ULI Life Science & Healthcare Forum kick off

" Life science property demand (or laboratories within buildings) is changing within Europe. Research has become collaborative and universities are directly supporting and funding start-ups, which in turn is driving a different type of requirement of space for science companies. The new requirement is taking scientists from deep dark places to new, exciting, caffeinated, connected spaces. 

The new Urban Land Institute (ULI)Life Science & Healthcare Forum looks to explore these new trends seen across Europe and open a dialogue to better understand the implications and opportunities. The Council's aim is to create a voice for the life science and healthcare industry and to bring together connected, but disparate parts of the industry, academia and government. 

The forum plans to share best practices from across Europe, but also to build on and learn from the success of the US system. The European model is likely to evolve along its own path, but with an eye to the key pillars of the US system. The UK and Europe have some of the worlds leading universities and bio and tech companies. The collision of tech (AI, big data, monitoring, etc.) and bio have led to a stronger need for co-location and a convergence of location and space requirements. 

What are the implications for city planners? While scientists look for fun and connected spaces, they are also adamant that they are not tech. 

What is the new European style and character of property that suits and supports scientists? Finally, who will lead this initiative? 

Thus far universities and often their VC funds have been creating the space to cater for the burgeoning biotech businesses. In the future, will there be a greater ecosystem that develops to support the industry similar to that of the US model? 

The Forum leadership team plans to continue driving the agenda to bring together industry, government and academia to solve the challenges facing property that supports life science and healthcare.

Last week in Amsterdam at the ULI European Conference, Kadans hosted our inaugural Life Science & Healthcare 1/2 day site visit and panel discussion. The short session received strong interest from individuals in the property industry, but also highlighted how little science occupiers are engaged with property professionals. Within the discussion, we had speakers from outside the property industry. The parallels between early tech property space attitudes and scientists property space attitudes are quite telling. Science above all else, comes first. 

Our next ULI Council day is planned for May 2020 and we are holding it at the Francis Crick Institute in London. The Francis Crick Institute is a biomedical research collaboration between the Wellcome Trust, Medical Research Council, Cancer UK, Imperial College London, University College London and King's College London. This first-rate research initiative sees over 1,200 scientists working collaboratively with over 10 Nobel prize winning scientists within the building on any given day. The centre delivers more than science by inspiring the next generation of scientists. We are honoured to be hosting our Council day in such a cathedral of science." From Ryan Matenchuk's blog, see https://bit.ly/2OOtyRi

The UK ULI Life Science & Healthcare Forum is co-chaired by Martin Field and Ryan Matenchuk. Laura has been asked to join the committee of the newly formed Forum. She hopes to bring interesting input from the US as she is also a member of the US ULI Healthcare and Life Science Council.