Lib Dem MP weighs in on British scientific innovation

On National Manufacturing Day, September 28, Twickenham MP Munira Wilson met with locally based Easyfairs, the organisers of the UK’s largest trade annual trade shows for the laboratory and engineering industries: Lab Innovations and Advanced Engineering. Munira – who is also the Liberal Democrat education spokesperson – discussed the need for greater recruitment and education into technical career pathways and how convening industrial communities in one place can unshackle British scientific innovation and commercialisation.

Munira met Alison Willis, divisional managing director, and Simon Farnfield, event director for Lab Innovations and Advanced Engineering, to learn how the shows champion innovation in their industries, drive sustainability, promote cross-sector collaboration and provide key networking opportunities. Munira drew on her own experiences working for the pharmaceutical company Novartis, and the German science and tech company, Merck.

Munira also explored the challenges the UK faces in progressing scientific innovations from the R&D stage, where the country has traditionally excelled, to commercialisation, where it often loses out to greater financial interest from abroad.

“Great Britain is a world leader in research and development but, when it comes to scaling up to the commercial, marketable level, we too often fail to realise the great potential generated by our universities and research laboratories,” Munira observed. “The importance of events like these to bring innovators and investors together shouldn’t be understated. It’s vital to have a forum for discussion and collaboration.”

The Liberal Democrat education spokesperson also found the efforts made by the showrunners to appeal to students impressive. With a deficit of around 10,000 post-doctoral science and engineering experts needed to fill industry vacancies over the next ten years, investment in the pathways into STEM careers for young people is sorely needed.

“Engaging student visitors, as well those from industry, is important to us as showrunners,” noted Simon. “These are the scientists that will be leading the way over the coming decades, so showing them what they can achieve just makes sense.”

Lab Innovations and Advanced Engineering will bring together the scientific, technological and engineering industries on November 1 and 2, co-located at the NEC, Birmingham.