fdi leaders …making location connections

We have had the pleasure to work with Kevin Moore of Business Therapies, who last year was awarded an OBE and this year received the Outstanding Contribution to the Growth of the Scottish Life Sciences at the Scottish Enterprise Life Sciences Awards.  In chatting to him, his passion for both the life sciences and for Scotland is clearly evident.

Q: Can you give us a brief overview of the life sciences sector in Scotland?

A: The life sciences sector in Scotland is both exciting and challenging.  Scotland aims to double its Gross Value Added from life sciences in the next 10 years and I see no reason why we should not achieve that growth.  Of course we are going to have some major challenges such as getting suitable cornerstone funding in place, but that is what business is all about.  We have some really exciting R&D being undertaken by our world-class academic researchers and what has really impressed me in the last 5 years or so is that they now understand the importance of converting it into commercial reality.

Q: Why do you think the life sciences have such a significant presence in Scotland?

A: We really do have world-class life science research in Scotland and it gives me great pleasure to see academia, Scottish companies (especially SMEs) and Scottish Enterprise working together to maximise the opportunities to achieve commercialisation.  We can compete on the world stage by investing in high quality life science products by anchoring our businesses through our linkages.  We are at long last understanding the importance of win-win.

Q: What areas within Scotland’s life sciences sector could be classed as genuine world-class?

A: The logical answer would be areas such as regenerative medicine and stem cells, but don’t underestimate the exciting work and opportunities being developed in medical devices and medical technologies including diagnostics.  We have some phenomenal developments happening in this space.

Q: How do you see the life sciences performing in Scotland over the next few years?

A: I am more excited about what we can do in life sciences in Scotland than I have ever been in my 40 years in the industry – so much so, retirement is furthest from my mind as there is too much fun!!!  The Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise have really tried to be supportive of our industry but they have many calls on their resources.  We need a fit for purpose financial infrastructure to support the growth of our companies because while our angel community has been great over the last 10 years, they really are not the ideal investors for many of our life sciences opportunities.

Q: If you were promoting Scotland to attract overseas life sciences companies, what would be your headline selling message?

A: Come to Scotland because we will work with you to achieve your business aspirations.

Our partner in Brazil Ana Carla Fonseca is fantastically busy with the huge growth of its creative economy.  She kindly gives us some feedback on what is currently happening there.

Q: What are the latest trends you are seeing in the development of the creative industries in Brazil?

A: The creative economy and its associated concepts (creative industries, creative cities, creative entrepreneurship) are becoming increasingly fashionable in Brazil, especially in the more knowledge-intensive places such as Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Recife and Belo Horizonte.

Becoming fashionable presents a risk in itself, but could be extremely positive to boost a debate about new economic approaches aiming to conciliate economic, social, cultural and urban benefits.  As part of this process, the private sector is starting to realise that the creative economy can open new doors to untapped business opportunities in a world where products and services tend to be standardised.  One case in point is Santander bank, which is investing in a vast array of programmes related to creative businesses.  This flow will reach full speed if specific policies are put in place by the Federal Government, such as the generation of studies and statistics on the creative sectors; programmes aiming to foster small creative businesses and the integration of different public policies to key ones (education, computing & technology etc.).

Q: Are you seeing any creative companies in Brazil investing/locating overseas?  If so, what types are investing and where are they focusing their investment?

A: I think that more than creative companies investing overseas, we are seeing a higher global projection of creative talents, such as Carlos Saldanha and Fernando Meirelles (audiovisual), Sao Paulo Fashion Week and selected fashion designers, Vik Muniz and Beatriz Milhazes (contemporary arts), as well as the revamp or construction of new creative facilities (among the best: INHOTIM).  As far as companies are concerned, we see the consolidation of a shift of previously commodity-driven companies to a technology-added basis (e.g. Petrobas and Vale).  Creative companies per se still struggle to overcome distribution barriers, in my view, though software, games and ICT in general are flourishing.

Q: If you were promoting Brazil to attract overseas creative industries companies and investment, what would be your selling message?

A: In Brazil, creativity has always been a key resource to face problems imposed by colonial times, military coup d’etat and hyperinflation, to mention but a few.  As a result, innovative social technologies, high economic deliverables under pressure, breakthrough governance and operating models are easily found in different places around the country. Since the successful economic stability plan of 1994, the creative context has improved gradually, and it is now time to take off. Whoever joins the flight at this stage will certainly have first-mover advantage in emergent creative areas in Brazil.