Life Sciences
The UK's life sciences industry benefits from a long-term vision and partnership with governments, and it's supported by a world class talent base.
In 2022, the UK life science sector secured a total of £3.3 billion in equity financing, an increase of 500% since 2012. UK scientists continue to be at the forefront of science and discovery, responsible for discovering around 25 per cent of the world's top 100 prescription medicines and leading the way in COVID-19 vaccines. Our plans for future growth are outlined in the Life Sciences Visionopens www.gov.uk in a new tab.
Companies investing in the UK benefit from access to world-class universities and life sciences infrastructure including lab space, science parks and manufacturing facilities, as well as incubators and accelerators in which to start up and scale up. A national health research network supports streamlined trials operations, and innovation support is available from the regulator, health technology assessment bodies, and the NHS.
Specialised clusters offer opportunities in high growth subsectors such as precision medicine, cell and gene therapies, vaccine manufacturing, data science and more. Innovators can connect to R&D opportunities across the UK, and benefit from both national and regional networks that can help to facilitate partnerships.
A few of the notable UK assets include:
- Medicines Discovery Catapultopens md.catapult.org.uk in a new tab
- Cell and Gene Therapy Catapultopens ct.catapult.org.uk in a new tab
- National Biologics Manufacturing Centreopens www.uk-cpi.com in a new tab
- Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centreopens www.uk-cpi.com in a new tab
- Francis Crick Instituteopens www.crick.ac.uk in a new tab
- Rosalind Franklin Institute and Harwell Science and Innovation Campusopens www.harwellcampus.com in a new tab
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Cambridge Biomedical Campusopens www2.mrc-lmb.cam.ac.uk in a new tab
- National Institute for Health Researchopens www.nihr.ac.uk in a new tab
To find out more about the life sciences sector in the UK, visit the Healthcare and Life Sciences sector page on the Department for Business and Trade's Investment Atlas.
Investment Opportunities
Biomanufacturing in Tees Valley
Tees Valley is driving UK clean growth, converting sustainable feedstocks into high-value biopharmaceuticals, food and feed, biofuels and biochemical products.
The Tees Valley area has an established integrated industrial economy, an efficient local supply chain and significant academic connections.
With new biomanufacturing processes and techniques available, sustainable and profitable growth makes achieving net zero a realistic goal.
Data-Driven Health Innovation in Greater Birmingham and Solihull
Data-driven health innovation can lead to the early intervention of diseases, illnesses and conditions, as well as enable the creation of tailored, bespoke therapies for patients.
An opportunity exists in Greater Birmingham to harness world-leading academic and clinical strengths in data, digital, diagnostics and devices.
With unrivalled access to usable healthcare data, this is a chance to develop research and accelerate market access, taking patient-centred healthcare solutions from early development to real-life application.
Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence Applications in the Leeds City Region
Transform society, our lives and your business by exploiting the growing demand for data analytics and artificial intelligence.
The UK is one of the best places in the world to develop artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics, with the sector worth over £15.6 billion. Leeds is home to a thriving data science cluster that works across multiple sectors including financial services, healthcare and creative. A strong digital and data-centred heritage highlights an established ecosystem of innovation that you can take advantage of.
Soft-Landing Locations Across the UK
You've no doubt heard of London, Oxford and Cambridge and the famed 'Golden Triangle', but did you know about the world-leading vaccines cluster in Liverpool, Glasgow's excellence in precision medicine, or that Europe's largest cell and gene therapy cluster is in Hertfordshire? Take a tour of life sciences across the whole of the UK with our sector-focused map of great places for global businesses and investors to land in the UK.
Highlighted Opportunities
Life Sciences is a broad and varied sector. The UK uniquely offers both breadth and depth of expertise in a range of in-demand life sciences subsectors and emerging technologies.
Click the links below to find out more about some of the key opportunities in the sector:
Engineering Biologyopens eu-admin.eventscloud.com in a new tab (PDF 1,177 KB)
Genomicsopens eu-admin.eventscloud.com in a new tab (PDF 5.2 MB)
Pandemic Solutionsopens eu-admin.eventscloud.com in a new tab (PDF 1,340 KB)
Digital Healthopens eu-admin.eventscloud.com in a new tab (PDF 5 MB)
Watch this video to discover the inspiring story of Oxford Nanopore Technologiesopens nanoporetech.com in a new tab, one of the UK’s most innovative companies, who are delivering solutions around the world for life sciences and a range of other applications.
Contact our specialists who can help you find the right investment for your business.
Here at the Department for Business and Trade, we can help you find the right conditions to catalyse your research and development. Our investment advisors are on standby to talk through your expansions plans and discuss how the UK could be a great fit for your business.
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