The role of technical translation in the life sciences industry has been steadily increase over the last decade. With the global COVID-19 pandemic of 2020-2021, the importance of life sciences translation has become even more prominent and visible. For example, the collaboration and cooperation between pharmaceutical companies and the public health sector across international boundaries has been unprecedented.
This is due, in part, to countries attempting to learn more about the virus, slow its spread, and develop vaccines. Because of the nature of the pandemic, governments and industry have digitized much of the work and it is likely that this trend will continue.
How is Translation Used in the Life Sciences Industry?
The life sciences industry encompasses a number of specialized niche fields, and all are reliant on technical and scientific translation services. These highly technical subject areas include the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical/healthcare, environmental, geological, and various other sectors. From reports related to clinical trials to the translation Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), these industries are highly reliant on technical translation.
Some other examples of frequently translated documents and other language-related services provided for the life sciences industry include:
- Product Labels
- Informed Consent Forms (ICFs)
- Patient-Reported Outcomes (PROs)
- Case Report Forms (CRFs)
- Medical Device Software & User Manuals
- Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)
- Patents
- Lab Reports
- Regulatory Compliance Documentation
- Adverse Event Reports (SAEs)
- Audit Documentation
- Scientific Journal Articles
- Environmental Impact Studies
- Health & Safety Manuals
- Drug Labeling & Validation
- Multilingual Medical Device Software UI Testing
- Multilingual Website & Digital Marketing Localization & Optimization
- And much more.
Of course, companies in this sector also frequently need to translate their marketing materials, localize their websites, and even produce video content in a foreign language when they are looking to enter a new overseas market. Moreover, during site inspections and audits in a foreign country, interpretation services are frequently necessary to ensure that there are no critical misunderstandings or miscommunications. This is vital when dealing with government regulatory agencies, quality control, or even simply showcasing a facility to potential investors.
Where are the Key Emerging Markets for Life Sciences Translation?
While the United States, Europe, and Japan have led the majority of advanced research and innovation in the life sciences industry for many decades, there are a growing number of key emerging markets across the globe. In rapidly developing countries such as China, Russia, Brazil, and India (to name just a few), domestic capabilities in the life sciences sector are progressing quickly.
Mixed with indigenous innovation, increasing foreign and domestic investment, and partnerships with other international corporations, important research is already being done in each of these places. From developing new COVID vaccines to advances in biochemical engineering, these emerging markets cannot be ignored. However, in order to take advantage of these new markets, translation services are a critical component.
For example, if your company is looking to market and sell a medical device to Brazil, one of the key emerging markets in the life sciences industry, you will have many considerations that involve translation and localization. First, you will need to localize the medical device’s software UI into Brazilian Portuguese (which can be quite different from Continental Portuguese). You will also need to translate the instructions/manual(s), labels, government regulatory documentation, and even marketing materials into Portuguese. These marketing materials can include social media accounts, brochures and flyers, your website, and even the content for a booth at any tradeshows you may want to attend in Brazil related to medical devices. All of these items (and more) would need to be translated and/or localized into Brazilian Portuguese.
Finding a Reliable Life Sciences Translation Service
Since you now are likely more appreciative of the role of translation in the life sciences industry, you may be wondering how to find a translation provider to support your language needs. It practically goes without saying that not every translator or translation company is equipped with the skills necessary to translate these types of highly technical and specialized documents. When looking for a reliable language partner to handle your life sciences translation needs, you should ensure that your partner has the following:
- Documented experience and specialization in the field of life sciences and its various sub-specialties;
- Corporate affiliations with recognized national and international associations, such as the American Translators Association (ATA) and the Association of Language Companies (ALC);
- A comprehensive, multi-step Quality Control Process (QCP) that meets or exceeds the industry standards as outlined in ISO 17100:2015 (Translation Services Requirements), ASTM F2575 – 14 (Standard Guide for Quality Assurance in Translation), and/or ASTM F3130-18 (Standard Practice for Language Service Companies). Adhering to these internationally recognized standards provides important risk mitigation when it comes to your life sciences translations.
- Native target-language translators with specific subject matter expertise (SME) in your technical field (e.g., biology, chemistry, environmental sciences, agriculture, etc.), along with the requisite technical and therapeutic proficiencies.
- The latest in language technology solutions, such as Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) and Translation Memory (TM) tools to assist in maintaining consistency and managing terminology, as well as automated quality control technologies (in conjunction with human quality control).
As we have seen, the role of translation in the life sciences industry is an important one, now more than ever. At Translation Source, we meet (and exceed) all the above criteria for selecting a reliable, high-quality, and cost-effective life sciences translation service provider. We have more than 15 years of experience providing highly technical document translation services in the field of life sciences. Our life sciences translation experience also includes numerous specializations, including (but not limited to) biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medicine/healthcare, environmental engineering, patents and intellectual property (IP), agricultural and forestry sciences, and much more.
If you would like to learn more about Translation Source’s life sciences translation services, please email us at info@translation-source.com or call us toll-free at (800) 413-7838.
