Il "Bioscience Innovation and Growth Team" ha presentato al Governo
inglese il rapporto per lo sviluppo della scienza e della economia
del Regno Unito nei prossimi 12 anni.

Il Rapporto "Bioscience 2015 : Improving National Health, Increasing
National Waelth - A Report to Government by the Bioscience Innovation
and Growth Team"

Allego la prefazione del primo ministro Tony Blair

E' disponibile a richiesta l'Executive Summary di 132 pagine.

professor Enzo Reale

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Prime Minister's Foreword

The biotechnology industry is a British success story. From the
discovery of the double helix structure of DNA 50 years ago in
Cambridge, Britain has been at the forefront of bioscience. Our
academic and research scientists remain amongst the best in the world.

The UK bioscience industry faces an exciting future. The technology
offers new medical opportunities that challenge traditional patterns
of diagnosis, healthcare and disease prevention. The UK, with a
reformed National Health Service, has an opportunity to be at the
forefront of research and development in these exciting new areas.
Both patients and R&D based companies would benefit, for example, if
more clinical trials of new treatments were done in the NHS, but it
will not happen unless Government, Industry and the Health Service
work together to get the structures right.

The industry faces a number of scientific, regulatory and financial
challenges. Our higher education system must continue its tradition
of producing world-class scientists to develop new and innovative
technologies in order to drive the growth of the bioscience industry.
The increasing cost of new drug approvals and the length of time it
takes to bring new ideas to market together create the need for
innovative financial backing and a flexible regulatory environment.

Government has helped and will continue to do so. We have introduced
ethical, but balanced regulation in areas such as stem cell research.
The science budget is now set to grow at a rate of 10% year on year
in real terms reaching £2.9bn by 2005-06. The science base is vital
for our vision of building a knowledge-driven economy and is critical
for the development of the bioscience and pharmaceutical industries.
Improving education and skills and strengthening the finances of
Britain's universities and colleges are also vital for supplying the
world-class talent that the sector needs.

Our measures to encourage the commercial start-ups and licensing of
ideas from our universities and public sector research establishments
have borne real fruit. We must ensure that the flow of new companies
continues, but also work on improving the long-term viability and
strength of these companies so they can grow into global, profitable
businesses.

The R&D tax credit has helped the cash flow of many bioscience
companies. It is designed specifically to assist those high value-
added companies who engage in leading edge research and development
in this country and I am delighted that its impact on our bioscience
industry has been so positive. The government is now consulting on
further reform with a view to making this measure even more effective.

I wholeheartedly welcome this report and the co-operation between
Government departments, the bioscience industry and other experts,
which made it possible. We will study the report and respond to the
recommendations put forward to improve the wealth and health of the
nation. I thank all those who gave time to make this project a
success.


Rt Hon Tony Blair
Prime Minister