BIA launches vision for the UK life sciences sector in 2025

Published: 1-May-2015

The UK has the potential to be a world leader in biotech, a key part of the economy of the future, says the association


The UK BioIndustry Association (BIA) has released its vision for the UK life sciences sector in 2025. This vision, developed in consultation with the BIA Board and sector experts, sets out an ambitious goal for the UK to become a top global cluster in life sciences by 2025.

If achieved, the BIA calculates the prize to be

  • four times as many drugs and other innovations reaching the clinic and patients
  • private investment of £2.9bn per annum (£2.6bn per annum more than today)
  • 130 more clinical stage drug companies and management teams
  • 30,000–60,000 additional highly skilled UK jobs
  • a salary pool – and consequential tax revenue — of £5bn (£10bn per annum more than today).

Indications of achieving this vision include

  • the UK delivering global benefits to humanity, especially via improved health
  • a distinct and differentiated cluster, building on the UK’s unique health assets and science capability
  • a thriving commercial innovation pyramid, building a strong tier of mid-sized companies above the UK’s vibrant start-up community, with at least three top 10 pharmaceutical companies headquartered in the UK
  • world-leading global management talent
  • the UK widely acknowledged as Europe’s clear biotech hub leader and within the global top three.

The vision document sets out an analysis of the current landscape, where there are issues that impact on the system and where there is room for improvement; it also offers a working hypothesis on how to take the sector from where it is in 2015 to where it could be a decade from now in 2025.

Launching the document, Edward Hodgkin, BIA Chairman, said: ‘As the government’s Accelerated Access Review sets out, ensuring the UK remains a globally competitive location to undertake drug discovery and development is crucial to the UK’s future health and wealth.

'This vision document sets out a global ambition for the UK, highlighting both where the sector needs to collaborate more effectively and pointing to UK strengths which can be capitalised upon to make it the global heavy hitter it should and can be,’ he added.

Steve Bates, CEO of the BIA commented: ‘UK life sciences are already in great shape but have the potential to go so much further. Achieving its full potential will be a collective effort across government, investors, industry, academia, funders, charities, patients and the health service. The BIA publishes this document as a contribution to debate and looks forward to building the UK’s success with the wider ecosystem.’

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