
One year on from the launch of the Government’s Life Sciences Vision, Scott Cooke, General Manager, Bristol Myers Squibb UK & Ireland, reflects on the UK’s unique opportunity to strengthen its capabilities and become a life sciences superpower by 2030.
The COVID-19 pandemic showed what can be achieved when the NHS, Government, universities, the charity sector and the life sciences industry work together. There’s an immediate and important opportunity to build an even stronger life sciences innovation culture in the UK. To realise this, we need to maintain and grow this unprecedented collaboration.
My ambition is that, as part of the UK healthcare eco-system, we can help more people to live longer, healthier lives. But to do this, the UK must redefine its priorities and focus on creating an environment where the life sciences sector can thrive.
When the Government announced the Life Sciences Vision last year, it outlined an ambition to become a life science superpower by 2030.1 As a significant contributor in the UK, I feel there’s an opportunity to join the conversation. Earlier this year, Bristol Myers Squibb worked with PwC to identify the areas the UK should focus on to achieve the goals set out in the Vision, in our ‘Reimagining the future of life sciences’ report, which we hope will help us build on the recent boost in collaboration we’ve seen across the life sciences ecosystem.