How can investment in the life sciences sector be improved? Lords to hear evidence
The House of Lords Science and Technology Committee will continue taking evidence for its inquiry into Life Sciences and the Industrial Strategy on Tuesday 14 November. The Committee will hear evidence from life science investors; plant and animal scientists and science parks.
Over three evidence sessions the Committee will explore barriers that prevent the UK life sciences receiving investment; how infrastructure can support the development of life science clusters in the UK; and which areas of the strategy may need greater emphasis due to Brexit.
The first evidence session will begin at 10.10 am and the Committee will question:
- Professor Angela Karp, Director for Science Innovation, Engagement and Partnerships, Rothamsted Research
- Dr Dave Hughes, Head of Global R&D Technology Scouting, Syngenta
- Professor Jonathan Elliott, Vice-Principal, Research and Innovation, Royal Veterinary College.
The Second evidence session will begin at 11:00am:
- Dr Mark Hammond, Co-founder, Deep Science Ventures
- John Bowler, Fund Manager and Global Sector Specialist with responsibility for the health care sector, Schroders PLC
- Dr Peter Hughes, AXA Framlington Biotech Fund
- Dr Andrew Elder, Partner, Albion Capital
The third evidence session will begin at 11:50am:
- Dr Glenn Crocker, Representative of the UK Science Parks Association and Chief Executive of Bio City
- Dr Iain Thomas, Head of Life Sciences, Cambridge Enterprise
- Dr Sally Ann Forsyth, Chief Executive Officer, Norwich Research Park
Questions the witnesses are likely to face include:
- What further action is needed to engage the investor community?
- Who should be responsible for implementing the life sciences strategy, and what role should the investor community play?
- How important is the right infrastructure to the success of a cluster or science park and how should this infrastructure be financed?
- Should the scope of the strategy be broadened to include life sciences outside of the bio-medical sciences?
The evidence session will begin at 10.10 am on Tuesday 14 November in Committee Room 4a of the House of Lords.
