Life Sciences Blueprint to build a strong and healthy future for Britain

The Office for Life Sciences (OLS) Blueprint sets out to transform the UK environment for life sciences companies and ensure faster patient access to cutting-edge medicines and technologies.

The OLS forms part of the Government’s active industrial policy.

Agreed across Government, and with industry, academia and the NHS, key actions include:

· The Government, with the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), will introduce an "Innovation Pass", a 3-year initiative that will make selected innovative medicines available on the NHS for a time-limited period. The Pass will be piloted in 2010/2011, with a budget of £25 million; (cf 2.5)

· The NHS Chief Executive will review system levers and incentives, including Payment by Results, to accelerate the uptake of medical technologies; (cf 2.9)

· The Government will reinforce the need for greater emphasis on research and clinical trials in the next NHS Operating Framework; (cf 2.10)

· From 2010, the Society of Biology will begin to accredit undergraduate bioscience degrees to help ensure that graduates leave with the core mathematical and practical skills and competencies required by employers; (cf 3.5)

· The Government will support the formation of a UK Life Sciences Super Cluster to co-ordinate work across industry, Higher Education and the NHS, and to boost international recognition of UK life sciences; (cf 3.9)

· The Technology Strategy Board (TSB) will launch an £18 million “RegenMed” programme of investment to support commercial R&D with additional funding from the Medical Research Council, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council. The TSB has also committed to improve its expertise in the life sciences. (cf 4.8)

· The Government will invest an extra £1 million to promote the UK and NHS brands at flagship life sciences events in the UK and overseas.

Lord Drayson, Minister for Science & Innovation, said:

“The UK life sciences have everything going for them: world-class facilities, talented scientists and entrepreneurial flair. By championing innovation, the NHS can support the life sciences industry in developing ways to improve people’s health. And we are changing how industry, academia, Government and the NHS work together to create jobs and ensure a bright future for this country."

Lord Darzi, Health Minister for Quality and Innovation, said:

“By placing innovation at the heart of healthcare delivery we will help create a pioneering NHS, one that responds to patients expectations, and one where the adoption of new ideas and the diffusion of innovation is encouraged and supported.

"Establishing a culture of innovation is also essential for the NHS to meet any current economic challenges, and the Life Sciences Blueprint will help us continue to support this country's knowledge industries and ensure that we benefit from the competitive edge which they provide.”

Andrew Dillon, Chief Executive of NICE, said:

“Securing a successful future for the life sciences industries is important for patients and the UK economy. NICE is committed to engaging constructively with companies and we are extending the access that companies have to us, as we appraise their products. The Innovation Pass is an opportunity for data to be gathered on potentially important new treatments. NICE has been involved in discussions about the Innovation Pass, and we are looking forward to continuing to play a key role in developing the Pass.”

The Blueprint forms a key part of Building Britain’s Future, the Government’s vision for the country’s future on the other side of the recession. As first set out in “New Industries, New Jobs”, the Government is pursuing a new, more active industrial policy to drive growth and create high-value jobs of the future.

British Innovation Gets Recognition

Call made for all new ideas and innovative companies to enter inaugural iawards

The first Government backed innovation awards, the iawards, were launched today by Science and Innovation Minister Lord Drayson and leading businessman James Caan. The awards, launched at the Science Museum, aim to celebrate the best of cutting edge British science and technology.

Innovation and science will play a key role in building a stronger and more competitive economy able to take advantage of the upturn. The iawards will recognise those people and businesses that will help to do this.

The Prime Minister Gordon Brown said:

“New innovations will help us build for the future and take advantage of new opportunities in low carbon, digital technology, bioscience and advanced manufacturing.

“The iawards will celebrate and recognise Britain’s most innovative entrepreneurs.”

Science and Innovation Minister Lord Drayson said:

“Now more than ever we need to support and celebrate British innovation.

“New ideas and products will get us out of the downturn and provide the foundations on which we can build Britain's future. The next iPlayer, Spotify and Ecotricity are out there and the people that will create these successful companies need to be supported and celebrated. The iawards will do just that.”

James Caan said:

“Britain is home to some of the greatest minds in the world. We are the nation that invented the jet engine, created the code for the Internet and led research on the human genome project. Science and technology will shape the future of our economy. This is why it is so important for the iawards to recognise and honour Britain’s innovators for the vital contribution they make to our economy.”

Entries for the 13 categories are open to all organisations, but must specify the British involvement in any innovation - demonstrating that innovative thinking and development came from a British organisation or team.

The awards categories reflect the greatest challenges we face as country where science and innovation offer the best chance of developing viable solutions. Each entry must demonstrate how its innovative qualities relate to at least one of the following challenges:

• addressing the healthcare needs of a aging society;
• increasing international security from tackling global poverty to minimising the threat of terrorism;
• preserving finite natural resources in the face of population growth and climate change; and
• delivering public services which make best use of new technologies.

They must also demonstrate that the innovation has an impact on one of the Governments grand challenges for science.

The iawards will be run by the Department for Business Innovation and Skills. Siemens will sponsor the ‘Next Big Thing' category and Microsoft will sponsor the best technology start up category.

Winners of the awards will be helped by UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) to meet potential business partners at key industry events such as the giant Medica trade fair in Germany and TechnologyWorld in Coventry this autumn. They will also receive public relations support from the iawards team. All of shortlisted entries and the winners will also have exclusive access to the iawards logo.

Science and technology has been a driving force behind Britain’s export success. Exports for life sciences, for example, rose 19% in 2008. Innovation is also important in keeping the UK as the number one destination for inward investment in Europe. UKTI statistics show that the number of investment projects in creative industries increased by 65% in 2008/9 and in software and computer services by 36%.

(DIUS) UK astronaut selected by European Space Agency

Major Tim Peake has become the first Briton to be selected by the European Space Agency (ESA) to take part in manned space flight. He becomes the first British astronaut since Helen Sharman in 1991.

Welcoming the news, Science Minister Lord Drayson said:

"I'm thrilled about Major Tim Peake's success in this toughest of all job applications. Becoming an astronaut is the pinnacle of achievement for anyone involved in space science and technology.

"Major Peake's appointment will be an inspiration and he will be a fantastic ambassador for the UK space industry and science in general.

"I have always known Britain has the right stuff. This proves it."

His appointment follows a gruelling selection process over the past 12 months. Major Peake is one of six new astronauts chosen by ESA from more than 8,000 initial applicants from across Europe.

ESA began its search for new astronauts in May 2008. 822 were from the UK and the selection process is designed to identify the best of the best.

In order to succeed Major Peake has had to undergo intensive medical and psychological evaluations to verify his health, personality and behaviour under pressure. Peake has also been tested on his aptitude to perform the duties of an astronaut. Finally, he had to impress an interview panel and ultimately the Director General of ESA, Jean-Jacques Dordain.

Major Tim Peake's appointment is a ESA staff post, fully funded by ESA. All the new astronauts will commence training with ESA in September 2009, based out of the Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany.

The UK space industry contributes nearly £6 billion to the UK economy and supports 19,000 jobs. The British National Space Centre (BNSC) is delighted with today's appointment. It is currently undertaking a review of space exploration including human space flight and will report to Ministers.

Air Vice-Marshal Anderson, the MOD's Senior Responsible Owner for Space Matters said,

'The MOD offers warmest congratulations to Major Peake on his selection. It is a fantastic achievement of which he should be extremely proud. His selection shows the high calibre of our Service personnel and their ability to compete in this expanding and challenging area'.