Jason Lock
Manchester Launches New Life Sciences Investment Prospectus
Manchester has launched a new Life Sciences Investment Prospectus, setting out a bold vision for the future of health innovation in Greater Manchester and placing the city-region at the forefront of the UK’s ambition to become a global life sciences superpower.
Produced by Manchester’s Inward Investment Agency, MIDAS and the Oxford Road Corridor, the Investing in Life Sciences in Manchester prospectus outlines the region’s unique strengths, investment-ready locations, and innovation ecosystem – and calls on investors, innovators and global collaborators to join Manchester at the cutting edge of discovery and delivery.
Central to this vision is the Oxford Road Corridor – Manchester’s Knowledge Quarter – which brings together a unique concentration of research, clinical and commercial excellence in a one-square-mile district. Anchored by The University of Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, and Bruntwood SciTech the Corridor is home to some of the UK’s most advanced life sciences and health technology assets.
From pioneering real-world evidence studies and genomics research to personalised medicine and brain–computer interface technologies, the Oxford Road Corridor is driving innovation that improves lives and attracts international investment.
Jason Lock
This dense innovation ecosystem connects leading research institutions with dedicated life sciences infrastructure – including Citylabs, Manchester Science Park, Circle Square, and the upcoming Sister and Upper Brook Street developments – offering businesses the facilities, talent, and partnerships to scale quickly and confidently.
Manchester’s life sciences proposition is underpinned by:
- The largest NHS trust in the UK, enabling faster clinical validation and patient access.
- Over 40,000 health and life sciences students, with 50% graduate retention.
- Integrated health data across 3 million patients, powering real-world evidence trials.
- Strategic collaboration between academia, the NHS, industry, and government.
The Oxford Road Corridor plays a pivotal role in translating research breakthroughs into commercial success. Assets such as the Christabel Pankhurst Institute, the NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre, and the Henry Royce Institute support the full journey from bench to bedside, making it one of the most integrated life sciences environments in Europe.
In the past month, there has been major Government investment in innovation and research, including nearly £5 million for an innovation partnership between the Universities of Manchester and Cambridge.
This forms part of the Government’s £86 billion commitment to science and technology outlined in the recent Spending Review, which included up to £500 million for regions across the UK, with local leaders set to play a key role in decision-making.
The new prospectus was launched at an event held at Sister – the £1.7bn innovation neighbourhood at the northern gateway of the Corridor. The event featured a speech by Manchester City Council Leader Cllr Bev Craig, a keynote video address from Lord Patrick Vallance, and a panel discussion with Ben Bridgewater, Joe Manning, Andrea Winders, Rick Body, Russ Shaw, and Professor Duncan Ivison, Vice-Chancellor of The University of Manchester and Chair of Oxford Road Corridor.
The launch also coincides with the announcement that IQVIA has completed a major investment in the Medicines Evaluation Unit (MEU) in Wythenshawe. The MEU, a UK leader in early phase clinical trials, will now form part of IQVIA’s integrated global clinical trials offer, reinforcing Greater Manchester’s credentials as a destination for cutting-edge medical research and investment.
Manchester is already home to global life sciences leaders such as QIAGEN and Novacyt, alongside an emerging wave of health tech start-ups, supported by a collaborative infrastructure that spans the Oxford Road Corridor and wider city-region innovation zones including MIX Manchester, Atom Valley, and Alderley Park.
With its deep research strengths, connected city-region, and culture of innovation, Manchester is offering investors more than just space—it offers momentum, scale, and real-world impact.
Minister of State for Science, Research and Innovation, Lord Patrick Vallance said:
“Life Sciences is one of the world’s fastest growing sectors, in the UK it’s contributing 43 billion to GVA”
“The sector’s success hinges inevitably on collaboration between industry, academia, healthcare systems, and regulators, and there’s nowhere more evident where this happens than in Greater Manchester”
“Greater Manchester’s Life Sciences strengths are grounded in a special combination of assets in the city centre, where the Oxford Road Corridor is home to a globally significant research community”.
“Greater Manchester isn’t just supporting discovery. It’s accelerating delivery… and that includes international businesses such as QIAGEN and Novacyt who have chosen Manchester to be home for their growth. They are proof that this area offers life sciences companies a great environment to grow faster and stronger.”
Cllr Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, said:
“We’re seeing ambitious life sciences companies choose Manchester for our unique combination of world-class research, industry partnerships and direct access to the NHS. Our collaborative ecosystem provides the perfect environment for businesses to accelerate from discovery to delivery.
“The investment from IQVIA is exactly the kind of high-value investment we want for Manchester – creating skilled jobs, boosting our innovation economy, and strengthening our position on the world stage.
“What sets us apart is our ability to translate cutting-edge research into real-world applications that improve people’s lives while creating sustainable, high-skilled employment opportunities for our residents. This prospectus demonstrates why Manchester is the ideal location for companies looking to scale their operations and make a global impact.”
Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham, said:
“Today’s announcement that IQVIA has invested in the Medicines Evaluation Unit in Wythenshawe, with plans to expand and create high-value jobs, perfectly demonstrates the growth opportunities outlined in this prospectus. This investment shows why Greater Manchester is attracting world-class life sciences companies.
“We have set ambitious goals to make the UK a Life Sciences Superpower, and Greater Manchester offers companies the perfect environment to grow faster and stronger in our thriving ecosystem.”
