Several leading UK clinicians and pioneering medical companies will be visiting California this week in a bid to forge stronger relationships across the State.
The mission, which is supported by the UK Government, aims to strengthen export links between the UK and California and create demand for UK designed healthcare technologies.
The UK’s Medical Technology (MedTech) sector has been identified as a key driver of economic growth, post-Brexit, with the U.S viewed as a primary region for enhanced trading relationships. As the UK enters a new era for trade and business, the UK Government has highlighted MedTech, and the broader Life Sciences sector, as having a critical role in its Industrial Strategy, to propel UK productivity once it leaves the EU.
The UK’s MedTech trade association, the Association of British Healthcare Industries (ABHI), has worked with its 260 Members to identify key markets for future international relationships. Of which, the U.S has been flagged as vital to the process.
Throughout the seven-day trip, UK companies will exhibit their innovative technologies at the MedTech Conference, the leading conference for MedTech officials in North America. The objective is to forge lasting relationships and to drive sales for UK products.
Such is the importance of the visit, the conference will be attended by Lord David Prior, the UKs Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. Commenting on the visit, Lord Prior said:
“The Life Science sector is hugely important to the health of the UK economy, with a turnover of £64 billion in 2016, employing nearly 235,000 people. The recently published independent Life Sciences Industrial Strategy demonstrates the world-class expertise the UK already has in this area and I welcome the opportunity to champion the sector and support the work the ABHI are doing here in the U.S.”
MedTech is now worth over £17 billion to the UK and is part of a £64 billion industry that is UK Life Sciences. The Life Sciences Industrial Strategy report has been welcomed by senior government ministers, and provides the framework for increased funding and support for the sector. The government recently announced nearly £169 million of funding to support the life science sector off the back of the independently-led life sciences report, UK companies will be seeking new trading partners with renewed vigour as the explore the Californian market.