EMA action plan supports SMEs as drivers of innovation
Posted: 20 June 2017 | European Pharmaceutical Review | No comments yet
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has published an action plan that aims to foster innovation and support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the development of novel human and veterinary medicines.
SMEs represent 99% of all businesses in the European Union (EU) and provide two-thirds of total private sector employment. In the pharmaceutical sector they are a “motor of innovation” and play a major role in the development of new medicines, according to the EMA.
SMEs initiative expanded
The action plan builds on the experience gained and addresses the challenges identified by SMEs in a report published by EMA on the 10th Anniversary of the EMA’s SME initiative.
It also takes into account EMA’s new framework for collaboration with academia, which aims to strengthen its interaction with the academic world in light of its role in pharmaceutical innovation, and the new EU Innovation Network.
The plan covers four key areas: awareness of EMA’s SME initiative; training and education; supporting the development of innovative medicines; engagement with SMEs, EU partners and stakeholders.
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Legal, Regulation & Legislation, Research & Development (R&D)
