Leading life sciences developers have hailed the UK’s return to the £85bn Horizon Europe research scheme as a major opportunity to rekindle stalled or withdrawn funding for projects in the sector.
Experts also predicted that rejoining the science programme will intensify the need for more lab space, noting its potential to add more pressure to an already-squeezed development pipeline.
Prime minister Rishi Sunak confirmed earlier this week that a fresh deal has been signed, allowing British researchers to apply for grants and join projects after being locked out for more than two years.
James Sheppard, managing director at Kadans Science Partner, said: “The uncertainty over the past three years has massively dampened UK-EU scientific collaboration. Leading members of the science industry here in the UK have been left in limbo over the future of their projects during this time.”
He added: “It has been months since ‘immediate’ work began to secure a deal, and we do not want to waste any more time, with this seven-year programme ending in 2027.
“Science isn’t progressed in a week; it needs a multi-year financial commitment, which this deal will now provide.”
Michael Jones, head of commercial at Cheffins, said: “The ability to freely exchange ideas and form collaborations is key to driving research as is the need for access to funding.
“It is frustrating that the UK’s ongoing membership of this network should ever have been in doubt, and it is difficult to think of anything positive that can have come from this hiatus.”
Pressure on the pipeline
Kath Mackay, director of life sciences at Bruntwood SciTech, supported those views, adding that UK-led research and development had risked “being all the poorer” for the loss of both funding and fellowship.
She said: “This deal will go some way to kick-starting inward investment that had stalled or been withdrawn over the past 18 months.”
However, Mackay noted that challenges remain in securing the UK’s future status as a science superpower amid the paucity of lab space across the country.
Active requirements across the Golden Triangle stand at 2.2m sq ft, but the region only has 385,000 sq ft of immediate supply, according to the latest data from Knight Frank.
Michael Riordan, managing director of construction consultancy Linesight UK, expects that the UK rejoining the Horizon programme will result in an increase in demand for available, suitable life sciences spaces. “It will likely lead to a sharper focus on new, up-and-coming clusters for high-potential start-ups, as well as companies looking to expand,” he said.
Collaborating regionally – and internationally
Bruntwood SciTech’s Mackay said developers and investors are responsible for recognising and backing the growth of research and development clusters in the regions to address any imbalance.
“Cities such as Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow have created compelling propositions for investment, and the onus is on us to continue connecting their research institutes and local leadership with industry to help commercialise the research and development within these emerging hubs – not just through infrastructure but also through specialist support,” she said.
Stuart Grant, chief executive of science and innovation clusters network ARC, said he expects greater access to funding to spur innovation across the science and technology sector and strengthen collaboration among European peers.
Nick Pettit, senior partner at Bidwells, said investors and businesses are always on the lookout for “certainty and opportunity”, both of which the deal will deliver.
He added: “Now, with the doors opening wider again for grant applications, we can expect a surge in collaborative projects that will not only advance our scientific capabilities but also continue to attract top-tier talent and investment.”
Confidence boost
Jennifer Townsend, partner for occupier research at Knight Frank, said: “[The deal] will act as a boost for the UK’s life sciences and innovation economy, providing access to funding, opening up international collaborations, encouraging the flow of global talent and ensuring the UK has a seat at the table in setting the strategic direction and priorities of the programme.”
Michael Aston, head of life sciences for the UK at Cushman & Wakefield, said: “The intellectual property and spin-outs generated [through the Horizon scheme] will underpin the real estate sector’s confidence in developing much-needed new lab space to enable science-focused companies to scale up.”
Philip Campbell, commercial director at the Milton Park science and technology park in Oxfordshire, stressed the importance of ensuring that the right planning models are in place to help the sector meet its potential.
Campbell said: “Having a flexible and innovative approach to planning, such as the local development order, as we have here at Milton Park – combined with the right transport, power supply and other infrastructure – will be key in enabling the UK to realise the true potential of this opportunity.”
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