in the Finnish chemical industry - Kemia-lehti

CommentTowards a bright future?The importance of life sciences and the pharma sector wasseen in the early 21 st century, but got lost in just a few yearsdue to overoptimistic expectations of the investors. Now theclimate is more favourable again, and there is a clear visionthat pharma and medtech could provide employment, goodbusiness, and foreign investment into Finland.Clinical trials, development of medicines, newcompanies, collaboration between academia and companies,collaboration between SME and big pharma, employment,investments, free study medication, highly skilled healthprofessionals…We can be part of all this when we work together for aresearch intensive future. With a new life science strategyfor Finland implemented by the ministries, an AdvisoryBoard on pharmaceutical research to discuss and benchmarkthe necessary measures, there might be a bright future forpharma in Finland.All we need to do is identify and remove the bottlenecks.Discussions and reports are important, but rapid actions anddecisions are key. People say that Swedes talk but Finnsmake decisions. I hope they are right.Mia BengtströmHigh process performance andsafety with Metso’s automationFigure 3: The total number of Clinical trialapplications Total number to Regulatory of new clinical Authorities trialsin the Nordic countries and Estoniawww.metso.com/automation5004504003503002502001501005002007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012SwedenFinlandDenmarkNorwayIcelandEstoniaIlmoituksetKemia-lehdessähuomataan!Numero 6/2013ilmestyy 9. lokakuuta.Agency (Fimea) statistics therewere 168 new trials reported in2012. Of these, 85 new trialswere started by PIF membercompanies. Since trials last foryears PIF member companiessponsored altogether 306trials, including those thatwere ongoing, a third of whichwas conducted with cancermedications. The second largestgroup was medication fornervous systems disorders.In general, Finns are verypositive towards research. Thisis evident from the number ofparticipants in vaccine trials.Some years ago more than85,000 people participatedin these trials, which is anunbelievable number in acountry the size of Finland.In 2012 there were 39,000trial subjects in ongoing trials,of which close to 30,000 invaccine trials and 3,400 incardiovascular trials.The author is Senior Adviser atPharma Industry Finland, withresearch and innovation policy asthe area of responsibility.mia.bengtstrom@pif.fiVaraa paikkasi viimeistään 19. syyskuuta!Osateemoina mm.• Laboratoriot• Puhdastilat• ProsessitTiedustelut ja varaukset:kalevi.sinisalmi@kemia-lehti.fipuh. 044 539 0908irene.sillanpaa@kemia-lehti.fipuh. 040 827 9778www.kemia-lehti.fiKEMIA Kemi