AROUND BRITAIN

The North West is one of the UK’s most productive life

Breathing T

he UK’s ongoing economic recovery rests largely on the continued growth of its most innovative and successful industries in global markets. Life sciences, for which the UK is already an international centre of excellence, is one of them.

Comprising pioneering industries such as biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, healthcare and medical technologies, the UK life sciences sector is Europe’s largest and the second biggest worldwide. With its track record of cutting-edge research, it is renowned for developing innovative,

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effective solutions to global and local health issues.

Nigel Gaymond, chief executive of the BioIndustry Association, says: “The UK provides a uniquely fertile environment for this industry. We are a world-class trading partner in life sciences, as well as a leading investment location for life sciences businesses.”

BEST FOR BIOMEDICAL Among the UK’s numerous successful life sciences clusters is the North West, one of the world’s strongest and most productive biomedical communities,

sciences clusters. Lorraine Shah highlights the region’s champions and meets some of its trailblazers

specialising in the discovery, development and manufacturing of biopharmaceuticals. More than 200 biomedical companies,

including seven multinational pharmaceutical fi rms, operate in the North West. Collectively they employ over 20,000 staff and export in excess of £4bn of pharmaceutical products annually. Such is the strength of the area

that the Boston Consulting Group lists the North West region as one of the world’s top biomedical clusters. In fact it is considered a close rival to the ‘golden triangle’ of London, Oxford and Cambridge.

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