Biomedical
England's Northwest is one of the UK's top three clusters for
the biomedical sector, including biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and
healthcare. Its strength is based on the presence of
several major pharmaceutical companies in the region, a
rapidly expanding biotechnology community and internationally
renowned academic and clinical research strengths.
The Northwest is home to some 230 biomedical companies,
including seven multinational pharmaceutical firms, employing
25,000 people. The region is the highest exporter of
pharmaceuticals in the UK (£3.4 billion). The cluster has a rich
heritage, dating back to the industrial revolution and the
development of the chemicals industry, which in turn lead to
pharmaceuticals. Liverpool was one of the first sites to
manufacture penicillin by fermentation during World War II.
The Northwest sector includes some 95 core companies, including
the global research and development base for AstraZeneca, while the
cluster also contains over 100 suppliers to the industry. Through
our specialist cluster development group Bionow®, the NWDA
will continue to ensure that the region remains at the forefront of
the next wave of biotechnology growth in Europe.
As the Agency’s biotechnology cluster organisation, Bionow® is
helping to create a vigorous and successful regional biotech
industry that will continue to be a major source of wealth and
employment in the Northwest, contributing to the nation’s
biotechnology industry at large.
Bionow® assists both existing companies and new ventures
in the region by supporting strategic infrastructure programmes, in
addition to hosting a vibrant networking community and promoting
the science and research base. Bionow® is the region’s key
source of information promoting the Northwest as home to a
significant commercial bio-pharm sector and a world-class centre of
excellence for basic and clinical research.
Visit the
Bionow website
Key Projects
Bionow manages a strategic project portfolio worth in excess of
£65 million. Key projects include:
- The National
Biomanufacturing Centre (NBC) in Liverpool, a £30 million
project developed by the NWDA for product development and early
stage biopharmaceutical manufacturing.
- The Liverpool School of
Tropical Medicine, a medical school dedicated to the
development and treatment of tropical and infectious
diseases, which is expanding with the help of £9 million
in funding from the NWDA.
- The Core Technology Facility in Manchester, a £25 million
project supported by the NWDA which provides grow-on space and
specialist services for companies moving from the Manchester
Biotechnology Incubator.
- UK BioBank in
Manchester, a £60 million project supported by the NWDA that will
look at genetic and environmental factors that impact on human
health and disease.
- Nowgen, the Northwest
Genetics Knowledge Park based in Manchester, which is supported by
the NWDA.