Europe's analytical innovation still behind USA and Japan
An innovation audit by the UK Analytical Partnership (UKAP) has found that the European analytical technology sector is lagging behind that of the USA and Japan. Innovations in analytical technology broaden the scope of what can be achieved through chemical and DNA-based analysis in, for instance, genetic screening, forensic toxicology, environmental monitoring and product safety. UKAP reached its conclusions by studying data from analytical and chemical publications in order to measure the output and strength of the analytical sector across a range of countries. Germany was found to be the strongest European player in the analytical sector with an average 7.5 per cent share of analytical publications, ranking just behind global leaders Japan and the USA with 20 and 10 per cent respectively. The UK follows with a middle ranking share of publications, 5 per cent, ahead of Spain, Italy and France with 4 to 5 per cent each. The survey also found evidence of a sharp increase in the number of analytical publications from Spain, Italy, France, the Netherlands and Sweden in recent years. UKAP also examined the conversion rate of academic research into potential new products by comparing analytical patent publication ratios across a range of countries. The audit found that Sweden and France were the strongest European countries in this area, following closely on the heels of leader Japan. The USA ranked fourth in terms of the economic impact of analytical innovations, followed by Germany and the UK. The UKAP attributed Sweden and France's strong position to the unique patent culture found in these countries. UKAP also plotted the UK's percentage share of publications against the global growth rate of various analytical techniques. The results indicated that the UK is performing well in new areas such as proteomics, transcriptome and nanospray, but less well in techniques such as miniaturisation and capillary electrophoresis. UKAP innovation network leader Professor Les Ebdon said: 'Ensuring that the UK is active in novel areas is one of the keys to advancing the UK's competitiveness, so the network is developing strategies to foster and encourage innovation in the UK.' The UK Analytical Partnership was launched in 2000 by the UK's Department of trade and industry and other stakeholders in order to provide the direction and focus necessary to secure world class status for the UK analytical sector. UKAP concentrates on three main areas: research funding and innovation, regulation and the supply of skilled people.