Shaping a better future for this generation and the next will be the focus of UK medtech leader Professor Gino Martini at a landmark event during the inaugural West Midlands Life Sciences Week (LSW). Taking place from 15 to 19 September, the new initiative will showcase the strength, potential and future direction of the region’s life sciences sector.
Professor Martini, chief executive of the Precision Health Technologies Accelerator (PHTA), will be the keynote speaker on the morning of 18 September. The event is being held at Orelle, the striking restaurant at the top of 103 Colmore Row in Birmingham, where guests will hear Professor Martini set out his vision for life sciences and medtech in the West Midlands and beyond. His keynote address will be followed by a Global Brunch themed around “the power and potential of partnerships”, reflecting one of the week’s central priorities: collaboration across disciplines, sectors and geographies.
The morning session has been developed in partnership with the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC), reflecting the vital role that business engagement plays in shaping the future of the life sciences economy. Raj Kandola, acting deputy chief executive of the GBCC, said: “Connecting people and businesses is what we do – and nowhere is this more crucial right now than in the life sciences sector, which is fast establishing a UK base right here in the West Midlands.” His words highlight a moment of opportunity, as the region positions itself as a hub for research, investment and innovation.
For Professor Martini, the West Midlands is not only a promising centre but an active player already delivering. “Our region is full of untapped potential in life sciences and medtech. The infrastructure, talent and innovation are not future ambitions – they’re real, current assets that many other regions across the country are only beginning to build.” As chief executive of the PHTA, based at the Birmingham Health Innovation Campus, he is closely involved in accelerating new health technologies and ensuring they move from research into practice, where they can directly benefit patients and healthcare systems. His role at Life Sciences Week underlines both the strategic importance of the Accelerator and the depth of expertise already present in the region.
Alongside Professor Martini, the event will include a panel discussion featuring Fiona Latter, programme lead for creative, culture and heritage at the West Midlands Combined Authority, and John Richards, director of knowledge exchange at Aston University. Their perspectives will add further breadth to the conversation, bringing cultural, academic and entrepreneurial voices into dialogue about the future of life sciences. The focus on partnerships is no coincidence. Life sciences innovation does not happen in isolation but requires alignment across industry, academia, the public sector and investors. By bringing together leaders from these areas, LSW is signalling its commitment to a joined-up approach.
Life Sciences Week itself is designed to give visibility to the West Midlands as an emerging national and global player. Its agenda is structured around four core themes. The first is pharmaceuticals and biotech, with attention given to drug discovery, novel therapies and international research collaborations. The second is medical technology and diagnostics, including tools, devices and the role of clinical practice. The third is the role of academic institutions, highlighting how universities can share research with the private sector to drive real-world impact. Finally, the fourth theme addresses the vital role of investors, providing opportunities for emerging ventures to connect with capital and scale at pace.
These four areas form a strategic framework that speaks to both the diversity and the interdependence of the life sciences sector. A novel therapy developed in a university lab, for example, may require diagnostic tools from a medtech partner, investment from venture capital, and a regulatory framework supported by public agencies. By structuring the week around these intersecting themes, LSW is encouraging participants to think not only about their own field but about the broader ecosystem in which it operates.
The event has already attracted significant brand involvement, underlining the appetite for collaboration and visibility. Plug and Play, Bruntwood, Crowe UK, Willis Towers Watson, Medilink Midlands and the West Midlands Health Technologies Cluster (WMHTC) are among those confirmed. Each represents a different but complementary aspect of the sector, from innovation platforms to financial expertise, risk management, industry representation and cluster development. Their participation demonstrates that LSW is not only an academic or policy exercise but a genuine convening point for the whole life sciences community.
For the West Midlands, the launch of Life Sciences Week is a statement of intent. It highlights the region’s determination to be recognised not simply as an industrial and cultural centre, but as a leader in one of the most dynamic and socially important sectors of the global economy. With its combination of university research, hospital infrastructure, business networks and growing investment activity, the region is well placed to deliver on this ambition. Professor Martini’s keynote and the discussions that follow will underline both the progress made and the opportunities still to be realised.
As Life Sciences Week takes shape, its emphasis on innovation, collaboration and investment sets the stage for long-term impact. For those attending the 18 September keynote, the view from the 24th floor of 103 Colmore Row will be impressive. But it is the view of the region’s life sciences future, set out by Professor Martini and his fellow panellists, that may prove even more compelling.
