J&J launches London Innovation Centre

Hannah Blake

pharmaphorum

The UK’s Secretary of State for Health, Jeremy Hunt, has launched London’s new centre of innovation excellence, established by US healthcare company, Johnson &amp, Johnson. The new centre will bring high-tech jobs and business for universities, research councils and charities, as well as investment to the capital. The aim of the centre is to deliver innovation via collaboration, accelerating the best early stage science in the world and advancing the development of new healthcare solutions.

"Britain has a worldwide reputation for excellence in innovation - the investment by Johnson &amp, Johnson here demonstrates this and I am delighted to welcome this new centre to the UK.”

Jeremy Hunt, UK Secretary of State for Health, who spoke at today’s Innovation Expo 2013.

The Johnson &amp, Johnson Innovation centre in London will house science and technology experts with broad expertise in developing new solutions and products. Plus, the centre will have local deal-making capabilities to allow for flexible adaptations of deal structures to match early-stage opportunities.

The centre will focus on innovating technologies in six key areas:

dementia

cancer

infectious diseases

immunology

biomarkers for disease

surgical devices to make surgery quicker, faster and safer

"The London Innovation Centre is part of Johnson &amp, Johnson's broader innovation strategy to advance human health through collaboration with the world's leading scientists and entrepreneurs. We are looking forward to collaborating within the UK, home to one of the world's thriving life sciences ecosystems."

Johnson &amp, Johnson Chief Scientific Officer and Worldwide Chairman, Pharmaceuticals, Paul Stoffels, MD.

J&amp,J is the world’s largest healthcare company and it has been investing in the UK since 1927 and supports directly or indirectly over 24,000 jobs.

In addition to the new London centre, similar facilities by J&amp,J are planned in further robust life sciences communities: Boston, San Francisco and, later this year, in Shanghai.