Drivers of innovation, 16 actions for 2017-2020
A 16-point action plan to support small and medium-sized pharma enterprises, drivers of pharmaceutical innovation. It was launched by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), which aims to promote the
innovation and support SMEs in the development of new human and veterinary medicines.
“SMEs are the backbone of the European economy – recalls the EMA – They represent 99% of all companies in the European Union and provide two thirds of total employment in the private sector. In the pharmaceutical sector, SMEs are an engine of innovation and play an important role in the development of new medicines”. To support SMEs in all phases of medicine development, the EMA ad hoc office provides active, regulatory, financial and administrative support to registered SMEs. More than 1,700 companies are currently registered with the Agency, active in the human and veterinary sectors.
The action plan builds on the experience gained and addresses the challenges identified by SMEs in a report published by EMA. It also "takes into account the new collaboration framework with the university, which aims to strengthen interaction with the academic world in the light of its role in pharmaceutical innovation and the new EU innovation network". The plan covers four key areas and lists a set of 16 new and improved actions for the 2017-2020 period.
Margherita Lopes – 06/05/2017 – PharmaKronos
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