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STRATEGIES FOR THE FUTURE
Knowledgebased
biotechnology
industry
Swedish life science
companies have achieved
great success and improved
many people’s lives.
Sweden can continue to create innovative products thanks to collaboration between higher
education, the health services and industry.
THE LIFE SCIENCE industry is the fastest
growing in Sweden. World-class
innovations such as ulcer drugs, other
pharmaceutical products and dialysis
equipment, the pacemaker and other
medical technology are the result of
collaboration between enterprises and
Swedish universities.
– The new knowledge about our
genes and basic body functions offers
the industry new challenges. It is
important, in order to take advantage
of the commercial opportunities, the
cutting edge of science, says Harriet
Wallberg-Henriksson, President of
the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm,
which is one of the world’s leading
medical universities.
TRADITION
A long tradition of outstanding research
and close collaboration with the Swedish
health service, with its large proportion
of researcher physicians, is one of
the main reasons why the Swedish biotechnology
industry has a world-class
reputation. However, it is an extremely
competitive industry. Developing new
products is very costly and takes a long
time.
– But this is Sweden’s comparative
advantage, explains Per-Erik Sandlund,
CEO of SwedenBIO. Sweden’s topclass
– and cost-effective – know-how
is what enables it to compete. Swedish
biotechnology enterprises are streamlined
and flat, and there are no hierarchical
obstacles in the industry, he says.
NEW JOBS
Furthermore, Sweden has an efficient
system of patient records and bio banks,
and it is a relatively simple matter
to carry out clinical studies of drugs,
compared with the situation in the USA
and Asia.
VINNOVA has formulated a national
biotechnology strategy with a view to
strengthening the industry. In addition,
the government is discussing these issues
with representatives of the industry,
higher education and trade unions. The
goal is to create new jobs and increase
export earnings, even though the industry
already accounts for a quarter of
Successful medical research is important
to ensure that the Swedish biotechnology
industry is a growth industry, says
Harriet Wallberg - Henriksson, President
of the Karolinska Institute.
Sweden’s exports. Among other things,
there are plans to set up a national
programme for researchers who wish to
divide their time between academia and
industry. The government is also examining
the possibility of aiding companies
that have a large R&D budget.
Interesting areas for the future mentioned
by Harriet Wallberg-Henriksson
include individualized medicine,
with tailor-made treatments for small
groups of people on the basis of genetic
information. This would be a completely
new approach for pharmaceutical
companies.
– There is also great potential for
combining medical and technological
research, for example in the form
of nanomedicine and new sensors for
different types of IT solutions for telemedicine
and self-tests.
PROFITABLE OPERATIONS
In the longer term, biotechnology may
also play an important part in transforming
traditional industries such as
food, forestry and chemicals.
– It is clearly profitable to support
medical research, says Harriet
Wallberg-Henriksson. According to
American studies, there is a 10-dollar
return on each dollar invested. Per-Erik
Sandlund agrees.
– Developing the life science sector is
one of our great challenges. Apart from
generating export profits for enterprises
and creating new jobs, it could also
reduce healthcare expenses.
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