Life Sciences in Great Britain: Driven by Research and Development

摘要

Great Britain is one of the most renowned locations for pharmaceutical and biotechnological research. British scientists have won over 20 Nobel prizes and are forerunners in the development of this sector. One of the reasons for Great Britain's success is that it has the highest concentration of science parks in Europe, reports UK Trade & Investment (www.uktradeinvest.gov.uk). These are locations where research, science and business closely work together, enabling the fast conversion of important discoveries into innovative products. Great Britain also offers a supportive legal environment for research and development, and, in addition, the British government generously supports research and science. Spending in this field will increase to up to E 5.2 billion by 2007, twice as much as in 1997. Great Britain spearheads the exports of pharmaceutical products worldwide. The twelve largest pharmaceutical companies in the world manufacture or carry out research in the UK. One quarter of the 100 most important drugs world-wide were developed in the UK, including Nolvadex, a drug used for breast cancer patients, and the virility drug Viagra. With a turnover of about E 12 billion, the UK is also the fifth largest pharmaceutical market in the world. About 83,000 people are employed in this industry one third of whom work in R&D. In 2004, 25percent of worldwide investments in the pharmaceutical industry were accounted for in the UK.