News story

GREAT Week puts UK centre stage for the future of healthcare

Milan Expo 2015 provides the backdrop to showcase pioneering UK solutions to today’s healthcare challenges.

George Freeman speaking at the Future of Health event

George Freeman, Minister for Life Sciences speaking at the Future of Health event

The UK’s worldwide reputation for medical excellence attracted a large gathering of international decision makers and buyers to the Future of Health event at the end of September, part of the GREAT Week for Healthcare and Life Sciences at Milan Expo 2015

George Freeman, Minister for Life Sciences, launched the event by setting out the UK’s position as a global leader in the development of future healthcare solutions.

Networking sessions enabled the representatives of 26 innovative British companies to take advantage of the high levels of interest in their expertise, including the potential to work with overseas partners on medical breakthroughs and new approaches to patient care.

The event was organised by Healthcare UK as part of its role to connect international demand for healthcare services, systems and infrastructure to UK capability in these fields.

The Future of Health event in session

Future of Health speakers and delegates

The event focused on three areas of scientific and technological advancement that will transform care in the UK and have the potential to address the biggest global healthcare challenges of our age:

  • the integration of digital technologies into healthcare
  • the emergence of personalised medicine, driven by advances in genomics
  • the importance of designing health and care facilities, and the wider built environment, in ways that foster better health patterns and a safer and more rapid healing environment.

All three areas stimulated considerable interest among the international delegates, with representatives from the UK’s world-leading genomics industry in particular demand.

Panel discussion during the digital health session

Digital health panel discussion chaired by Tim Kelsey, National Director for Patients and Information, NHS England

Professor Mark Caulfield, Chief Scientist, Genomics England presenting at the genomics session

Professor Mark Caulfield, Chief Scientist, Genomics England

Catherine Simpson, Landscape Architect, HML London presents on healthcare facilities fit for the future

Catherine Simpson, Landscape Architect, HML London

Contact us to find out more about how Healthcare UK can assist you to develop your international business.

Explore the highlights from the GREAT week for Healthcare and Life Sciences

Read more about GREAT Weeks

The UK Pavilion at the Milan Expo is a platform for a six-month international events programme for UK companies, the Grown in Britain Global Business Programme, which includes the GREAT Weeks in Milan. Since May this year, over 17,000 companies have been supported by UK Government through attending these events, with millions of pounds worth of business won as a result.

Published 14 October 2015