Designed to give Life Sciences SMEs a united voice and combined influence, the Voices of Industry Campaign aims to deliver a proposal of crucial initiatives that the Government could implement to make an immediate impact on the prosperity of the sector.
 
The Office of Life Sciences (OLS), headed up by Lord Drayson, is committed to delivering tangible, valuable investment and support for companies within just 12 months. Ranging from medical devices to bio, pharma to diagnostics, the life sciences sector has been recognised as an important driver of economic growth in Britain and the OLS is urgently looking at what steps can be taken to improve access to finance for SMEs and to stimulate investment.
 
MedilinkWM’s CEO Tony Davis has been a driving force in highlighting the needs and demands of real industry in his role on committees reporting to the OLS and the Voices of Industry campaign aims to provide practical suggestions to directly solve many of the current issues.
 
In a report for the Ministerial Medical Technology Strategy Group the need for action to support SMEs was identified in four key areas; access to the US market, knowledge transfer and networking, access to finance and access to the UK market and NHS clinical key opinion leaders. In two of these, the country’s Medilink network has been recommended for further investment to build more capacity to support SMEs in the medical technology sector.
 
Throughout June, professionals involved in the life sciences sector are invited to participate by responding to topics, registering approval, sending an email or even uploading an audio clip of their thoughts. The campaign for engagement culminates on 24 June with a high-powered, dynamic roundtable at the Medical Technology Innovation Centre in Edgbaston, to scrutinise every idea and suggestion submitted. The resulting proposal will be presented by Tony Davis to the UK Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (formerly BERR) and the Science and Innovation Minister Lord Drayson on 30 June.
 
About MedilinkWM
MedilinkWM develops business networks for medical and healthcare companies, resulting in commercial ventures and business growth in the region. By bridging the gap between those who innovate and those who manufacture, MedilinkWM increases the viability of companies in the market through technology and knowledge transfer from Universities and the NHS. Sharing advance knowledge of academic and private research, clinical developments and industrial opportunities, MedilinkWM encourages businesses to develop new revenue streams and new products as well as helping diversification from other industries.
 
Medilink West Midlands Ltd influences and guides public sector initiatives at regional and national level for the benefit of companies, and drives research and development by identifying potential markets for growth and new product commercialisation.