Life Sciences

A PHARMACEUTICAL POWERHOUSE

Berkshire prides itself on being a hugely popular business location for a strong mix of global market leaders and emerging life sciences firms.

Both AbbVie and Boehringer Ingelheim, two of the 10 leading pharmaceutical companies in the UK, have their HQs in Berkshire, whilst a further three (Pfizer, GSK and Johnson & Johnson) have operations in the area, with the remaining five (Novartis, Roche, Merek and Co, Sanofi, and AstraZeneca) all basing their HQs within two hours of the sub-region.

Berkshire is also a highly-appealing location for foreign-owned life sciences companies and over the last few years has welcomed pharmaceutical firms from far and wide; approximately half have been from the US, with the remainder being from Europe, Asia and Australia.

These include: US-based Sigma-Tau, a pharmaceutical firm with a strong commitment to rare disease communities and family-owned Japanese pharmaceutical provider, Kosei Pharmaceutical.

KEY COMPANIES

Explore some of the area's most ambitious life sciences firms. 

THE PLACE TO BE

Berkshire’s apt location within the wider ‘golden triangle’ of UK life sciences activity (a zone covering Oxford, Cambridge and London) gives it unlimited access to a rich network of leading life sciences firms and renowned research centres, all based within a compact and well-connected area.

Berkshire is also positioned on the M4 ‘knowledge industry corridor’, home to major life sciences and healthcare companies such as Stryker based in Newbury, PRA International based in Reading and Reckitt Benckiser based in Slough.

RESEARCH IN ABUNDANCE

A rich network of esteemed research bodies make Berkshire’s life sciences sector a force to be reckoned with.

The area is home to a cluster of 11 Clinical Research Organisations such as Clinipace, Covance and ORION Clinical Services.

The University of Reading boasts a number of expert institutes and centres of excellence including:

• The Centre for Integrative Neuroscience and Neurodynamics (CINN)
• The Institute for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Research (ICMR)
• The Winnicott Research Unit, which focuses on child development.

On Berkshire’s doorstep sit the University of Oxford, ranked first in the world for life sciences by the Times Higher Education Survey, and Oxford Brookes University, whose life sciences and healthcare research was judged to be both ‘world-leading’ and ‘internationally excellent’ by the Research Excellence Framework (REF).

SPECIALISING IN DIGITAL HEALTH

A strong focus on digital technology helps Berkshire’s life sciences sector to stand out from the crowd; the area’s large pool of tech talent allowing digital health activities to thrive.

Reading University’s Department of Engineering is currently involved in an exciting interdisciplinary research collaboration project known as 'Sphere' (Sensor Platform for Healthcare in a Residential Environment) which aims to develop a digital healthcare assistant for the home.

A CULTURE OF COLLABORATION

Berkshire is involved in a number of key networks and collaborative forces that work to strengthen the area’s life sciences sector. These include:

• The Oxford Academic Health Science Network (AHSN), which unites universities, industry and the NHS across five regions to improve health and prosperity through rapid clinical innovation.
• The Cumberland Initiative, a collaboration of universities, the NHS and commercial organisations aiming to transform the quality and cost of NHS care delivery through simulation, modelling and systems thinking.
• OBN, a membership organisation that supports emerging life sciences companies, corporate partners and investors. Berkshire companies to have benefitted from membership include therapeutics start-up Valevia and Clinical Research Organisation CEM Analytical Services.

CAREERS IN LIFE SCIENCES

Do you dream of a career in the life sciences sector?

Occupations can vary from Biomedical Scientist to Industrial Pharmacist. 

There are various different pathways available into this ground-breaking industry, with Apprenticeships and specific training and qualifications helping you to secure employment. 

Explore live life sciences opportunities below.