The Northern Life Sciences Landscape🔗

The North, especially the Northwest, has emerged as a hub of health and life science activity in the last decade. With a rich innovation ecosystem available to support businesses, the region offers ample opportunities for founders looking to establish and grow. As a membership organisation, Bionow is at the heart of this vibrant community, providing essential support and connections to help new and developing businesses grow to become amongst the most competitive in the industry.

The Current Landscape🔗

The North:🔗

• 1,500 life science businesses employing more than 50,000 highly skilled people
• Comprises 20-25% of the entire UK life science sector
• Contributes £9.6bn annually to the UK economy
• Creates 45%of all UK pharmaceutical exports

Spotlight on the Northwest:🔗

• The third largest hub for life sciences in the UK
• 25,500 people in total employed in the sector across the region
• Saw 61% increase in life sciences employment in the past 5 years
• 7,675 people are employed at R&D sites associated with life science businesses
• Home to 30% of the UK’s Contract research organisations (CROs)
• Over £6,072m turnover
• Manchester is the leading centre for industry sponsored clinical trials in the UK
• 38% of all UK pharmaceutical output

The North boasts a wealth of leading academic institutions, including The University of Manchester, Lancaster, and Liverpool Universities in the Northwest; Newcastle, Northumbria, and Durham Universities in the Northeast; and Leeds, York, and Sheffield Universities in Yorkshire. These centres of learning and research play a pivotal role in nurturing life science spin-outs. With world-class facilities and a strong tradition of scientific excellence, these institutions foster an environment conducive to innovation. Spin-outs like Holiferm and Apini Therapeutics, originating from The University of Manchester, showcase the transformative potential of academic research.

Centres of Excellence🔗

Alongside its world-class research capabilities, the North hosts several notable centres of excellence with a number of therapeutic specialisms across the region.

Alderley Park: Located in Cheshire is a major hub for life sciences and biotechnology in the UK, beingthe largest single-site life sciences campus in the country. The campus supports a wide range of life sciences activities, including drug discovery and development, diagnostics, digital health, and artificial intelligence.

Daresbury: Sci-Tech Daresbury is a National Science and Innovation Campus and Enterprise Zone located in the Liverpool City region The campus is home to a range of companies operating in the biomedical and healthcare sectors, advanced engineering, clean technologies and digital space.

Manchester: Renowned for its reputation for research and spin-outs, the city excels in cancer research and precision medicine. In addition to three key universities (the University of Manchester, MMU and Salford University), the city is home to the Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, the Manchester Centre for Genomic Medicine and the Christabel Pankhurst Institute for Health Technology and Innovation all of which, are key institutions. Alongside this activity, QIAGEN are working with Health Innovation Manchester to develop a world-leading genomics campus in the heart of Manchester’s health innovation district.

Liverpool: Known for its expertise in infectious diseases, Liverpool is home to the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, the Institute of Infection and Global Health and the Computational Biology Facility at the University of Liverpool, the Pandemic Institute and iiCON: the Infection Innovation Consortium. The city has a long history of pharmaceutical manufacturing, notably hosting the world's largest penicillin plant in the 1940s. Today, Speke is a major bio-manufacturing hub, home to AstraZeneca, Elanco, CSL Seqirus, and Pharmaron.

Lancaster: Home to Lancaster University’s Health Innovation Campus and Centre for Ageing Research, Health Innovation Northwest Coast, and the MRC Northwest Hub for Trials Methodology Research, Lancaster has established itself as a “national leader in applied health research”.

Newcastle: Renowned for ageing and chronic disease research, Newcastle hosts the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre, the National Innovation Centre for Ageing, and Newcastle and Northumbria Universities.

Leeds: A center for innovation in clinical diagnostics and medical technology and a significant hub for digital health innovation in the UK, with Leeds Digital health and the University of Leeds.

Sheffield: Specialising in translational neuroscience and advanced manufacturing, Sheffield houses the Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN) and the Medical Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, as well as the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University.

