Life Sciences in the Central South: Report from the Southern Policy Centre
Life sciences in the central South offer unique strengths and the intellectual firepower to tackle the health challenges of the future, according to a new report from the Southern Policy Centre.
The report highlights how Universities, NHS trusts, internationally acclaimed institutions, and a vibrant private sector work in close partnership to enable research and innovation to become the treatments and solutions of the future. It shows how the region is tackling dementia and ageing, is keeping the UK ahead in vaccine science, is managing and preventing long term conditions, developing immune therapies, and understanding mental health – and how to improve it.
Unique regional initiatives are making strides towards meeting targets set by the government’s Office for Life Sciences and offer a unique opportunity for investors. Innovators in the central South are amply catered for, with access to expanding space, new business parks and dedicated support. The region is rich in businesses applying technology solutions to health challenges and plays a pivotal role in developing national expertise in life sciences.
The report, based on in-depth collaboration with many of the leading public and private sector partners in life sciences, identifies key strengths of a region:
- Skilled at partnerships – offering a unique mix of expertise
- Rich in intellectual capital
- Served by extensive testing and evidence facilities
- Leveraging strengths in several life sciences sectors
- Targeting national challenges
- Dedicated support for commercialisation and adoption
- A region poised for growth and opportunities
Director of the Southern Policy Centre Prof John Denham said,
‘Life sciences have been an unsung success story of the central South. This report highlights their importance to the region and to the UK’.
With a population of 2.4 million the central South includes the waterfront cities of Southampton, Portsmouth, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole and reaches from the Isle of Wight and across Hampshire.