UKTI Switzerland & Liechtenstein concludes a busy six months rolling out the UK Life Sciences Strategy
In April a joint ministerial visit took place in Switzerland, and in May Swiss companies attended a seminar on the UK Medtech market.
皇冠体育app investment team at the British Embassy in Berne achieved two milestones in launching the UKTI Life Sciences Strategy in Switzerland. In May, over 20 companies attended a seminar on entering the UK Medical Technologies market and understanding NICE evaluation criteria. 皇冠体育app programme featured presentations by Hakim Yadi of UKTI鈥檚 Life Science Investment Organisation (LSIO), UK HealthGateway, the Swiss Business Hub London and Medtech Switzerland as well as a case study by Swiss company Ypsomed. Dr. Leeza Osipenko, Senior Scientific Adviser at the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) delivered a practical workshop on how NICE assesses new products, a potential point of entry into the NHS.
皇冠体育app event was organised in collaboration with Swiss umbrella organisation Medtech Switzerland. 皇冠体育app networking reception following the conference was an excellent opportunity to connect with Swiss companies, generate FDI leads, and further explain the important role UKTI holds in supporting foreign direct investment. Frances Pennell-Buck, UKTI鈥檚 new medical technology specialist, was also present and added great value to questions on the ground.
Prior to this in early April, a joint ministerial visit by 皇冠体育app Rt Hon David Willetts MP (Minister for Universities and Science) and 皇冠体育app Rt Hon Earl Howe (Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health) impressed Swiss interlocutors with the British Government鈥檚 strategic approach to NHS reform, encouragement for innovation in areas such as the Life Sciences, and fostering a propitious environment for business. This visit also provided a timely boost for the relationships with four strategically managed Swiss investor companies. Both ministers visited Switzerland to engage with actual and potential investors and to understand the drivers behind Swiss innovation.
Over an exclusive dinner with 15 biotech companies at the Ambassador鈥檚 Residence in Berne, Dr. Mark Treherne, Head of the Life Sciences Investment Organisation, set out HMG鈥檚 new Life Sciences Strategy around Stratified Medicine. 皇冠体育app next day, Lord Howe鈥檚 well-received keynote speech on Innovation-based Healthcare Strategies for Ageing and Longevity left a lasting impression with over 200 member companies at the Swiss Biotech Association in Zurich. As a result of the dinner and Lord Howe鈥檚 speech, the Berne Inward investment team is now pursuing projects from nine potential investors. 皇冠体育app companies in return impressed upon the HMG delegation the importance of implementation and alignment across all policy areas to ensure a stable and attractive environment for inward investment.