You’re in Good Company!🔗

The North is home to many established health and life science businesses across various disciplines – some examples are below but the list is by no means exhaustive:

Advanced Medical Solutions Group (Winsford, Cheshire): Develops and manufactures advanced wound care dressing technologies

ApconiX (Alderley Park): Integrated Toxicology and ion channel company

APIS Assay Technologies (Manchester): Biomarkers and diagnostic platforms

AstraZeneca (Macclesfield & Liverpool): Oncology, cardiovascular, renal, metabolism, respiratory, and immunology

Baxter Healthcare (Liverpool): Renal care, medication delivery, and biosurgery

Bristol Myers Squibb (Liverpool): Global biopharmaceutical and manufacturer

Concept Life Sciences (High Peak): Integrated drug discovery and development services

Elanco Animal Health (Liverpool): Animal vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics

Evotec (Alderley Park): Global drug discovery & development company with a focus on anti-infectives

F2G (Manchester): First in class antifungal treatments

FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies (Stockton-on-Tees): contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) for biologics, vaccines, and advanced therapies

Gentronix (Alderley Park): Genetic Toxicology CRO

GSK (Barnard Castle): Manufactures a diverse range of products, including some of GSK's most innovative medicines for HIV, respiratory disease and auto-immune diseases.

MAST Group (Liverpool): Diagnostics and manufacturer for clinical and veterinary testing

Pharmaron (Liverpool & Newcastle upon Tyne): Immunology, oncology, virology, and neuroscience

QIAGEN (Manchester): Molecular diagnostics, life sciences, and precision medicine

QuantuMDx (Newcastle upon Tyne): Point-of-care diagnostics, molecular diagnostics

Redx Pharma (Alderley Park): Clinical-stage biotechnology company

Sai Life Sciences (Alderley Park): Full-service CRO / CDMO

Seda Pharmaceutical Development Services (Cheadle): Pharmaceutical development and clinical pharmacology services

Seqirus (Liverpool): Influenza vaccines, pandemic preparedness

Smith & Nephew (Hull): Market leader in orthopaedics and woundcare

Sterling Pharma Solutions (Deeside and Northumberland ): CDMO, small molecule, and ADC’s

Sygnature Discovery (Alderley Park): Integrated drug discovery CRO

Teva Pharmaceuticals (Runcorn): Generic medicines, specialty medicines, and over-the-counter products

Thermo Fisher Scientific (Cheshire): Laboratory equipment, reagents, and consumables

Waters Corporation (Wilmslow): Analytical system solutions, software, and services for scientists. Liquid Chromatography. Mass Spectrometry.

Yourgene Health (Manchester): Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT), reproductive health, and oncology

Northern Life Science Incubators and Hubs🔗

Cities such as Manchester, Leeds, and Newcastle are rapidly developing as biotech hubs. The Manchester Science Park, Alderley Park and the Biospherein Newcastle provide essential infrastructure and support for biotech companies. These regions benefit from excellent academic institutions and a collaborative approach to innovation.

Manchester Science Park (Manchester): Life sciences, digital technology, and advanced materials (150+ companies)

Citylabs (Manchester): Health innovation and precision medicine hub, part of Europe’s largest clinical academic campus (20+ companies)

Alderley Park (Cheshire): Drug discovery, development, and commercialisation alongside the Alderley Park Accelerator, supporting early-stage life science companies with access to equipment, lab space, and funding (200+ companies)

Newcastle Helix: Data science, life science, and urban innovation. Plus, home to the Biosphere (70+ companies)

Sci-Tech Daresbury: High-tech businesses, life sciences, advanced engineering, and digital/ICT (150 companies)

NETPark (North East Technology Park): Materials integration, nanotechnology, and photonics (40+ companies)

York Science Park: Biotechnology, Agri-Tech, and digital technology (100+ companies)

Liverpool Science Park: Life sciences, digital, advanced manufacturing (70+ companies )

Nexus, Leeds: Collaboration and innovation hub of the University of Leeds, supporting digital, health and life sciences (60+ companies)

CPI (Centre for Process Innovation): Locations in Teesside with advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals. Part of the Catapult network and a founding member of the UK Government’s High Value Manufacturing Catapult.

