London takes its place among healthcare innovation elite

Published: 27-Mar-2013

Johnson & Johnson announces launch of London Innovation Centre for development and promotion of medical technologies


The UK’s worldwide reputation for innovation in healthcare has been sealed with the launch of London’s new centre of innovation excellence.

Established by US healthcare firm, Johnson & Johnson, the facility will bring high-tech jobs and investment to the capital.

Working alongside similar organisations in Boston, Shanghai and San Francisco, the London centre will scout, develop and promote new technologies so that the latest cutting-edge inventions and techniques can be used in the NHS and beyond.

The new centre will also help to promote new jobs and business for universities, research councils and research charities, which will be directly hired in order to deliver on the centre’s science projects.

Science and technology hold unprecedented opportunities to transform healthcare, and by investing and collaborating in ground-breaking science we can deliver transformational innovations in healthcare to people across the world

The centre will focus on technologies in key areas including dementia, cancer, infectious diseases, immunology, biomarkers for disease, and surgical devices.

Launching the initiative at the recent NHS Innovation Expo in London, Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, said: “I want to give doctors and nurses the time and space to deliver patient-centred care – to do this we need to innovate.

“Britain has a worldwide reputation for excellence in innovation and the investment by Johnson & Johnson demonstrates this and I am delighted to welcome this new centre to the UK.

“Our universities are among the very best in the world and our scientists and clinicians are second to none. I am determined to cement and accelerate our position as the number one place for health and pharmaceutical companies to invest and grow and hopefully develop the next generation of medical breakthroughs.”

Paul Stoffels, chief scientific officer and worldwide chairman of Johnson & Johnson, added: “Science and technology hold unprecedented opportunities to transform healthcare, and by investing and collaborating in ground-breaking science we can deliver transformational innovations in healthcare to people across the world.

The London Innovation Centre will be run by Patrick Verheyen. He told BBH : “We are committed to ensuring healthcare remains not only a significant source of economic prosperity in the UK, but also a driving force for improving the health and happiness of people worldwide.

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