Skills Needs for Biomedical Research: Creating the Pools of Talent to Win the Innovation Race

This report, published by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) in 2008, is based on a survey of ABPI and UK BioIndustry Association (BIA) member companies to review the position three years on from a previous report called Sustaining the Skills Pipeline in the Pharmaceutical and Biopharmaceutical Industries.

This previous report had identified access to skills and knowledge as a critical factor in maintaining the flourishing research and development base needed for competitiveness and exposed some of the most pressing needs in terms of skills for the pharma industry.

The Skills Needs for Biomedical Research report shows a need to do more to prevent a decline in skills supply in industry and to ensure that the skills needed are developed. In a world where
competition is intensifying, technology is developing and potential compounds are becoming harder to find, skills are at a premium.

The report identifies the core skills and specialisms needed by the pharmaceuticals industry. The recommendations of this report are based on an understanding of the major issues of the time, including the lack of progress since the original report was published.