Chris McDonald
Minister for Science, Research and Innovation
We have some of the world’s best scientific minds, world-class universities and most innovative businesses making breakthroughs that can give real hope to patients through new treatments, while supporting hundreds of thousands of livelihoods across the country.
In my time so far as science minister, I have already seen that the life sciences sector embodies so much of what we should be proud of as a nation. I want to see even more medical advances being made in Britain benefitting NHS patients, which is why I will make it my mission to make the UK one of the best places in the world for life sciences businesses to invest and grow.
Life sciences opens up opportunities
A thriving life sciences sector means new treatments, as well as supporting jobs right across the country. The life sciences sector already provides more than 360,000 jobs in the UK, so it is one of our most important industries for creating good growth in every postcode.
We are already seeing huge successes. There has been over £3 billion of public-private investment in the first year of the Life Sciences Sector Plan, and the average wait time for clinical trials has been brought down to 122 days, meaning medical innovations can get to patients faster. We cannot, though, be complacent and must continue our relentless focus on delivery.
Life-saving technologies are supporting the transformation of our NHS
UK targets top life sciences status
Looking to the future, we have cause for real optimism. British life sciences companies and researchers are taking the lead in embracing emerging technologies like AI and mRNA-backed treatments, and we are seeing investment pouring into the UK.
Life-saving technologies are supporting the transformation of our NHS, and we are making strong first steps toward our goal of becoming the third largest life sciences economy in the world by 2035, by supporting world-leading research, bolstering the UK’s manufacturing capability and making sure that new treatments can get to patients as soon as possible.
Our plans are coming to fruition, and I look forward to working in partnership with the sector, patients and researchers to ensure the UK remains at the forefront of the next generation of medicines, therapies and technologies.
