UK sharpens life sciences strategy with major funding boost

The UK government has unveiled a sweeping industrial strategy aimed at catapulting the country into the top tier of global life sciences economies by 2035. Positioned as one of eight growth sectors, life sciences is set to benefit from a multibillion-dollar push to streamline regulation, enhance health data infrastructure, and accelerate innovation.

Under the plan, the UK aims to become Europe’s leading life sciences economy within five years, and the third most important globally by 2035—behind only the USA and China.

At the center of the strategy is a drive to transform the research and development environment by cutting trial approval times to under 150 days and converting the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency into a faster, more agile body capable of offering clearer market access pathways.