Manufacturing medicine is a strong industry, especially in the North of England. AstraZenecas... [+] A large manufacturing facility (pictured in Macclesfield Cheshire) is reportedly responsible for 1% of the U.K.'s annual economic output. (Photo by Peter Byrne/PA Images through Getty Images) PA Images via Getty ImagesThis current Government continues to lavish praise on the U.K.'s science industry with attention and praise.Latest announcement: Sir Patrick Vallance (the U.K.'s highly-respected chief scientific advisor) will be leading a new research program as the overseer of a new Office for Science and Technology Strategy.The Prime Minister did not reveal its stated goal, but it is to consolidate the U.K.'s status as a global superpower in science.Recently, I have written many articles about funding government R&D. It is worth discussing how the administration's Levelling Up agenda ties in with its new research plan.Both must be successful, at least for the short term, if we are to build upon existing strengths and foundations, rather than support speculative projects that lack the right raw ingredients.This will undoubtedly, and quite rightly, see more money flowing into established scientific clusters in London's Golden Triangle, which is Cambridge, Oxford, and London. However, it also requires a doubling of funding for the many emerging science ecosystems in the U.K.If you do a quick search on the U.K.'s tech and science sectors, you will find many regional successes that can be built upon.Consider the University of Manchester's plans to develop a 1.5bn innovation district called ID Manchester. This was made possible by Bruntwood SciTech (my employer), which recently made a significant step forward after being appointed as its preferred joint venture partner.IBM will invest 210 million in AI and quantum computing research and innovation at Hartree Centre, Cheshire. The Fujifilm Diosynth plant in Teesside, which is located in the North East Pennines, will produce 60m doses Novavaxs COVID vaccine.All of these stories are built on a compelling story about the U.K.'s global competitive advantage across the entire spectrum of science industries.Manufacturing medicine is a strong industry, especially in the North of England. AstraZenecas, a large manufacturing facility located in Macclesfield (Chery), is also part of Fujifilm Diosynth. This facility reportedly contributes 1% to the U.K.'s annual economic output.Many of the U.K.'s top experts in complex medicine and drug discovery are based in the North.There are also centres of excellence in other specialties across the U.K. The BioQuarter in Edinburgh is a fast-growing facility, while Birmingham has a data-driven cluster of healthcare providers and Bristol has thriving deep tech scenes. I could go on.Each region is unique in its academic and clinical environment and the talent it can attract. They combine to make the U.K. a formidable source for scientific superpowers.Sir Patrick and his team should ask for long-term, sustainable funding strategies that place place first. Use the infrastructure and networks that are already in place to ensure each region's success.The U.K.'s regions do not want to take money from London and South East. Each area is complementary and should receive targeted support based on their individual capabilities. Not because one area should get less now than it has in the past.Talent and private capital are the same. It is not necessary or desirable for regions to compete against one another. The U.K. can be globally competitive by combining its strengths.Keep in mind that investors from China or the U.S. will not be able to see the difference of just a few hundred miles. They are able to see the U.K. as a single area of innovation and not in siloed areas.The United Kingdom is a scientific superpower. It does not have a single city or region. This ethos could be a strong foundation for the country's future global standing if the new Government plan is adhered to.
