Life sciences sector plan – techUK roundtable insight

On 8 October, techUK convened an in-person roundtable with the Office for Life Sciences (OLS) to discuss the UK Government’s recently launched Life Sciences Sector Plan.

The session brought together senior policymakers, industry leaders, and members of techUK’s Life Sciences Working Group to explore how the Plan will shape the future of UK life sciences and the role of the tech sector in its delivery.

Context and strategic importance

The Life Sciences Sector Plan is a cornerstone of the UK’s Industrial Strategy and aligns closely with the 10-Year Health Plan. It positions life sciences as a dual engine for:

Health transformation – shifting from hospital-based to community care, analogue to digital systems, and reactive to preventative models.
Economic growth – driving investment, job creation, and innovation across the UK.

The Plan sets an ambitious goal:

By 2030, the UK will be the leading Life Sciences economy in Europe;
By 2035, the third globally, behind only the US and China.

Strategic pillars and delivery framework

The Plan is structured around three strategic pillars, each supported by targeted interventions and delivery metrics:

Enabling World-Class R&D
- Investment in discovery science and applied research
- Establishment of the Health Data Research Service (HDRS)
- Expansion of genomic infrastructure and datasets (e.g. Genomics England, UK Biobank, Our Future Health)

Making the UK an Outstanding Place to start, grow, scale and invest
- Improving access to scale-up capital
- Reforming planning and regulatory environments
- Supporting inward investment and exports

Driving health innovation and NHS reform
- Streamlining MHRA and NICE processes
- Enhancing NHS uptake of innovation
- Introducing low-friction procurement pathways (e.g. Innovator Passport, Rules-Based Pathway)

Each of the 33 actions within the Plan is assigned a Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) and tracked through a robust governance structure involving the Life Sciences Council, Delivery Board, and cross government forums.

Key actions discussed

The roundtable focused on six headline actions that demonstrate the Government’s commitment to rapid delivery:

Slashing clinical trial setup times to under 150 days
Establishing the HDRS to unify genomic, diagnostic, and clinical data
Backing manufacturing with £520 million through the Life Sciences Innovative Manufacturing Fund
Streamlining regulation and market access via MHRA-NICE coordination and international reliance routes
Introducing low-friction procurement to simplify NHS access for medtech innovators
Partnering with industry to support 10–20 high-potential UK companies annually

Challenges and opportunities

Participants discussed persistent barriers across the innovation lifecycle:

Clinical trials: UK setup times remain slower than global competitors
Health data: Access and quality are variable, with governance processes often complex
Capital: Scale-up funding is limited, especially post-Series B
NHS adoption: Uptake of innovation is inconsistent and lacks incentives
Global competition: Other economies are aggressively targeting life sciences investment

Despite these challenges, the UK retains significant strengths in discovery, regulatory leadership, and scientific excellence, with opportunities to lead in genomics, AI-enabled healthcare, and personalised medicine.

Industry feedback and next Steps

Attendees welcomed the Plan’s ambition and structure but called for:

Greater transparency on delivery milestones and metrics
Acceleration of actions related to clinical trials and data infrastructure
Continued engagement with industry to shape implementation

techUK will continue to convene stakeholders and support the delivery of the Sector Plan through its Life Sciences Working Group and broader health membership activity.

For further information or to get involved, please contact Rachel Kennedy – Programme Manager, Health and Social Care, [email protected].

Rachel Kennedy

Programme Manager Health and Social Care, techUK

Rachel joined techUK in December 2024, as a Programme Manager in the Health and Social Care team.

Prior to this, Rachel worked at a specialist health and social care public affairs agency, working with a range of organisations and trade bodies across the medical technology, pharmaceutical, digital health and social care sectors. As well as this, Rachel was part of the Secretariat for a number of health and care related All-Party Parliamentary Groups.

Rachel has a Masters in Global Governance and Diplomacy from the University of Leeds, as well as a first-class honours in Politics BA from Newcastle University.

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Health and Social Care Programme activities

techUK is helping its members navigate the complex space of digital health in the UK to ensure our NHS and social care sector is prepared for the challenges of the future. We help validate new ideas and build impactful strategies, ultimately ensuring that members are market-ready. Visit the programme page here.