus on the importance of innovation and collaboration within the SW Region.”  The event also launched a pioneering 18 month programme of South West sector-focussed networking events, seminars and conferences.

Delegates listened to James Wilsdon, the keynote speaker and Head of Science and Innovation at Demos.  He is a leading authority on science and innovation policy, and has advised governments, companies and NGOs around the world on the relationship between innovation, globalisation and sustainability. Since 2005 he has been Director of The Atlas of Ideas, which is mapping changes in the geography of science and innovation.

He announced that China is the most compelling example of the wider changes that we are seeing in the globalisation of science.

He said: “One of the most noticeable differences between the Chinese and UK Governments is the level of specialism and support the Chinese Government provides.  China is a country whose leaders were mostly trained as engineers and we now see the country engaged in the largest mobilisation of resources around science that the world has seen since the early 1960s, when JFK geared the US up to compete in the space race with the Soviet Union.”

Delegates were given a unique insight into the fast-paced and ever-changing Chinese economy. 

Dr Wilsdon said: “Since 1999, we’ve seen an annual 20 per cent increase in the amount of money China is spending on science – it is now the second largest spender in R&D in the world.  One of the biggest drivers of innovation is the Chinese market - innovation is being pulled by the huge number of consumers who are entering the emerging Chinese middle class.” 

He commented on an emerging trend in the shift of Western firms moving to China to get close to this growing pool of consumers.  And, how China is opening one new power station every four days and adding 60 million new mobile phone subscribers a year to a current mobile market of 465 million people.

Ten years ago in China there were 20 multi-national R&D centres and the latest figures released by the Chinese Government reveal that there are now a staggering 1,200 centres.

Faced with this surge of innovation around the world, Dr Wilsdon said: “The South West should become an evangelist for the globalisation of knowledge by exemplifying cosmopolitan, open and collaborative principles of open science and innovation.  We should also become a magnet for talent – aiming to attract the best and brightest scientists and researchers from around the world. 

“The South West is a place open to the world’s best ideas and will support anyone with any ideas.  We need to act now whilst China and India’s innovations are still developing and not in 10 years’ time when it is too late.”

Nigel Green, International Trade Advisor from UK Trade and Investment, informed delegates of the wealth of financial support and advice available to South West businesses.  This Government organisation helps companies succeed in an increasingly global economy with a range of expert services tailored to the needs of individual businesses to maximise their international success.

He compered the evening’s events, which included a session designed to identify areas of focus for future events. The topics open for discussion during the evening focused on the perception of globalisation; business growth; access to markets; collaborative links and communication in the biotechnology and medical technology industry.

The evening concluded with an overview by Dr Gagan Lushai (Head of BioMedical, SWRDA) of the current work on a regional strategy for biotechnology and medical technology.  He spoke about the South West’s immense support network that biotechnology and medical technology organisations have at their fingertips and how the region should become a springboard to launch and develop regional companies at an international level.  The feedback gathered from the delegates during the evening’s discussion will now inform a series of seminars and events planned for 2008.

BioApproaches is a biotechnology support group for the South West that is funded by SWRDA and currently managed by Great Western Enterprise.

Dr Pauline Lee, Manger of BioApproaches South West, said: “The event was a huge success and a fantastic opportunity for those working in the region’s biotechnology and medical technology-related areas to come together and discuss important issues.  Hearing about the ever-growing Chinese and Middle Eastern markets is a great source of inspiration for us all here in the South West.  Our aims are to work together with our peers throughout the globe, to develop best practice and support and encourage the biotech and medical industry.”

Notes to editors:

BioApproaches South West is a biotechnology support group for the South West of England, a programme funded by the South West of England Regional Development Agency (SWRDA) and currently managed by Great Western Enterprise (GWE).

It provides targeted activities in response to the emerging biotech sector’s needs.

BioApproaches South West supports the biotechnology and life sciences sectors in the region by:

• Promoting and coordinating networking and information exchange amongst SMEs, agencies and organisations
• Representing the interests of the sector nationally and internationally
• Developing the region’s strategy for biotechnology with input to trade missions and inward investment programmes
• Supporting the professional development of graduate-level staff (technical, research and managerial) within the sector
• Raising awareness of and profiling career opportunities