Pharma leads EU push for private innovation investment, says Commission

Published: 20-Oct-2006

The pharmaceutical sector, with the related biotechnology and chemicals industries, will be at the forefront of an innovation drive that will see EU companies investing 5% more annually in innovation over the next three years.


The pharmaceutical sector, with the related biotechnology and chemicals industries, will be at the forefront of an innovation drive that will see EU companies investing 5% more annually in innovation over the next three years.

The conclusions in the European Commission's EU Survey on R&D Investment Business Trends (http://iri.jrc.es/do/home/portal/seccionview?IDSECCION=15&IDIDIOMA=1) are based on detailed lists of recent research investment. Top for 2005 for pharmaceuticals was GlaxoSmithKline, at Euro 4.5bn investment; followed by Sanofi-Aventis at €4bn; AstraZeneca, €2.8bn; and Boehringer Ingelheim, €1.3bn.

Of these companies, only AstraZeneca invested less in 2005 than in 2004. EU research Commissioner Janez Potocnik said the results were 'encouraging' and would help meet the EU goal of 'investing 3% of GDP in research and development'.

You may also like