Life Sciences Clusters and Regional Science Policy

Abstract

This paper focuses upon Life Sciences and the manner in which R&D-led clustering concentrates key resources such as basic research funding, research infrastructure and innovative businesses in a few clusters where even large pharmaceuticals firms are nowadays often learners (from academia) rather than research leaders, as in the past. Because Life Sciences and healthcare are strongly intertwined, and huge increases in healthcare R&D and general expenditure mean that some 20 per cent of GDP is accounted for by the broad sector, regions that have missed out on this future 'knowledge economy' bonanza are desperately seeking to remedy things. Examples are provided of new regional science policy instruments for redistribution of such knowledge economy advantages that moves beyond mere innovation support.