EMA- FROM LONDON TO THE STOCKHOLM-UPPSALA REGION Sweden has the qualifications and the assets #sciencesweden STATEMENT Sweden wants the EMA to be re-located to the Stockholm-Uppsala region. We provide a seamless transition into a world leading scientific environment, with life science collaborations between health care, the university sector and industry. Quality health care for all is a cornerstone of the Swedish welfare state. Advantages of EMA in Sweden The Swedish Medical Products Agency Efficient and productive environment Given the mandate of EMA, an efficient and seamless tran- Sweden offers excellent working and living conditions in sition is of utmost impor tance. In this respect, the Swedish an open and tolerant society. Eng lish is widely spoken Medical Products Agency, among one of the most active in Sweden, which has one of the world’s highest English partners of the EMA, would be a valuable asset. The UK not speaking proficiency scores. The region has Europe’s best counted, the Swedish Medical Products Agen cy is the most public transport system, and for incoming experts the region active partner of the EMA. has the hotel capacity needed, and, with access to no less than 4 international airports, it is easy to reach. For the staff and their families, international schools, pre-schools and Life science and Academia nurseries are avaliable, and so are programmes for partners Sweden is building a world-leading life science sector, and of the staff. The region also has a thriving labour market. the life science cluster of the region is an excellent working environment for EMA. The Karolinska Institutet, hosting the A beautiful and clean region Nobel Assembly that awards the prize for Physiology or Medi- cine, is a top-ranked medical university. The Stockholm-Uppsala region offers a vibrant urban society Furthermore, the region hosts Uppsala University, with an interesting cultural scene combined with a healthy Stockholm Universi ty, KTH Royal Institute of Technology and and environmentally friendly lifestyle with easy access to a The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. In addition stunning archipelago and the Swedish countryside – a right to that, the world renowned universities in other parts of guaranteed by Swedish law. Sweden cater for a thriving environment. Sweden at the very top-end of the scale According to the OECD and the World Economic Forum, Sweden ranks at the top-end when it comes to almost all dimensions, such as economic developement, subjective, environmental quality, good and transparent governance, low corruption, good health status and health care and gender equality. Life science and academia Sweden advocates that EMA should be placed in an innovative and thriving life science environment. Sweden has a highly developed health care sector and building a world leading life science sector, where research and development (especially clinical research), as well as a strong focus on innovation would provide an excellent working environment for EMA, making use of the life science cluster of the Stockholm-Uppsala region. Moreover, being the 6th most glo- balised country in the world, a natural part of the business and research in Sweden is to actively seek international collaboration and cooperation with Synergy effects with ECDC stakeholders from different sectors and disciplines. Synergies generated by The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) is already these close connections between well established in the region. Geographical proximity of ECDC and Swedish universities, research institutes EMA would contribute with synergy effects and facilitate the agencies’ and the private sector leverage the R&D collaboration, for example in fields such as vaccines and antimicrobial output. Stockholm has e.g. the second resistance. The fact that ECDC is based in Sweden also means that there most supportive ecosystems for start- is accumulated know-how at the Government Offices as regards the ups globally, second only to Silicon important responsibilities of a host country. Valley. Stockholm also has the highest density of programmers of all cities in Europe. Life science – a Swedish priority Supporting life science research has long been a priority for the Swedish Government. State-of-the-art research infrastructure has an excellent performance record and is at the forefront of the scientific community. Swedish companies and researchers also actively participate in EU- funded and other international projects. Internationally-renowned powerhouses Located in central Stockholm, the city’s leading health care providers, and one of largest-ever development project, Haga- Europe’s highest concentrations of life staden, is well underway. The area is de- science companies, organisations and voted to life science and encompasses all institutes. In addition to that, ECDC, the the elements required to become a true Swedish Medical Products Agency and international hub. The Karolinska Insti- the National Veterinary Institiute are tutet is a top-ranked medical university, located in the Stockholm-Uppsala region. and, together with KTH Royal Institute of In addition to this, world renowned Technology, Stockholm University, Sci- universities in other parts of Sweden, LifeLab (a research centre for large scale such as Lund University and Gothenburg molecular research), Stockholm School of University, contribute to a thriving scien- Economics and the existing and new Karo- ce scene in Sweden. In life science in linska University Hospital, are all within particular, there are several respects in walking distance. This means that within which the talent and asset base is superior a radius of two kilometres, there are four to any other country or region. major universities, some of the world’s best clinical research facilities, A seamless transition is of utmost importance Given the mandate of EMA, an efficient and CHMP RAPPORTEUR seamless transition is of utmost impor- tance. In this respect, the Swedish Medical RAPPORTEUR IN TOTAL 2013-2015 Products Agency, among the most active 80 partners of the EMA would be a valuable asset. Apart from the UK the Swedish MPA SWEDEN 60 is clearly the most active contributor to EMA and the centralised procedure. 40 This is crucial when it comes to the continuity of the work of the Agency and its 50 20 staff. The continuity of the Agency’s work is very important, as its activity can have 0 a direct bearing on the health situation of UK SE NL DE ES AT DK IT individual citizens or patients. An innovative IT-country Skype, Spotify, IKEA, Ericsson, Sobi, Elekta and Recipharm, not to forget the Nobel Prize. Sweden is one of the most innovative places on the planet. Innovation is closely linked to research and development. Sweden is among Europe’s top investors in this area and among the top countries in the world in terms of number of patents produced per capita. Sweden is internationally well recognised in the area of ICT (informa- tion and communication technology), technologies of big data as well as mobile technologies which is of benefit to the Swedish life science sector and would make it especially well equipped to provide assistance with regard to the IT requirements of the Agency. Any visitor can see that Sweden is among the most modern countries in the world, just one example being that Sweden has the highest internet and computer usage per capita in the world. Transparency and good governance Transparency, a high trust in the public sector, efficient anti-corruption laws and good govern- ance are hallmarks of Swedish society, includ- ing early dialogues with concerned stakehold- ers. Transparency is also an important feature of EMA operations. Sweden according to international organisations According to the OECD and the World Economic Forum, Sweden ranks at the top-end when it comes to almost all dimensions, such as eco- nomic developement, subjective well-being and social connections, environmental quality, health status and health care, gender equality, personal safety education and skills. A country that not only belongs to the most competitive European economies, but also atta ins top rankings in new concepts such as the Happiness Index. A tolerant and open society best public transport system. For the staff and their families, international schools are avaliable, and so Sweden offers safe and excellent working and living are programmes for partners of the staff. There will conditions in an open and tolerant society. A country also be a one-stop shop for convenient re-location. that is technologi cally advanced, economically successful and committed to sustainability. A country that is a model for stability, freedom of expression and Healthy and environmentally equality, backed by a comprehensive welfare state. friendly lifestyle Eng lish is widely spoken in Sweden, with one of the The Stockholm-Uppsala region can offer a vibrant world´s highest English speaking proficiency scores. urban society with an interesting cultural scene In addition to high quality localities and buildings combined with a healthy and environmentally friendly for EMA and its staff, the region can offer attractive and lifestyle with easy access to a stunning archipelago safe residential areas, the hotel capacity needed for and the Swedish countryside – a right guaranteed incoming experts and access to no less than 4 interna- by Swedish law. tional airports. Furthermore, the region offers Europe’s A special Secretariat has been set up within the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs,