Global pharmaceuticals group GSK has signalled its continued financial commitment to the UK life sciences sector, a move welcomed by the Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst (SBC), the independent, not-for-profit campus established in 2012 with support from GSK, the Wellcome Trust and the UK Government.
What Stevenage says
SBC, which provides laboratory space and business support to early-stage companies, said the announcement arrives at an important moment for the sector. The campus currently hosts more than 45 companies working across areas including cell and gene therapy, AI-driven drug discovery, neuroscience, diagnostics and precision medicine.
“It is good news for the economy and life sciences R&D that GSK are continuing to invest the UK. Since it was created in 2012 the Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst has created a strong ecosystem where companies based here have raised more than £4 billion in investment over the past decade. With more than 45 pioneering companies on campus, we have great confidence in the future of the cluster and will continue to support our collaborative community here. We are also working closely with colleagues in Cambridge, London and beyond to accelerate life science innovation and will grow and build these partnerships to the benefit of our companies and the region.”
Leadership and immediate priorities
Professor Jackie Hunter, Chair of SBC’s board, highlighted the campus’s track record: firms based at Stevenage have collectively attracted in excess of £4 billion over the last ten years. SBC’s interim chief executive, Andrew Waters, stressed the organisation’s focus on supporting resident companies through any short-term uncertainty for GSK staff, and on reinforcing collaborative links across the UK’s research hubs.
Why this matters
SBC argues that concentrated ecosystems accelerate the translation of laboratory discoveries into patient-facing products by convening entrepreneurs, scientists, investors and industry partners on a single campus. Continued backing from a major industry player helps underpin investor confidence and sustains access to expertise and networks.
- Established: 2012 (with GSK, Wellcome Trust and UK Government involvement)
- Resident businesses: over 45
- Capital raised by resident firms: more than £4 billion in the past decade
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| Year founded | 2012 |
| Number of companies on campus | >45 |
| Investment raised by campus firms | £4 billion+ |
While the immediate commercial details of GSK’s announcement lie outside SBC’s statement, the campus has signalled it will continue to develop links with clusters in Cambridge, London and further afield. For companies based at Stevenage, the priority is to sustain R&D momentum, attract further funding and convert laboratory advances into therapies and diagnostics that reach patients.
The SBC response frames the GSK decision as both a validation of the Stevenage model and a reminder of the role industry partnerships play in maintaining the UK’s life sciences capacity.