Medicines Discovery Catapult: Based at Alderley Park and part of the Catapult network. The MDC is a national Life Sciences service that reshapes drug discovery for patient benefit by transforming the best of UK science into better treatments.

Investment in the Life Sciences

Activity and dedicated VC and investor interest remains strong in the sector. Notable investors based here with a particular focus on the region include:

• Praetura
• British Business Bank
• British Patient Capital
• Deepbridge Capital
• DSW Ventures
• Epidarex
• Life Arc
• LYVA Labs
• Northern Gritstone (commercialisation of university spin-outs)
• NorthEdge Capital
• NorthStar Ventures
• Maven
• Mercia
• River Capital

The role of Bionow🔗

Bionow works to support its members and the wider community of those seeking investment through various initiatives:

BioCap: An annual conference, connecting life science SMEs, spin-outs, and start-ups with investors. BioCap runs in early autumn at Alderley Park and is a well-established life science investment event, with exceptional networking and connecting opportunities, with the digital pitching competition being a highlight. Companies seeking investment are encouraged to enter the competition, and the shortlisted organisations are invited to pitch their investment opportunity to a large group of active life science investors, more than 60 of whom attend the event.

Investment Showcase Webinars: Bionow's Investment Showcase webinar series presents an opportunity for Bionow member companies to promote their exciting innovations. Member companies seeking investment present their 30-minute pitches to a virtual audience of investors, with direct follow-up opportunities afterward.

Envestors Angel Platform: This is a valuable way for member companies to raise their profile among the international investment community. Envestors has helped over 200 companies raise more than £100m, including several in the health and life sciences sectors.

Accelerators: Designed to enable and sustain the rate of start-up and business growth by providing support from experts in the field. Bionow accelerator programmes enable businesses to expand, grow and thrive by increasing the speed of commercialisation within which new services and products are brought to market. Bionow also introduce investment funding partners through a highly developed funding partners' network.

Connecting the Sector and Dedicated Life Science Events in the Region🔗

Bionow hosts approximately 30 networking events and conferences across the north annually focusing on various therapeutic areas, addressing current unmet needs, and highlighting areas of growth and potential. These annual events include discussions and insights on the following dedicated topics:

• AI and Digital
• AMR (BioInfect)
• Investment and Funding(BioCap)
• Neuroscience
• Oncology
• Precision Medicine
• Pharma Manufacturing

The Bionow Annual Awards: The prestigious Bionow Awards Dinner is a highlight of the life sciences calendar and celebrates the achievements of the sector, showcasing the very best companies, projects and individuals.

Alongside this, Bionow also brings regular informal networking events, bringing together researchers, academics, founders, and suppliers.

• Business Pitching (rapid pitching and networking)
• Biotech & Beers (informal networking)
• Empowering Women in Biotech (celebrating and supporting women in the sector)

Bionow also collaborates with member organisations and third parties to deliver webinars, conferences, training sessions, networking events and more.

In addition to Bionow’s events, there is a rich tapestry of other sector events which Bionow promotes though the events page.

Stretching Funding to enhance your Value Proposition🔗

Bionow members have access to a dedicated purchasing scheme that can result in savings of thousands, sometimes tens of thousands, of pounds. Dedicated Bionow member support includes savings and discounts on the following:

• Lab consumables and chemicals
• Lab gases
• R&D Tax credit support
• Business Insurance
• International events
• Marketing
• And much more…for more details see purchasing scheme.

In Summary🔗

The North of England is a thriving location for life sciences start-ups due to its strong research and development infrastructure, significant investment and support, a robust talent pool, and a collaborative ecosystem. The region is home to leading academic and research institutions like the University of Manchester, and benefits from facilities like the Medicines Discovery Catapult at Alderley Park and the innovation catalyst CPI. Excellent transport links and government support through initiatives like the 'levelling up' strategy further enhance its appeal.

Bionow's mission is to drive growth and innovation in the life sciences and healthcare sectors across the North, by fostering collaboration, influencing funding streams, supporting businesses, and connecting stakeholders to create a flourishing life sciences ecosystem.