2025-04-24-莱坊-Life_Sciences_Innovation_Insight_Q1_2025_9页_653kb

报告摘要

UK Science and Innovation Sector Performance Q1 2025

Key Highlights

Inbound Investment: The UK ranked fourth globally for inbound foreign direct investment (FDI) in Q1 2025, with strong venture capital (VC) funding supporting life sciences companies. This exceeded the Q1 2021 peak, with investments totaling nearly £800 million in notable deals.
VC Funding: Q1 2025 saw the best performance for VC funding into UK life sciences since 2021. AI-driven innovation was highly sought after, with six of the top ten deals allocated to AI-powered companies.
Job Growth: The number of active life sciences companies in the UK increased modestly by 0.26% quarter-on-quarter, reaching over 12,700. Job postings rose by 43.65% compared to Q4 2024, reaching 4,209 in Q1 2025, driven by technical roles in pharmaceuticals and biotech.
Real Estate Activity: Leasing and investment in lab spaces were concentrated in the Golden Triangle (Oxford, Cambridge, London). Total lab take-up in Q1 2025 was 219,452 sq ft, with transactions like the acquisition of properties for strategic expansion.
Capital Markets: Investment volumes increased, with Golden Triangle investments totaling £122.5 million in Q1 2025. Development pipelines included schemes like the SC1 Innovation Hub in London, with a 3.47 million sq ft pipeline for future construction.
Government Support: UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) committed £9.1 billion to research and development, emphasizing regional expansion beyond the Golden Triangle. New centers of excellence were launched, such as organ-on-a-chip facilities and cardiovascular hubs.
Trends and Concerns: Life sciences sector benefits from strong university spinouts and AI innovation, but faces challenges including a projected talent shortage of 145,000 jobs over the next decade and concerns over regulatory frameworks like the VPAG pricing scheme. Collaboration between academia, industry, and government is crucial for sustaining growth.
Regional Initiatives: The UK government is advancing projects like the Oxford-Cambridge Silicon Valley, while other regions (e.g., London, Birmingham) receive investments to bolster innovation and job creation. Global pharma sales growth and China's rising role in biotech were also noted.