Paul Bristow, Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, tours life sciences campuses to understand regional impact and industry challenges

Paul Bristow, Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, tours life sciences campuses to understand regional impact and industry challenges

The Mayor visited South Cambridgeshire’s leading life science hubs, Babraham Research Campus and Wellcome Genome Campus to gain firsthand insight into groundbreaking scientific advancements and companies shaping the region. During the tour, he met leading researchers and industry experts, learning about cutting-edge bioscience and genomics research that makes the region a global innovation powerhouse. 

The tour began at Babraham Research Campus, which provides state-of-the-art lab space and facilities for pioneering startups focused on early-stage bioscience discoveries. With more than 60 commercial life science companies on site, the Campus gives access to a dynamic ecosystem for innovation by offering a world leading institute, a vibrant community of researchers, and critical resources to help businesses grow. The Campus has been instrumental in driving economic growth, creating 9,400 jobs in South Cambridgeshire and attracting high-value companies while nurturing and retaining top talent. 

During his visit, the Mayor met with Chief Scientific and Innovation Officer, Louise Jopling to discuss how the Combined Authority can further support the campus’s contributions to the region. The discussion covered the need for improved connectivity across science parks and opportunities for apprenticeships and skills development.  

The second visit was Wellcome Genome Campus, a renowned hub for genomic research and biodata innovation. Home to leading institutes such as the Sanger Institute and EMBL-EBI, the campus is a powerhouse for genomic discovery, championing open data initiatives to advance life sciences. The Mayor met key representatives, who provided a site tour and shared their ambitious vision for campus expansion – aiming to grow the Campus as a global destination for scientific research, innovation-driven companies and world class talent.  Over the next few years, the Campus will grow from 125 to 440 acres and the number of people working on it is expected to increase from around 3,000 to between 7,000 and 9,000. 

The team shared their insights on the future of science, emphasising Cambridgeshire’s global leadership in innovation and its ongoing investment in groundbreaking discoveries. They highlighted their commitment to open access, ensuring science remains accessible to everyone, and discussed key challenges, including improving connectivity and attracting top talent, especially from the north of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.  

Paul Bristow, the Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, said:  

“Visiting these campuses, it’s clear that what’s done here is extraordinary. They are making groundbreaking discoveries while also creating jobs, building exciting businesses, and putting our region on the global map.  

“We can’t take that for granted. As Mayor, my job is to make it easier for these brilliant people to succeed, not least by ensuring new public transport links that serve them and help them to grow. We also need to ensure that local people have the skills to be part of this future. 

“I want the world’s best companies and best people to say, ‘this is the place to be’ – and I want the people who live here to benefit from that success.” 

Louise Jopling, Chief Scientific and Innovation Officer at Babraham Research Campus, said: 

“Babraham Research Campus holds an exceptional position in the UK’s life science ecosystem, providing the ideal environment for early-stage bioscience companies to grow and scale. We enable this growth in a number of ways, including targeted UKRI-BBSRC funding initiatives, such as the Campus Innovation Awards (CIA) and Collaborative Training Partnerships (CTPs). These initiatives foster seamless academic/industry collaboration by pump priming novel research and nurturing the next generation of scientific talent. We eagerly anticipate working with the Mayor to further strengthen Cambridgeshire’s position in global life sciences.”
 

Robert Evans, Chief Executive of the Wellcome Genome Campus, said: 

“We were honoured to host the Mayor at the Campus and discuss how we are building a  growing community of world leading institutes, businesses, organisations and experts in genomics, biodata, health data and data science, using machine learning and AI to discover new science, and improve lives for everyone. As we take forward our expansion plans, we are committed to creating opportunities for local individuals, businesses, and communities, including open access to our wonderful facilities”.  

“Our goal is to grow a globally significant destination for scientific and business innovation, which maintains strong local ties  – supporting employment, skill development, infrastructure, and sustainable growth throughout the region.”