On December 12, the national strategy for life science was presented by the Ministry of Industry, the Ministry of Social Affairs and the Ministry of Education. The ambition is for Sweden to be a leading life science nation. It states that life science "contributes to improving the health and quality of life of the population, securing financial prosperity, developing the country further as a leading knowledge nation and realizing Agenda 2030".
Closely linked to the strategy, and just prior to its launch, Karolinska Institutet Holding and Bayer joined forces in putting Europe's position in the global life science innovation race on the agenda. On December 2, Professor Meir Perez Pugatch, Pugatch Consilium, presented data from a comparative analysis of different region's attractiveness to life science innovation investment.
China is the country fastest entering US and Europe's position as life science leaders. Compared to the EU, the US has been more successful in meeting the challenges of China's new position as a life science nation. The United States has managed to maintain its stronghold in access to financing and investment, large public support to health R&D and market and commercial incentives. Europe however, keeps strength in talent, with the highest number of researchers and research articles and with the highest number of clinical trials. Yet, with a relative weakness in cutting edge innovation, drug development and patenting articles. In the discussion that followed the presentation, invited guests representing the industry, healthcare sector, and academia, on positive ways forward for Europe and how Sweden can take a leading role in strengthening the life science competitiveness.