Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Commercialisation of Research

Wednesday 3 May 2023 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial plan to reverse decline in clinical trials since the pandemic.
  • Major investment in west London includes MedTech SuperConnector and spin-outs.
  • Department's science and technology framework aims to drive reforms for science superpower agenda.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Rupa Huq Lab Ealing Central and Acton
Science & Technology
Context

The commercialisation of UK research is under scrutiny due to uncertainties in the Horizon programme, lack of European structural funds, and under-investment in R&D leading to a decline in global rankings for clinical research trials.

Question

What steps she is taking to support the commercialisation of research. We have just heard about uncertainty about Horizon. In addition, there are no more European structural funds and under-investment in R&D. We are hurtling down the global rankings for clinical research trials. The Minister just mentioned life sciences, but last week Novartis pulled out of a major trial for cardiovascular drugs in this country due to these issues.

Answer from George Freeman

At the Life Sciences Council, we will be setting out a very clear plan to reverse the decline in clinical trials since the pandemic. There is major investment coming into west London including MedTech SuperConnector, spin-outs there and SynbiCITE. Moderna and BioNTech are also investing billions of pounds into this country.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask about admitting Brexit has been an unmitigated disaster was not addressed.

How: Labour Talking Britain Down Again, Not Complacent But Needs A Plan

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Q2 Rupa Huq Lab Ealing Central and Acton
Brexit Science & Technology
Context

Novartis, the Swiss pharma giant, has pulled out of a major trial for cardiovascular drugs in this country due to issues with European structural funds and under-investment in R&D.

Question

In addition to uncertainty about Horizon, there are no more European structural funds and under-investment in R&D. We are hurtling down the global rankings for clinical research trials. The Minister mentioned life sciences but Novartis pulled out of a major trial due to these issues. When will the Government admit this shows what an unmitigated disaster Brexit has been?

Answer from George Freeman

We are setting out a clear plan at the Life Sciences Council to reverse the decline in clinical trials since the pandemic. There is major investment coming into west London including MedTech SuperConnector, spin-outs there and SynbiCITE. Moderna and BioNTech are also investing billions of pounds into this country.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask about admitting Brexit has been an unmitigated disaster was not addressed.

How: Labour Talking Britain Down Again

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Q3 Stephen Metcalfe Con
Science & Technology
Context

The Department's 10-point science and technology framework aims to provide long-term funding needed for start-ups to become sustainable, successful businesses.

Question

Can my hon. Friend comment on the Department's 10-point science and technology framework which will help provide the long-term funding needed to turn the start-ups he has mentioned into sustainable, successful, globally leading businesses?

Answer from George Freeman

In the new Department's science and technology framework we have set out a long-term view of serious reforms needed to procurement, regulation and skills across Government to drive our science superpower agenda. Converting health of start-up ecosystem into scale-ups is fundamental, hence Treasury leading on re-regulation of pension funds to unlock pension trillions for supporting companies growth here.

Answered
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