Government backs launch of Edgbaston Medical Quarter
THE Edgbaston Medical Quarter in Birmingham will be officially launched on Monday.
Laura Rivkin, head of strategy implementation from the Office of Life Science, part of the Government’s Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, will launch the Quarter at the UK’s first Life Science Summit.
The 12.5km2 Quarter – which in effect gives a marketable brand identity to something that already exists – will be managed and promoted by life science specialist Medilink WM and supported by a dedicated website and tailored marketing campaign.
The Quarter will provide a platform for medical and healthcare provision in the district, as well as providing collaborative and commercial opportunities for businesses.
Medilink CEO Tony Davis said: “This district offers a powerful combination of academia, clinicians and industry, all of whom are committed to working collaboratively to drive far-reaching innovation.
“Techniques, devices and services created within the Edgbaston Medical Quarter over the last decades have changed medical procedures across the world, dramatically improving patient care and outcomes.
“With the creation of the Edgbaston Medical Quarter we will be promoting this expertise to a global audience, encouraging inward investment and commercial growth.”
Jayne Herritty, sales and marketing director at Edgbaston developer Calthorpe Estates, who has been championing the initiative, said: “Edgbaston has been a focal area for excellence in healthcare provision for many years, but particularly in the past 15 years we have seen a surge of growth in the breadth of services available across the private and public sector as health and welfare rank highly to individual and public agendas for well-being.”
“Calthorpe Estates is wholly supportive of investment and development that will attract new medical practices and strengthen expertise in the area.”
There are estimated to be 327 medical and life science organisations, including 130 hospitals and specialist care centres, 58 centres for medical research and 12 training facilities, all located within Edgbaston.
