27th February 2012
Evans gives his prescription for life sciences
Last updated: 21st Feb 2012
A strong Welsh brand, better commercialisation of research and a "focal point" in Wales are on biotech leader Sir Chris Evans’ prescription for life sciences in Wales. Evans, who chairs the Welsh Government’s Life Sciences Sector Panel, will outline the panel’s strategy at the BioWales 2012 conference in March.
In an interview with Insider ahead of the conference, Evans said Wales compared favourably with other areas for the high calibre of its academic expertise, good new businesses and exciting projects.
But he said: "We certainly have the potential to do better – we need to look at the most successful life sciences clusters both in the UK and in other countries, and develop a Welsh brand which capitalises on our strengths and includes elements of what has made these clusters so successful globally.
"We are looking to take some elements that have led to the establishment of very successful, profitable life science clusters in areas such as Cambridge in the UK and US and use them to create a globally credible, successful Welsh Life Sciences brand."
Evans highlighted sub-sectors where Wales does well such as medical devices, in vitro diagnostics, e-health and wound care with excellent networks. And he praised the Welsh Wound Network and the Stem Cell Research Institute as good examples of links between academia, business and the NHS.
The Excalibur Fund Managers chairman said: "When I look at the ground breaking research and development out at Cardiff Universities School of Pharmacy, which following successful trails in the US of a drug created here in Cardiff has just been sold to Bristol Myers Squibb for $2.5bn (£1.6bn), I know with certainty that there is great work taking place here in Wales. Next time something this great is developed in Wales, I’d like to ensure that a lot more of it stays in Wales."
Evans told Insider that Wales needed to encourage the international commercialisation of research and development from within universities and the NHS, and retain some benefits for Wales where possible.
And he said: "We are looking at a number of potential changes which will help the sector enormously, including creating a focal point for life sciences here in Wales and making access to finance easier for new and existing life sciences companies which can often be difficult due to long and costly development pathways, for med-tech (medical technology) and pharmaceuticals."
Evans will give his thoughts at the BioWales conference at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff on 13 and 14 March.
You can read the full interview in the April edition of Wales Business Insider.
And you can watch Insider’s Welsh Government video debate on the life sciences industry here.