Fusing a world-class ecosystem with cutting-edge technology, the UK is setting a new standard for innovation in life sciences. Invigorated by the UK government’s 10-year Modern Industrial Strategy, this is the most exciting time for international businesses looking to scale up and invest.
A prime destination
With a track record of healthcare breakthroughs, the UK’s life sciences sector is benefitting from new internal investment—with the aim of becoming the world’s third most important life sciences economy by 2035.
Employing 359,600 people in 2023-2024, the sector achieved a £146.9 billion turnover and is increasingly linked to the UK’s global export potential.
Bolstered by government-led initiatives like the Global Entrepreneur Programme (GEP)—which has helped over 1,000 founders set up strategic operations in the UK—the sector looks set to grow even further. Through a £520 million Life Science Innovative Manufacturing Fund, a bespoke government offer will support major investments over £250 million. Meanwhile, a new scale-up support service will help 10–20 UK life sciences companies attract international capital and stay headquartered in the UK.
Across the entire country, diverse centres of excellence have emerged which are driving innovation in clinical research and biomanufacturing. This upward trajectory can be felt in the announcement of the Oxford-Cambridge growth corridor—dubbed an economic engine. Predicted to boost the economy by up to £78 billion by 2035, the corridor will prime the country for even further investment.
As technology continues to reshape health, these collaborative clusters are key to powering the solutions that will help reduce hospital waiting times and pressure on beds—aligned with the UK’s 10-year NHS plan to modernise care and improve patient outcomes. Together with the UK government’s 10-year Modern Industrial Strategy, it’s no wonder many are viewing the UK as the go-to destination for life science and tech foreign direct investment.
Responsible AI
A powerful illustration of how the UK supports innovative life science businesses is Envisionit Deep AI, a medical technology company transforming healthcare diagnostics through artificial intelligence. Founded in South Africa by paediatric radiologist Dr. Jaishree Naidoo, business development expert Terence Naidu, and AI specialist Andrei Migatchev, its mission is to democratise access to safe, reliable AI in healthcare through their explainable AI tools and AI assurance platform RATify.
Dr. Naidoo first saw the healthcare potential of AI while tackling Africa’s shortage of qualified paediatric radiologists. “Training just one doctor took months or years,” she recalls. “But with AI, I could multiply human capability exponentially, enabling faster, more accurate diagnoses.”
That insight led to the development of RADIFY which uses AI technology to augment the capacity of radiologists across triaging and providing clinical decision support in the diagnosis of illnesses—like tuberculosis and pneumonia—which can be diagnosed in milliseconds.
Through RADIFY’s implementation, Envisionit discovered a gap in AI medical imaging: the need for transparency and accountability. This led them to launch RATify, which enables real-time error detection and rigorous validation, ensuring compliance with EU and FDA guidelines—an essential safeguard for healthcare providers implementing AI tools. “Doctors aren’t being replaced,” Dr. Naidoo emphasises.
In 2020, Envisionit, through its membership of the UK-South African Tech Hub, was introduced to the UK Department for Business and Trade. This begun a relationship that would ultimately lead to the company situating its global operations in the country.
“We learned how the UK’s healthcare ecosystem could be an ideal fit,” says Naidu. “Specifically, how we could benefit from a Transformative Tech grant through Innovate UK, which further down the line helped us accelerate RATify’s platform development.”
Now headquartered in the UK, Envisionit is partnering with the UK government on healthcare modernisation—working to integrate RATify into other medical imaging sectors like pathology, dermatology, and ophthalmology. The company is also in the process of raising capital to fulfil its global expansion goals.
“We can scale more easily being in the UK,” Dr. Naidoo says. “The UK’s thriving research base, strong IP protections, and forward-looking policies have allowed us to serve our markets a lot faster and better.”
Building on success
Envisionit’s journey speaks to how life science innovators can leverage the UK’s strong foundation and pro-tech environment to turn bold medical ideas into scalable solutions. This momentum is continuing thanks to the UK’s 10-year Modern Industrial Strategy, which has implemented simpler regulation and long-term investment incentives. It provides the industry with the stability it needs to develop next-generation treatments, nurturing a pro-business environment that supports high-potential clusters across the country and reducing barriers to investment in the UK.
UK Life Sciences AT A GLANCE
- A £2 bn investment will help to position the UK as Europe’s leading life sciences economy
- The UK was the first country to license and deploy COVID-19 vaccines
- Up to £600 mn will fund the Health Data Research Service to boost cures and NHS care
In practical terms, the strategy offers life sciences businesses clearer regulatory roadmaps, enhanced funding mechanisms, and greater access to top-tier R&D partnerships. It further cements the UK’s reputation as a place where academic institutions, global players, and disruptive newcomers come together to solve our greatest challenges. For instance, the strategy aims to double participation in clinical trials by 2026, and again by 2029.
“A stable, long-term approach lets us plan with confidence,” Dr. Naidoo says. “We can grow our team, refine our solutions, and work hand-in-hand with the UK’s world-class universities to push the boundaries of AI-driven healthcare. Ultimately, this will mean better patient outcomes.”
As the UK continues to innovate at the intersection of life sciences and tech, innovators from every corner of the globe are finding home in a place where their work can break through. Reinforced by the Modern Industrial Strategy, the UK is ready to raise the bar—harnessing cutting-edge science to change, and even save, lives.
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