GlaxoSmithKline and McLaren announce strategic partnership

GlaxoSmithKline has announced a new strategic alliance with the Formula One manufacturer McLaren Group.

The new alliance will initially extend to 2016 and will see the two UK-based organisations sharing expertise on engineering, technology, analytics and strategy modelling, which will help to improve the effectiveness of GlaxoSmithKline's operations.

It will initially focus on innovations with relevance to the pharmaceutical company's manufacturing, consumer healthcare and research and development units, with a joint learning centre set to be built by 2013.

This is the first time that McLaren has formed a partnership with a drug manufacturer, with the companies expressing confidence that cross-sector alliances of this kind will become an increasingly important way of promoting innovation.

Andrew Witty, chief executive officer of GlaxoSmithKline, said: "This partnership is another example of GlaxoSmithKline looking outside its sector for inspiration and fresh perspectives on how we can achieve our strategic goals."

Earlier this week, the company demonstrated its commitment to supporting the forthcoming London Olympic Games by unveiling a London 2012 logo on the side of its UK headquarters.