The region offers life science companies a unique opportunity to locate in purpose-built labs, dedicated to the advancement of the health and life sciences sector.
These facilities are part of an established ecosystem that includes many cluster and business networks and a strong education offer in both health and associated sciences, which are already supporting and conducting international R&D research from the region.
Networks
The North East has a well-established network of clusters, accelerator programmes and organisations able to support start-up and growing businesses. What makes it the ideal location for life sciences companies is the addition of specialist networks to nurture the unique needs of the sector.
Our specialist networks include:
- Academic Health Sciences North East and North Cumbria (AHSN)
- Fuse (the Centre for Translational Research in Public Health)
- MedConNect North
- North East Process Industry Cluster (NEPIC)
- BioNow
- Diagnostics North East
- NIHR Newcastle MIC
- North East Pharma
Innovation hubs and facilities
The North East’s business support ecosystem is constantly expanding with an exciting range of new and upcoming facilities primed to support the life sciences sector. These include:
- Health Care Photonics, the National Healthcare Photonics Centre is a state-of-the-art facility based in County Durham. This cutting-edge site enables academic partners, SMEs and multinationals to accelerate the commercialisation of medical technology products related to digital imaging and in-vitro diagnostics.
- Northern Alliance Advanced Therapy Treatment Centre (NA-ATTC), is a consortium of 20 industry, NHS and academic organisations led by Newcastle Hospitals and the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS), to develop the systems and infrastructure to support the delivery of cell and gene therapies.
- North East Innovation Lab, works with clients across the world to accelerate the advancement of innovative diagnostics, offering a wide range of services to scientifically evaluate and validate new products.
- International Centre for Life is a pioneering scientific hub fostering research and innovation in life sciences, biotechnology, global advancements in healthcare and diagnostics. It is the UK’s first biotechnology village and has delivered ground-breaking research into regenerative medicine and genetics since it opened in 2000. It is home to the Institute of Genetic Medicine, NHS Newcastle Fertility Centre and NHS Northern Genetics Service.
