The government has published its Life Sciences Sector Plan, outlining how the sector can contribute to both revitalising the nation’s economy, aligned with the Industrial Strategy, and improving public health in line with the commitments set out in the 10-Year Health Plan.
The Plan sets out how the government will position the UK as the leading life sciences economy in Europe by 2030, and the third globally by 2035, behind only the United States and China.
It outlines three core, interconnected pillars:
- Enabling World Class R&D
- Making the UK an Outstanding Place in Which to Start, Grow, Scale, and Invest – to
- Driving Health Innovation and NHS Reform
The Life Sciences Sector Plan forms part of the Modern Industrial Strategy (MIS)’s eight “IS8” priority sectors, which the government believes will be pivotal in driving the UK economy’s future growth. These are advanced manufacturing, clean energy, creative industries, defence, digital & tech (including AI), financial services, life sciences, and professional/business services.
There is strong alignment between the Industrial Strategy’s IS8 sectors and the comparative strengths highlighted in GW4’s Strategic Vision. By leveraging its expertise in Life Sciences, GW4 and its partner institutions—Bath, Bristol, Cardiff, and Exeter—are well positioned to engage with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), demonstrating how higher education institutions can drive innovation and regional economic growth.
GW4’s Response to the Life Sciences Sector Plan:
“We welcome the Life Sciences Sector Plan and the government’s ambitious agenda for the UK to become the leading life sciences economy in Europe by 2030 and, by 2035, the third most important Life Sciences economy globally.
"The GW4 partner universities – Bath, Bristol, Cardiff and Exeter – along with the innovation economy we support across South Wales and the South West of England, will play a vital role in helping the government realise this ambition.
"Despite the South West being the only part of the UK not to have a formal life sciences cluster, our region has a thriving life sciences innovation ecosystem. Our universities are building a growing portfolio of life sciences spinouts and active partnerships with globally-leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. The life sciences industry generates significant turnover across South Wales and the South West of England, with the South West being recognised as the third fastest area of growth nationally for Life Sciences in terms of employment.
"GW4 is uniquely positioned to work across academia, with the NHS, regional Health Innovation Networks, industry and government to improve population health and mental health, reduce health inequalities, and address with the growing global threats to health posed by climate change and antimicrobial resistance (AMR); in doing so, supporting the growth of a South West health and life sciences cluster.
"We look forward to working with the government and other key stakeholders to help to grow our life sciences sector at a regional and national level.”
