In 1900, the global average life expectancy was just 31. Today it’s 70.

In Northern Ireland it is even higher – for women here the average life span is 81 years.

Though as one scientist explained to me, we live in some of the strangest times in human history; some people will live longer than any generation before them, while at the same time some children will be outlived by their parents with the incidence of conditions like obesity and diabetes increasing.

The future offers the paradox of challenge and opportunity; an ageing population and increasing demands. The constant is a need for new and innovative solutions.

The Life Sciences sector is big business in Northern Ireland. There are certainly some big home-grown names. Randox, Almac and Norbrook are global players employing thousands of people across the province.

In fact around 130 local businesses in the sector generate sales worth about £800m a year.

Plus 10% of all of Northern Ireland’s exports are attributed to the Life Sciences sector.

So it seems only natural that we put the sector under the micro-scope and look at what some firms in the sector are doing and explore the opportunities that may lie ahead.

Featuring Hugh Cormican from Cirdan Imaging, Founder of BioKenetic Europe and business consultant Moria Burke, Professor Neville McClenaghan from Ulster University, Professor Colin McCoy from Queen’s University and Peter Hamilton from Path XL. Our start-up of the week is Jason McKeown from Neurovalens.

The post Life Sciences appeared first on The Profit Margin.