Commonwealth Life Sciences Economies Opened Up to the UK

MOU’s signed by the UK Northern Health Science Alliance (NHSA) with Life Sciences Queensland Limited (LSQ) in Australia and also with SCAN Health and World Health Innovation (WIN) in Canada will benefit UK, Canadian and Australian patients and industry. As a world-leader in health science the North of England adds £10.8bn to the UK’s economy each year from the sector. This Memorandum of Understanding will open up opportunities for UK companies to expand into Australia which has a £28bn life sciences economy and Canada which has a £17bn life sciences economy and for Australian and Canadian companies to bring their expertise into the Northern UK regions.

Dr Hakim Yadi, CEO of the NHSA said: “This joint working arrangement means that the life sciences industries in Australia, Canada and the UK will benefit from closer relationships.

“There is a real international appetite to work with the North’s health research system – demonstrated by these MOU signings and our recent MoU signing with the leading Singaporean MedTech Accelerator Zicom MedTac Pte Ltd. As a result there are now a number of Singaporean companies conducting research studies in partnership with Northern Universities and Hospitals.

“We want to best and brightest companies to come and work in the North of England – and for the best and brightest of our companies to spread their wings internationally. Ultimately these exchanges between NHSA and Canada and Australian life sciences organisations will benefit patients in the healthcare system globally.”

Mario Pennisi, Chief Executive Officer of Life Sciences Queensland Limited, said: “The UK presents a significant market opportunity for our members and this alliance with NHSA provides the perfect entry point to facilitate this.

“Working with our British colleagues provides us an excellent opportunity to leverage a revitalised interest in the Commonwealth.”

Dr Anne Snowdon, Scientific Director and CEO of SCAN Health and Chair of WIN said: “Partnering with NHSA gives us tremendous reach and engagement opportunities with Northern UK healthcare systems and their respective research networks to advance health system innovation and broker global health sector collaboration that facilitates knowledge exchange to improve performance, safety and health outcomes.

“By working together with our combined members and partners around the world we believe we can advance knowledge and impact of supply chain maturity in health systems."

The Northern Health Science Alliance represents hospitals, universities and healthcare partnerships from across the North of England including: Newcastle, Durham, Teesside, York, Hull, Leeds, Sheffield, Liverpool, Manchester and Lancaster.