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EFPIA congratulates 2014 winner of college of Europe prize for thesis examining EU exports of pharmaceuticals

(15 July 2014 - Brussels): EFPIA is pleased to congratulate the recipient of this year’s College of Europe EFPIA Prize, awarded to a College of Europe Student for a Master Thesis regarding public policies impacting the pharmaceutical sector. The 2014 winner is Ludivine Blanc for her thesis "The Pharmaceutical Industry in a Global Economy: What Drives EU Exports of Pharmaceuticals Overseas".
The pharmaceutical sector is one of the European Union’s most competitive, and has a higher trade balance than any other high-tech sector, with an annual surplus of €80 billion. However, despite the importance of the pharmaceutical sector for the EU, few researchers have attempted to assess the determinants of the EU exports of pharmaceuticals. Ms. Blanc’s thesis aims at filling this gap by addressing the following research questions: What drives EU exports of Pharmaceuticals and how to boost this trade? In striving to answer the questions Ms. Blanc’s work identifies new pathways to boost the pharmaceutical sector in Europe. By bringing together economic theory, validation with real data, and impact assessment, Ms. Blanc’s evidence-based approach offers an innovative means of assessing public policies.

Since 2001, EFPIA has collaborated with the College of Europe to establish the “EFPIA Award”, created with the aim of highlighting a Master’s Thesis covering an area of particular interest to the pharmaceutical industry. The winner is offered a 12-month job in EFPIA, or with one of EFPIA’s member associations or companies, and publication of their work on the EFPIA website.

Ms. Blanc’s winning thesis, "The Pharmaceutical Industry in a Global Economy: What Drives EU Exports of Pharmaceuticals Overseas”, can be read in full on the EFPIA website.