23 June 2025

UK life sciences sector recognised as key growth driver in Industrial Strategy

The UK Government’s newly published Industrial Strategy puts life sciences at the heart of its economic vision, highlighting the sector’s critical role in driving innovation, investment, and improved health outcomes.

Responding to the announcement, UK BioIndustry Association (BIA) welcomed the focus on life sciences SMEs, engineering biology, and the measures designed to help high-growth companies scale and remain rooted in the UK.

Commenting on life sciences as a priority sector in the Industrial Strategy, Steve Bates OBE, CEO of BIA, said:

“The Industrial Strategy has prioritised the life sciences sector because it will disproportionately drive economic growth over the next decade and help deliver an NHS fit for the future.

“SMEs are the lifeblood of this innovative industry and a strength of the UK ecosystem, securing £3.7 billion investment last year, much of it from overseas. We are on the verge of creating a new generation of globally impactful companies, so it is a smart move by Government to establish a dedicated support service to help 10–20 high-potential UK life science companies scale, attract investment, and remain headquartered in the UK.

“The £4 billion British Business Bank Industrial Strategy Growth Capital initiative will bring new agility to support fledgling companies and cutting-edge technologies as part of the pro-innovation Industrial Strategy. We look forward to working closely with the Bank as they establish this programme for our sector.

“These, alongside improved health data resources for innovators, faster clinical trials, more streamlined and joined-up medicines regulation and access pathways, and investments in medicines manufacturing, mean this Industrial Strategy and the upcoming Life Sciences Sector Plan deliver across the breadth of BIA’s priorities on behalf of our members. These plans are just the beginning, however, as we will now get down to the serious work of delivering these commitments in partnership with the Government.”

Commenting on the Industrial Strategy’s support for engineering biology and deep biotech, Steve Bates said:

“Britain’s science and innovation ecosystem is creating the industries of the future that will create well-paid, rewarding jobs and sustainable growth. Nowhere is that more true than for engineering biology and its deep biotech applications.

"The new £184 million Engineering Biology Scale-up Infrastructure Programme will enable UK engineering biology companies to access new and upgraded pilot and scale-up facilities urgently needed to reach scale. Together with the commitment to invest £196 million to the National Engineering Biology R&D Programme, today's announcements bring us closer to securing the UK's Vision for Engineering Biology and ensure our industry's place as a global leader.

“We welcome the pro-innovation approach to regulation set out in the Industrial Strategy and commitments to investing in R&D and the skills needed for innovative young companies to thrive. These are the essential building blocks for growth, which must be delivered at pace. There is no time to lose in the international race to build the industries that will drive the global economy in the coming century.”

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