UCB has welcomed the UK government’s announcement earlier this week to invest £400 million into science and engineering teaching at English universities.
Although headquartered in Belgium, UCB is a top five investor in biopharmaceutical R&D in the UK and noted that the country is “widely regarded as one of the best places in the world for scientific research and produces some of the most high calibre graduates in the field”. The company added that “with this kind of support from the government we can continue to attract and support the highest level of academics and the most dedicated students to pursue a career in science”.
However, “whilst this is a move in the right direction,” UCB has also urged the government to take into account additional factors which affect life sciences investment, “such as simplifying the processes for academic-industry collaborations”. It argues that “the likely successful and sustainable pharmaceutical company of the future will be the one at the middle of a network of partners”, saying it is essential that the government “continues to support measures designed to strengthen partnerships between universities, industry and the NHS”.
Neil Weir, head of discovery at UCB and chair of the Innovation Board of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, said that “universities can develop a key role at the heart of the economy by building stronger links with innovative partners from our industry”. He added that “we believe success in scientific innovation is increasingly built upon the rapid exchange of ideas between academic and industrial sectors and so we are very pleased to hear the government is thinking the same”.
