Research clusters: How the Industrial Strategy can enhance the UK life sciences ecosystems

The success of the research we fund for people affected by cancer is dependent on a thriving UK research and development (R&D) ecosystem that can attract investment, world-leading researchers and has the tools and facilities needed to do excellent research.  

Research clusters bring together densities of talented people, institutions, infrastructure, technology, investment and networks to work on specific themes, which boosts and accelerates R&D. We’ve helped develop some of the UK’s leading life sciences clusters, allowing us to carry out our research as well as deliver on the UK’s Government’s priorities. 

Now we’re sharing our expertise on this in our new report, Clusters: Investing for impact, to help demonstrate their potential in boosting the UK’s research environment and provide a framework for governments to deliver targeted support. 

With the upcoming development and delivery of the industrial strategy, life science sector plan, the 10 Year Health Plan, alongside further devolved and local growth plans, there are huge opportunities for governments to strengthen the UK R&D landscape.  

That’s why we’re urging the government to:  

• Take calculated risks and support leaders who have a visionary approach to the development of thriving clusters  

• Work with partners who understand what their sectors and local areas need to constantly curate clusters over the long term  

• Use the criteria for clusters set out in our report as a framework to create the globally leading environments of the future   

Read our report

The need for a strategic approach to research investment

The UK has long been at the forefront of life sciences research on the international stage. It’s home to leading scientific institutions, like the Francis Crick Institute, has a history of attracting world-class scientists and hosts a leading university sector. But with an increasingly competitive global research environment, and the UK’s position on this stage beginning to wobble, it’s becoming increasingly important for the government to invest in the UK’s R&D ecosystem and secure its position.   

In a constrained fiscal environment, it’s essential the UK makes the most of every penny spent on research. Investing in strengthening research clusters is a means to do that. As we set out here, clusters strengthen UK research as a whole and boost the economy. They can help kick start progress towards both the UK Governments health and growth missions and our vision of beating cancer sooner.  

To drive more of this success, governments at a UK, devolved and local level must be strategic and visionary.  

How governments can learn from us

Because it’s so central to our mission to beat cancer sooner, we have made long-term, strategic investment into the cancer research ecosystem in the UK. We’ve taken this strategic approach because every pound we spend on research has come from the generosity of our supporters, so we have a responsibility to use their money in the most impactful way possible. 

Of the £4 billion that we’ve invested in research over the last decade, we’ve made diverse investments to bolster research infrastructure and capabilities in the UK.  

This has helped develop some of the world’s leading life sciences clusters in the UK and fostered an environment where research can thrive.  

This is boosting UK cancer research, enhancing collaborations and bringing together fields and stages of the research pipeline to accelerate innovative developments to beat cancer sooner.

From our experience, we have developed our five ‘Criteria for Clusters’. The case studies in our report demonstrate our success in places where we have made strategic, long-term investments and the impact this has on our research and those research ecosystems. 

Life sciences in London 

Having now become Europe’s largest biomedical institute, the Francis Crick Institute and the surrounding Knowledge Quarter in London is an example of the success of a visionary approach. 

Combining strong foundations for research and innovation, transport links, government support, diverse investment and major partnerships, King’s Cross in London is becoming a world-leading environment for life sciences and AI. 

The presence of the Crick – a major partnership between us, Wellcome, universities and government – has helped the positive feedback cycle that has transformed this area. By providing a world-leading hub for research and collaboration, the institute is helping attract a concentration of expertise and critical mass of researchers. This has drawn in major global industry – in life sciences and other knowledge-based sectors – like Google, McKinsey and GSK. 

There is an opportunity to apply this visionary approach to more places in the UK with the potential to be world-leading clusters. Achieving this requires sustained political will, strategic investment and coordination between local and national government, research leaders and investors.