CEO Blog - February 2015

Academic Health Science Networks have a dual responsibility – ‘improving health and creating wealth’. These are, of course, intertwined for example, as we seek to secure improved health for those with respiratory disease care costs will fall and fewer working days will be lost to ill health. Likewise, as we implement innovative medicines or devices to achieve health gains, those companies are able to grow.

However, we also have some specific programmes that focus on economic growth. One such programme is Wessex Life Science Cluster, which  has been created to champion and support the life science sector throughout the Wessex region. We have been working very closely with the Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership on this for over a year and we have a launch event link http://wires.wessexahsn.org.uk/news-and-events/wlsc-launch-2015/  on 3rd March in Salisbury.

Two key hubs in the cluster are University Southampton Science Park and Porton Down Science Park; the aim is to see inward investment and jobs created. Andy Burroughs, director of wealth and enterprise, leads this work for the AHSN and we will be sharing further information as plans progress.

Martin Stephens

Chief Executive