DEPARTMENT FOR
BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM News Release (2009/148)
issued by COI News Distribution Service on 7 May 2009
Today, 7 May 2009,
Business Secretary Peter Mandelson announced a range of actions on
bioscience aimed at ensuring Britain remains a world leader in the sector.
In the Government's response to the independent report
"Review and Refresh of Bioscience 2015", Peter Mandelson
outlined key commitments to encourage the development of
bioscience in the UK and to create supportive conditions for
bioscience investment, including:
* Government and industry to develop a new stratified disease
strategy to support the development of drugs that are effective in
niche populations
* NHS to include clinical research metrics in the annual Quality
Accounts produced by Trusts. Aim to double the number of patients
participating in clinical studies over the next five years.
* A consultation on changes to the taxation system relating to
innovation activity
* BERR and DH to create a database of companies across the
industry to provide reliable data as a base for policy decisions.
Speaking to bioscience business leaders Lord Mandelson said:
"We want the UK to be one of the best places in the world to
create, grow and base a hi-tech, high-growth company. Bioscience
is one of the key sectors we identified in New Industry New Jobs
that will take the British economy forward in the 21st century.
Government and industry must work together to create a business
environment that encourages innovation and investment in life
sciences. Our response to Sir David Cooksey's report outlines
Government actions to support the sector, and I look forward to
working with the industry to make sure they can maximise the
opportunities these create."
Lord Drayson, Minister for Science and Innovation, added:
"The Government Response to the Review and Refresh of
Bioscience 2015 is the first and key part of a broader cross
government strategy on life sciences. This agenda will continue to
be driven forward by the Office for Life Sciences. The OLS will be
taking up the commitment, already spelled out in the Budget, to
explore the tax treatment of Intellectual property to enhance UK
competitiveness. Furthermore, the Government is committed to
working with a wide range of companies, through the OLS, to create
an environment in the UK where life sciences can flourish, where
innovation can prosper, and where the NHS is a leading customer of
new and innovative medicines and technologies. In July we will
publish a Life Sciences Industrial Blueprint, detailing the
actions the OLS has taken to improve the operating environment for
the life sciences industry."
To underline the strength of the sector, Trade and Investment
Minister Lord Davies will today also meet about 100 academics and
businesspeople to mark the latest milestones in the UK's
strategy for marketing our world-class life sciences businesses
overseas, to boost exports and encourage investment. Life Sciences
were identified in Building Britain's Future - New Industry,
New Jobs as a key area that will help to bring the UK out of the downturn.
Notes to Editors
1. The Govt response to the Bioscience 2015 Review and Refresh
report is available at http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file51169.pdf
2. Bioscience 2015 Review and Refresh was led by Sir David
Cooksey and was published on 22 January 2009. It is available at
http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file49805.pdf
3. Subsequent to the launch of the report, the Prime Minister
announced the creation of the Office for Life Sciences. The
Bioscience 2015 report and the Government response provide a
strong basis for the continuing work of the OLS in building on
even stronger life sciences industry, as a key sector to drive
forward the future growth of the economy. The OLS is also an
important strand in the industrial activism agenda. The Government
Response is an important start to the OLS' delivery of cross
Government action and a broader strategy on life sciences. Lord
Drayson is leading the Office for Life Sciences and has set a six
month deadline for action.
4. In July, the OLS will publish a Life Sciences Industrial
Blueprint, detailing the actions is taking to improve the
operating environment for the life sciences industry.
5. New Industry New Jobs was published on 20 April 2009. It
outlined the Government's vision for our future economy and
highlighted key sectors including bioscience that will build
Britain's success in the 21st century. It is available at http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file51023.pdf
6. A key part of this is a new skills activism, which will focus
our skills system, the knowledge in our universities and the way
we support research through our record investment in science to
meet the demands and opportunities Government creates when it acts
in other areas of the economy.
7. For more information on the UK's life sciences marketing
strategy, please visit http://www.marketinglifescience.co.uk.