The University of Bath is a partner in the newly founded South West Life Sciences, led by the University of Bristol’s Translational Research Hub. They established the initiative as a result of the South West lacking a single regional advocacy body and coordinated promotion of our Life Sciences sector.

Other partner institutions include GW4, Science Creates, Invest Bristol and Bath, Health Innovation West of England, Bristol Health Partners, Bristol Trials Centre, and South West and Wales Advanced Therapies Network.

The Life Sciences sector in the west is valued at £8.1 billion with £212 million inward investment, and is the third fastest growing for employment in the UK. There are 370 Life Sciences companies in the UK with 20,000 employed in the region’s sector.

Since 2021, the University of Bath has developed six spinout companies within the Life Sciences and Health sector; Prothea Technologies, Revolver Therapeutics, Ingenium AI, EnsiliTech, Transdermal Diagnostics, and Smartwound.

Professor Sarah Hainsworth OBE, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Enterprise at the University of Bath, says:

The UK is a global hub for Life Sciences and the University of Bath is delighted to be part of South West Life Sciences, a core initiative for increasing inward investment, collaboration and growth. Working with our partners, we will continue to contribute transformational science and innovation for pioneering new treatments and healthcare.

Professor Philip Ingham, Head of Department of Life Sciences at the University of Bath, says:

A common voice for Life Science research in the South-west has long been missing. South West Life Science is an important opportunity to drive awareness and connectivity of all the activity and expertise that exists in the region. The University of Bath looks forward to playing its role in this initiative.

Dr Joanna Jenkinson MBE, GW4 Alliance Director, says:

Collaboration sits at the heart of the GW4 Alliance. Our institutions are committed to driving impactful life and health science research excellence and innovation to help address some of society’s most pressing health challenges, the many health inequalities in our region, and help drive economic growth.

GW4 currently represents the South West in conversations between the UK’s life science clusters, so we are pleased to join forces with our partners at Bristol’s Translational Research Hub to help raise the profile of the flourishing South West life and health sciences portfolio.

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