A new study aimed at identifying needs, opportunities and challenges in the UK pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical manufacturing sectors was published today. Strategic roadmapping was used to look at new products, processes and services which could be developed in the future and identified those which are likely to have the most value, as well as the steps that would need to be taken to help them realise their potential.

The UK, which hosts some of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies along with hundreds of small, highly innovative life science businesses, is particularly well placed to develop new products and services.

The study was carried out through a series of workshops which were attended by representatives from industry, government bodies and the research community. Strategic roadmapping techniques were used to help participants explore key trends and drivers, pinpoint areas that are undergoing significant development, and identify the enabling factors that would help the sector respond successfully.

‘The Future UK Life Sciences Manufacturing Landscape: Opportunities and Challenges for High Value Manufacturing in the Pharmaceutical and Biopharmaceutical Sectors’ was developed using strategic roadmapping techniques developed by Dr Rob Phaal from the University of Cambridge’s Institute for Manufacturing (IfM). These techniques have been used in more than 200 projects around the world, helping national governments, public sector organisations and multinational companies formulate strategy.

Dr Phaal commented:  “A really important part of the process has been the bringing together of players from across the whole industry to create a shared vision of the future and to strengthen the industry network. By working together they will be better able to meet their challenges and to develop as a sector, both locally and globally."

The report was commissioned by the Technology Strategy Board and the roadmapping project was led by the IfM’s dissemination arm, IfM Education and Consultancy Services (IfM ECS) in collaboration with the HealthTech and Medicines Knowledge Transfer. The need for this research was identified as part of a wider project on High Value Manufacturing (HVM) also developed by IfM ECS and published in February 2012 which had recommended that key sectors should be explored in greater depth.

The report has been launched today at the Health KTN’s Accelerating Novel Therapies, 9^th Annual bioProcessUK Conference in Bristol, where industry, policy makers and academia have been invited to provide feedback on its findings.

Sue Dunkerton, Co-Director, HealthTech and Medicines KTN commented:  “This is an interesting time for high value manufacturing in the life sciences sector and we are pleased to have kicked off further analysis within two sub-sectors of pharmaceuticals and biopharmaceuticals and we encourage feedback to refine our needs and opportunities to enhance innovation in UK manufacturing.”

Download the report here