CLUSTER NEWS – December 2023
Continuing the skills theme
My piece last month about a Skills Framework created quite a stir. I received many responses, some asking for more details, some asking to be involved and others making very helpful and constructive suggestions. I believe I have followed up on all the responses I received but let me know if you want me to get in touch with you.
I continue to discuss with the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) how some of its annual budget for skills of £164M can best be spent to support growth in our region’s HealthTech sector. In addition, I have made a suggestion for a “digital demonstrator” site to be set up – a place where available technologies can be viewed and trialled, where training with new technologies can be provided and where young people can come along for ideas about careers in the health technologies sector.
Given the level of interest I have generated, please feel free to keep in touch with me and keep your offers and suggestions coming, please.
I remain interested to receive ideas and suggestions from readers about what I have developed so far and what you think should happen in our region to support upskilling of a suitable workforce for HealthTech businesses.
Please email me at david@wmhtc.co.uk with your contributions.
CLUSTER’S EVENTS
We didn’t run a Topical Tuesday in December, and the next Topical Tuesday will be held early January 2024, we will send an email out once more details become available.
We are working with a project out of Loughborough University called Future of Digital Marketing Ecosystems – 2040 Scenarios. The aim of the project is to enable health technologies manufacturers across the Midlands to ready their businesses to take advantage of big changes in AI and other future technologies. If this may be of interest to you, do please be ready to add it to your diary for the end of February 2024, and let me know if you want me to send you details of the workshop we plan to hold.
HEALTH TECHNOLOGIES SECTOR NEWS
Bioscience and health technology sector statistics 2021 to 2022
The Office for National Statistics has published its report on health technology sector statistics for 2021-22. The ONS counts 4 sectors as operating within the life sciences industry (biopharmaceutical core, biopharmaceutical service and supply, medical technology core and medical technology service and supply).
The number of life sciences businesses operating in the UK has increased gradually since the 2008/09 financial year (when data collation began), reaching a total of 6,850 in 2021/22. These businesses had a total of 7,910 sites in the UK, a 1% increase compared to 2020/21.
There were 304,200 people employed in the UK life sciences sector in 2021/22, a relative increase of 5% compared to 2020/21. Aside from a small decrease in 2018/19, employment in life sciences in the UK has seen a continuous upward trend between 2011/12 and 2021/22.
Businesses in the UK life sciences industry generated £108.1 billion in turnover in 2021/22, a 13% increase from the turnover value of £95.9 billion (in 2021/22 prices) in 2020/21. Turnover has seen an upward trend since 2014/15, with the largest annual increase (in both absolute and relative terms) occurring between 2020/21 and 2021/22.
The sector with the highest proportion of sites and employment was the medical technology core sector, accounting for 44% of sites and 39% of employment in 2021/22. This sector has continuously accounted for the highest proportion of sites and employment between 2008/09 and 2021/22.
The sector that generated the highest turnover in 2021/22 was the biopharmaceutical core sector, accounting for 43% of the total turnover generated across the life sciences industry. This was followed by the biopharmaceutical service and supply sector and medical technology core sector which each accounted for a share of 25% of turnover in 2021/22.
The South East continues to be the UK region with the highest share of both life sciences industry employment and turnover, accounting for 23% of total employment and 30% of total turnover in 2021/22.
What I take from these statistics is that in 2021-22 the West Midlands region stands out positively in terms of medical technologies and their manufacture. Nationally, growing activities coming through in these statistics are digital health and genomics.
Land availability
I have completed my written report on the project I led looking at the availability of land/space in the West Midlands suitable for health technologies businesses. The Combined Authority has received my report as have the contributors to the report.
My report is not yet fully formatted for publication – for example, it awaits a Foreword written by the Mayor – but if you would like to see a pre-publication version of the report, please email me to request it.
Regulation of AI
A report on the BBC this month points to a claim by the EU that it is in the lead in agreeing a framework for regulating AI.
According to the BBC’s report, The proposals include safeguards on the use of AI within the EU as well as limitations on its adoption by law enforcement agencies.
Consumers would have the right to launch complaints and fines could be imposed for violations.
EU Commissioner Thierry Breton described the plans as “historic”, saying it set “clear rules for the use of AI”.
The UK, US and China are all said to be working up schemes for AI regulation as well.
WEST MIDLANDS REGION NEWS
Invest in a partnership with universities in the Midlands
This month, the Health & Life Sciences R&D investment prospectus for the Midlands was launched – articulating the region’s offer to international companies to invest in and set up in the Midlands:
The Prospectus has been produced in partnership with Midlands Innovation, Midlands Enterprise Universities and the UK Government GREAT Campaign, and builds on the Midlands Science & Innovation Audit, as part of a pilot campaign inward investment campaign as part of the Unis as drivers of trade and investment (midlandsinnovation.org.uk) programme.
