Government launches new life sciences funding aims to support high-skill jobs

The Government has announced more than £74m in new public and industry funding for cutting-edge life sciences projects, in a move ministers say will support high-skill employment and strengthen one of the UK’s fastest-growing sectors.

Life sciences currently supports over 300,000 jobs across the country and has been identified as a priority industry within the Industrial Strategy.

The investment will back eight R&D projects through the Sustainable Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Programme, including work on AI- and robotics-driven manufacturing, recycling anaesthetic gases and turning spent nuclear fuel into next-generation cancer treatments.

A further £1m from the Engineering Biology Sandbox Fund will support MHRA-led work on regulating engineered bacteriophages, an emerging technology for tackling antibiotic-resistant infections.

Science and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said: “The life sciences sector is a core part of our Industrial Strategy for good reason: it turns over £150 billion a year, supports hundreds of thousands of jobs, and is a magnet for investment.

“Its success will be critical to the economic growth we need, to deliver this government’s mission of national renewal.”

Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle said: “Britain’s life sciences sector is one of our greatest national assets, driving breakthroughs that save lives, create high-skilled jobs, and attract world-class investment.

“Today’s funding shows our commitment to backing the boldest ideas helping deliver the economic growth and national renewal this government is focused on.”