Academy response to Government life sciences commitments

Towards the end of 2011, the Government made a number of announcements to support the UK life sciences sector. A year later, the Government reviewed progress toward their commitments. The Academy responded to all of these announcements.

In December 2011, the Prime Minister gave a speech that was accompanied by a new ‘Strategy for UK Life Sciences' and a report on innovation in the NHS, 'Innovation, health and wealth: accelerating adoption and diffusion in the NHS’. The Department of Business, Innovation and Skills also published an 'Innovation and Research Strategy for Growth'.

In December 2012, the Government published 'Strategy for UK Life Sciences: One Year On'.

The Academy responded to the Prime Minister's speech and package of measures for UK life sciences, and the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills' innovation and research strategy. Furthermore, the Academy's President wrote to the Prime Minister to welcome his vision for UK life sciences and the associated initiatives set out in his December 2011 speech.

The Academy welcomed the 'One Year On' report of the Government's Strategy for UK Life Sciences, which detailed the excellent progress made over the year towards positioning the UK as the best place in the world for life sciences research, innovation and implementation.

The Academy wrote to the Prime Minister to reflect on developments and progress so far, and welcomed the Chancellor's announcement in the Autumn Statement of £600 million in extra investment for the UK’s scientific research infrastructure.