The prospectus articulates the region’s sector strengths and showcases the internationally distinctive talent and facilities that universities in the Midlands host, mapping out key capabilities and facilities and identifying key stakeholders.
This is one of four such prospectuses launched on Monday which focus on sectors in which is the Midlands has significant innovation strengths – including Health & Life Sciences.
West Midlands International Strategy
Working with the West Midlands Combined Authority, the West Midlands Growth Company is currently working up an International Strategy for our region, focusing on business and tourism. As the Growth Company works on the detail of this new strategy, it has agreed to consult all the Plan for Growth Cluster organisations on the international strategy and what it means/what the priorities should be for each of the priority sectors identified in Plan for Growth.
I am due to have a meeting with the representatives of the Combined Authority and the Growth Company shortly and I shall willingly report back to you on my meeting. Of course, if you have views on this subject that you would like me to represent to the Growth Company in my meeting, do please email me as soon as possible.
Global Growth Programme
High growth West Midlands tech companies are being invited to apply for a 12-month export support initiative, fully funded by the West Midlands Growth Company and the West Midlands Combined Authority. This initiative is the result of a unique partnership with London & Partners – London’s official investment promotion agency – and sees their “Grow Global” programme expanded beyond the capital for the first time.
Grow Global is a world-leading programme with a proven track record of success, having helped over 1,300 scaleups, including household names such as Monzo, Brompton Bicycles, Mr & Mrs Smith and Bloom & Wild in reaching their global expansion goals. Now, ten ambitious, export ready West Midlands scale-ups will be selected for the programme and will receive a comprehensive package of support designed to accelerate their international growth.
Benefits include:
• Partnership opportunities
• International business development
• Expert advice and guidance
• Development workshops
• Events
I you believe you meet the criteria for this programme you must act fast. Space is limited to just 10 companies, so register your interest today to avoid missing out!
NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Global Incubator Programme – Healthtech
Date: June 2024
Location: Houston, Texas
Closing date for applications: 12 January 2024
Hosted by Innovate UK
Innovate UK’s Global Incubator Programme is an acceleration programme for innovative companies to work with world-leading incubators abroad. They are currently accepting applications for up to 16 innovative companies in the digital health and medical device sectors to join our programme. The programmes is delivered in partnership with the Texas Medical Centre (TMC), Houston, USA.
Applications are welcomed from innovative companies who could be developing technologies across a broad range of Healthtech sectors, register your interest here.
Women Leaders Trade Mission to Denmark 2024
6-8 March 2024
The Department for Business & Trade Midlands and the British Embassy in Copenhagen are inviting 10-15 Midlands-based women-led high export potential businesses to join this technology focused export development visit during International Women’s Week 2024.
Connect to business opportunities in Denmark, share and celebrate how the UK and Denmark support female entrepreneurs and meet industry experts from Department for Business & Trade, Danish and international businesses, and women who have all made an impact, keen to exchange experiences and knowledge with you.
Learn more about this opportunity and register your interest here.
Cities Outlook 2024
If you are interested to learn how city centres may develop next year and beyond, why not join Centre for Cities for an online webinar providing an in-depth look at the findings from Cities Outlook 2024, the 17th edition of their annual flagship publication.
Cities Outlook 2024 will provide the latest economic data on how UK cities are performing against a wide range of indicators, including innovation, housing, skills, employment and productivity.
In addition to setting out the state of the UK’s cities across a range of indicators, Cities Outlook highlights a different major issue facing urban Britain each year. Previous years’ publications have focused on topics including economic inactivity, air quality, automation and the impact of the pandemic. The theme for Cities Outlook 2024 will be announced in early January.
This event will consist of an introduction to the report, in-depth presentation and audience Q&A.
Speakers:
Paul Swinney, Director of Policy & Research, Centre for Cities (presenter)
Andrew Carter, Chief Executive, Centre for Cities (Chair) The webinar will be held on Monday 22nd January 2024, 12:00 – 13:00, on Zoom and you can register here.
Spotlight on…
Ahmar, our lead on Events and Projects
In the past two years, Ahmar has really established himself as an accomplished manager of the Cluster’s operations. He is particularly strong in events management. Working closely with Cluster Manager, Emma, Ahmar exudes confidence and reassurance in all aspects of managing events: communications, preparations and organisation of people and content in particular. A very fine example of Ahmar’s ability was on show during Birmingham Tech Week when our HealthTech Day was supremely well run and a great success all round.
We are very fortunate to have Ahmar on our side. He and Emma make for an impressive double act and we all benefit from the way the two of them gel and work together. Here’s wishing you, Ahmar, more and more notable achievements as we move into 2024.
Thank you for all your hard work, Ahmar.
I hope you enjoy reading my e-bulletin. Feel free to contact me personally with your feedback and suggestions for future activities at david@wmhtc.co.uk
Regards,
Executive Chair.
