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 clusters 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.
Key assets
The North East has an outstanding collection of world-leading facilities – including two science parks – ready to support companies in the life sciences sector.
Newcastle Helix is a landmark 24-acre hybrid city quarter in the centre of Newcastle, built for international tech and science businesses, the local community and residents. It is home to Biosphere, a unique ecosystem of commercial laboratories, conference space, Grade A offices and support services for ambitious companies in the life sciences, healthcare and emerging fields of biotechnology.
National Innovation Centre for Ageing (NICA), also based on the Helix site, harnesses big data and the experience of older adults to optimise the opportunities provided by the demographic revolution. This includes the ability to personalise user experiences and generate insights into customer needs and wants.
National Innovation Centre for Data (NICD), another Helix asset, is a unique facility focused on accelerating innovation by enabling companies to explore data, find efficiencies and create new products and services to improve competitiveness.
The International Centre for Life, based in Newcastle, 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.
NETPark in Durham is the only science park in the UK with two UK Catapult Centres (Satellite Applications and High Value Manufacturing). It provides science, technology and engineering companies with a wide choice of world-class laboratory, clean room and office space from the incubation needed in the embryonic stage of growth to the larger spaces needed by companies who are ready to prototype and scale up to manufacture on site.
Gateshead’s PROTO is Europe’s first dedicated centre for emerging technology. Investors can pursue R&D in virtual and augmented reality, 3D and 4D clinical imaging, and anatomy software.
The National Horizons Centre (NHC) is a research, teaching and training facility sitting at the heart of a cluster of excellence on Darlington’s Central Park alongside the National Biologics Manufacturing Centre and the Centre for Professional and Executive Development.