Bioinformatics and the Politics of Innovation in the Life Sciences: Science and the State in the United Kingdom, China, and India.

Charlotte Salter,Yinhua Zhou,Saheli Datta,Brian Salter

doi:10.1177/0162243916631022

Charlotte Salter, Yinhua Zhou + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1177/0162243916631022

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Abstract

The governments of China, India, and the United Kingdom are unanimous in their belief that bioinformatics should supply the link between basic life sciences research and its translation into health benefits for the population and the economy. Yet at the same time, as ambitious states vying for position in the future global bioeconomy they differ considerably in the strategies adopted in pursuit of this goal. At the heart of these differences lies the interaction between epistemic change within the scientific community itself and the apparatus of the state. Drawing on desk-based research and thirty-two interviews with scientists and policy makers in the three countries, this article analyzes the politics that shape this interaction. From this analysis emerges an understanding of the variable capacities of different kinds of states and political systems to work with science in harnessing the potential of new epistemic territories in global life sciences innovation.

Highlights

The contribution of bioinformatics to state strategies on life sciences innovation has become an increasingly visible concern to governments
Announcing a £32 million investment in bioinformatics in February 2014, the UK Minister for Science David Willetts emphasized its ‘‘huge priority for government’’ and its ‘‘potential to drive research and development, increase productivity and innovation and transform lives’’ (Medical Research Council [MRC] 2014). His statement built on the promise of the Strategy for UK Life Sciences to make the United Kingdom ‘‘a world leader in genomics and bioinformatics’’ (UK Department for Business, Innovation and Skills [BISs] 2012, 41) and on the ambition stated by Jeremy Hunt, Secretary of State for Health, at the launch of Genomics England and the 100,000 Genome Project in July 2013 to make the United Kingdom ‘‘the first ever country to introduce this technology in its mainstream health system—leading the global race for better tests, better drugs and above all better, more personalized care to save lives’’ (Genomics England 2014)
In India, the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) is clear that the aim of its bioinformatics program and National Bioinformatics Network is ‘‘to ensure that India emerges a key international player in the field of bioinformatics; enabling a greater access to information wealth created during the post-genomic era and catalysing the country’s attainment of lead position in medical, agricultural, animal and environmental biotechnology’’ (India DBT 2014)

Summary

Introduction

The contribution of bioinformatics to state strategies on life sciences innovation has become an increasingly visible concern to governments. The evidence from our China and India interviews strongly suggests that this deficiency is the result of, on the one hand, the state’s failure to engage and recruit relevant sections of the scientific community and, on the other, the inability of science itself to formulate a coherent epistemic view of how bioinformatics should be incorporated into biomedical innovation.

Results

Conclusion